The Commissaire politely gave me till evening to procure the required bail, satisfying himself that he could adopt measures to prevent my escape, and took his leave.

He had scarcely gone when Mr.
Edward Bingham was announced--the reason for this visit I could not so easily divine; but I had little time allowed for my conjectures, as the same instant a very smart, dapper little gentleman presented himself, dressed in all the extravagance of French mode.

His hair, which was permitted to curl upon his shoulders, was divided along the middle of the head; his moustaches were slightly upturned and carefully waxed, and his small chin-tuft or Henri-quatre most gracefully pointed; he wore three most happily contrasting coloured waistcoats, and spurs of glittering brass.

His visit was of scarcely five minutes' duration; but was evidently the opening of a breaching battery by the Bingham family in all form--the object of which I could at least guess at.
My embarrassments were not destined to end here; for scarcely had I returned Mr.Bingham's eighth salutation at the head of the staircase, when another individual presented himself before me.

This figure was in every respect the opposite of my last visitor.