reverence (which it would be foolish to take au sérieux), and above all, his gaiety, to be omitted. The first is to Charles Nodier, and is dated September 2nd, 1836:—
"My Good Charles,—My great idler, my illustrious confrère, you who know the Past and the Present better than God himself—I don't speak of the future lest I humiliate Him too much—be good enough to tell me who originated this fatal mania of autograph-hunting of which you and I are victims. Someone has asked me this and I didn't know what to say; or rather I replied that I had my Charles, who knew everything, and that I would write to him.
"Ten lines, I beg, my good Nodier; I will come and thank you for them on Sunday next. You see that you do not get rid of me easily!
"Adieu! I reverence you as a master, I love you as a brother, and respect you as a son.
The second letter, dated 1849, is to the critic and influential journalist, Jules Janin:—
"My Dear Janin,—You know of the death of poor little Maillet? We have buried her this morning. She leaves a mother and a young child.
"The mother is 87. Help us to the best of your
