The revolutions of his life, a subject which in the press of other and urgent matters had fallen of late into the background of his thoughts, struck him again as wondrous and admirable.

He began to laugh with enjoyment.

He looked at Fairbairn.

How dull in comparison the regular sequences of his career! "I wandered about here barefoot and penniless," he said, "not so very long ago.

On this very pavement!" He struck it with his foot, commending to Fairbairn the amazing fact.