The prefect, on his side, did not let it drop, and it was clear that he found the greatest pleasure in talking of Paris, and of the great world, to a woman who was acquainted with all the foremost people in European society.

As he talked, he now and then glanced at Orso, with an expression of singular curiosity.
"Was it on the Continent that you made M.della Rebbia's acquaintance ?" he inquired.
Somewhat embarrassed, Miss Lydia replied that she had made his acquaintance on the ship which had carried them to Corsica.
"He is a very gentlemanly young fellow," said the prefect, in an undertone; "and has he told you," he added, dropping his voice still lower, "why he has returned to Corsica ?" Miss Lydia put on her most majestic air and answered: "I have not asked him," she said.

"You may do so." The prefect kept silence, but, an instant later, hearing Orso speak a few words of English to the colonel, he said: "You seem to have travelled a great deal, monsieur.

You must have forgotten Corsica and Corsican habits." "It is quite true that I was very young when I went away." "You still belong to the army ?" "I am on half-pay, monsieur." "You have been too long in the French army not to have become a thorough Frenchman, I have no doubt ?" The last words of the sentence were spoken with marked emphasis.
The Corsicans are not particularly flattered at being reminded that they belong to the "Great Nations." They claim to be a people apart, and so well do they justify their claim that it may very well be granted them.
Somewhat nettled, Orso replied: "Do you think, M.le Prefet, that a Corsican must necessarily serve in the French army to become an honourable man ?" "No, indeed," said the prefect, "that is not my idea at all; I am only speaking of certain _customs_ belonging to this country, some of which are not such as a Government official would like to see." He emphasized the word _customs_, and put on as grave an expression as his features could assume.

Soon after he got up and took his leave, bearing with him Miss Lydia's promise that she would go and call on his wife at the prefecture.
When he had departed: "I had to come to Corsica," said Miss Lydia, "to find out what a prefect is like.