You alone can be the means of my doing so.

Is there any price you can mention, for which you will render me this service ?--if so, name it." "So then, Monsieur," said the Courier, slowly--"so, then, you are the--" "You have guessed it," said I, interrupting.

"Do you accept my proposal ?" "It is impossible," said he, "utterly impossible; for even should I be disposed to run the risk on my own account, it would avail you nothing; the first town we entered your passport would be demanded, and not being vised by the minister to travel en courier, you would at once be detained and arrested." "Then am I lost," said I, throwing myself upon a chair; at the same instant my passport, which I carried in my breast pocket, fell out at the feet of the courier.

He lifted it and opened it leisurely.

So engrossed was I by my misfortunes, that for some minutes I did not perceive, that as he continued to read the passport, he smiled from time to time, till at length a hearty fit of laughing awoke me from my abstraction.