To-day he had a Spanish father, who had been through all the wars of Spain; to-morrow his father was a Frenchman who had smelled powder in all the battles fought by Napoleon.

They were generals, too.
There was one bad feature about Louis's fathers.

They were all unfortunate gentlemen, who managed to fight on the wrong side, and got their estates confiscated and their families left destitute." Romer paused for a moment, but kept his eyes fixed on Gusher.

Still there was no change in his countenance.

The young gentlemen who had been so merry but a few minutes before, now put down their glasses and listened with intense interest to the conversation.
"You shall zee, mine friend, (wiz your permizion I shall call you mine friend,") replied Gusher, still cool and nonchalant, and again giving Romer's hand a decided shake, "I have hear zat grand rascal tell ze same story so many times.