CHAPTER VII.
THE LEAGUER OF PARIS.
By a singular coincidence, on the very same day when the armies of Henri V.appeared before Paris from the Western Road, those of the Emperor John Thomas Napoleon arrived from the North.

Skirmishes took place between the advanced-guards of the two parties, and much slaughter ensued.
"Bon!" thought King Louis Philippe, who examined them from his tower; "they will kill each other.

This is by far the most economical way of getting rid of them." The astute monarch's calculations were admirably exposed by a clever remark of the Prince of Ballybunion.

"Faix, Harry," says he (with a familiarity which the punctilious son of Saint Louis resented), "you and him yandther--the Emperor, I mane--are like the Kilkenny cats, dear." "Et que font-ils ces chats de Kilkigny, Monsieur le Prince de Ballybunion ?" asked the Most Christian King haughtily.
Prince Daniel replied by narrating the well-known apologue of the animals "ating each other all up but their TEELS; and that's what you and Imparial Pop yondther will do, blazing away as ye are," added the jocose and royal boy.
"Je prie votre Altesse Royale de vaguer a ses propres affaires," answered Prince Henri sternly: for he was an enemy to anything like a joke; but there is always wisdom in real wit, and it would have been well for his Most Christian Majesty had he followed the facetious counsels of his Irish ally.
The fact is, the King, Henri, had an understanding with the garrisons of some of the forts, and expected all would declare for him.

However, of the twenty-four forts which we have described, eight only--and by the means of Marshal Soult, who had grown extremely devout of late years--declared for Henri, and raised the white flag: while eight others, seeing Prince John Thomas Napoleon before them in the costume of his revered predecessor, at once flung open their gates to him, and mounted the tricolor with the eagle.