“’Tis a thousand pities d’Azay is not here to welcome you, too, my dear Calvert,” he said, regretfully, “but he will be back to-morrow with his aunt, the old Duchess, and his sister.  He is gone down to Azay-le-Roi, his chateau near Tours, to fetch them.  But come!  I am all impatience to show you a little of my Paris.  We won’t wait for d’Azay’s return to begin, and I am sure Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Morris will excuse you for a few hours.  Is it not so, gentlemen?” He looked around at the two older men.  “Calvert has shown me Virginia.  I long to return the compliment and show him this little piece of France!”

“But first,” objected Mr. Jefferson, “I should like to show him the Embassy.  Come, gentlemen, we will make a rapid tour of the apartments before you set out on your larger explorations.”  And, leading the way, he began to point out the public and private apartments, the state dining-room, with its handsome service of silver plate, the view of the large gardens from the windows, the reception-hall, the doorways, the great staircase ornamented with sculptured salamanders, for Monsieur de l’Avongeac’s ancestors had built the house during the reign of Francois I. and had adorned it everywhere with the King’s insignia.  ’Twas a very magnificent hotel, for Mr. Jefferson had been unwilling to jeopardize the fortunes of the new republic by installing its legation in mean quarters, and it was eminently well arranged for the entertainment of the brilliant society that gathered so frequently by his invitation.

When they had made the tour of the establishment and had reached the head of the great stairway again, Mr. Jefferson dismissed the two young men with a final injunction to return soon, as he had much to talk over with Calvert.  As the clanging door shut upon them, the two older men turned and went into Mr. Jefferson’s study.

“I have to thank you, Mr. Jefferson,” said Mr. Morris, seating himself once more before the crackling fire, “for a most pleasant acquaintance.  I will confess now that when you wrote me suggesting that your new secretary should make the journey to France with me, I was scarcely pleased.  ’Tis a long trip to make in the company of one who may not be wholly congenial.  But from the moment Mr. Calvert presented himself to me in Philadelphia, on the eve of our sailing, until now, I can truly say I have enjoyed every instant of his companionship.  I had heard something of him—­much, indeed—­from General Washington and Mr. Hamilton, but I was wholly unprepared to find so sincere, so intelligent a young gentleman.  There is a strength, a fine reserve about him which appeals greatly to me.”