He thereupon shook off its dust from his papier-mache-soled boots, coming to England, in the manner of his compatriots, to earn his livelihood as a teacher of languages.
Having the highest recommendations, he easily obtained as much employment as he wanted, and devoted himself to giving conversational lectures to a circle of collegiate establishments lying in different parts of London, which he visited bi-weekly, or so, in turn.

Amongst these was one in our suburb; hence, first an acquaintance and then a lasting friendship sprung up between him and the vicar, both taking to each other immensely through their large-hearted philosophy; thus, too, I also got acquainted with one of the brightest, cheeriest, kindest Gauls of many that I have had the happiness of knowing.
At the time of which I write, Parole d'Honneur was a very happy emigre, despite his enforced exile in the land of fogs.

Indeed, he was an exile no longer in the strict sense of the word, as he had received permission to go back to France whenever he pleased; a permission of which he had already availed himself, having paid a visit, in company with me, to Paris, the previous month, at the time when I had been so miserable and despondent about not meeting Min again.

However, he had become so fond of England and things English, from his long enforced residence here, that he avowed his determination of living and dying amongst us--that is, unless his country and "the cause" should have need of his services.
On the evening of Miss Pimpernell's little party, this patriotic gentleman, in the presence of ladies, whom he reverenced with a knight- errant's devotion and homage, was the life of our circle.

He carried an aroma of fun and light-heartedness about him that was simply contagious.
He sang Beranger's ditties with a verve and elan that brought back bonny Paris and student days to those of us who were acquainted with them.