They had put the poor cobweb-spinners in mind of the humiliating fact, which they have had thrust on them daily from that time till now, and yet have never learnt the lesson, that all their scholastic cunning, plotting, intriguing, bulls, pardons, indulgences, and the rest of it, are, on this side the Channel, a mere enchanter's cloud-castle and Fata Morgana, which vanishes into empty air by one touch of that magic wand, the constable's staff.

"A citizen of a free country!"-- there was the rub; and they looked at each other in more utter perplexity than ever.

At last Parsons spoke.
"There's a woman in the wind.

I'll lay my life on it.

I saw him blush up crimson yesterday when his mother asked him whether some Rose Salterne or other was still in the neighborhood." "A woman! Well, the spirit may be willing, though the flesh be weak.