people quiet, and fighting her old friend Russia; that Monsieur Napoleon, the very Republican Emperor, having three large kettles of fish to fry—­one in helping England to whip Russia, by which means he hoped to wipe off an old score; the second, to affect a great determination to fight for the independence of the Turks, who say they will lend a hand when they get in cash; and the third, to crush all revolutionary movements at home; and that all having enough to do in their work of protecting despotism and neglecting liberty, the time is singularly opportune for America’s making one grand demonstration.  Thus, he said, Pierce argued.  It was all very well showing a saucy front to mankind in general, but if we undertook to bag Cuba, there must be something more than threats and war messages to back it up.’  I could not throw up my commission; therefore begged my friend Buck would consider my position, and excuse in me what seemed fast.  And then I had despatched my Corporal Noggs to arrange matters with Monsieur Souley, who was to play the part of engine-driver, crowding charcoal for the whole team.  After the manifestation of much indecision, my friend Buck consented to go, at the same time stipulating that he should not be led by certain fast spirits.  ‘If I go, Smooth,’ said he, ’it will be with virtuous reluctance; the whole thing is sure to come out.  Further, my boy Dan (a sharp fellow he is!) has gone on a little affair respecting Cuba, by which he expects to make hit No. 1.’

“At this moment we were interrupted by the brusque figure of George Saunders appearing in the room.  George instantly recognized me, and said he anticipated my mission, having received sundry private and very confidential letters from Pierce on the same subject.  It seemed that Pierce and his boy Fourney had written any amount of private and confidential letters on this to be kept very secret affair.  George made himself quite at home.  Indeed, the uninitiated might have mistaken him and the cat for fixtures of the establishment.  Calling me on one side, he begged I would consider Mr. Buckanan entirely in his hands.  In order to bring his speed to the right gauge, Dan and himself had, he said, spent several months hard labor; but now he was happy to say they had found the key to his movements, and nothing more was wanting.  As for Buck’s presence at the Ostend convention, just leave the arranging that to him.  Further, in order to make a demonstration while it was sitting, he would write an epistle to the Emperor of Austria, forewarning him of the sympathy in America for the spirits he held down in oppression.  This would be a decided hit, he added, with a knowing wink.  So confident was George of his mastery over the venerable old man, that I felt it would not be prejudicing Mr. Pierce’s interests to leave the matter entirely in his hands:  so bidding them a very good morning, I signified my intention of calling again in ten days, when I expected he would be ready to move on; if not, I should be under the painful necessity of bagging him, as directed by the State Department.