354                            PARIS  IN AMERICA.
need, the law is at hand ; a police officer and a judge
suffice to maintain order or avenge it."
" Enough of this," said Reynard, casting a glance at
Olybrius.    " Doctor, I am convinced."
" And medicine," said the solemn imbecile, twirling his
snuff-box in his fingers, " how is it practised in your land
of Cocagne ? "
" That is one of the things which struck me most,"
answered I ; " women practice there, and with suc-
cess."
" Bigre !" said the colonel. " Why had not I a major
in petticoats when I was three months on my back at
Constantine, with a ball in my calf? I would have given
all the doctors in the world for one doctress ! It is a
fine yarn, but it is good, sacrebleu !"
"And," added I, "this is not the only profession
practised by women ; they have taken possession of
teaching ; it is they who educate Young America."
" This must make fine troopers !" said the colonel. "A
nice school to teach the art of fisticuffs, the true appren-
ticeship of war and civilization ! What come out of
such shops ?   Day-books and calicoes ?"
" There have come out of them seven hundred thou-
sand volunteers, who fight like heroes."
" Sacrebleu ! " said the colonel, " don't recite the
newspapers to me. For two years, my gazette has told
me every morning of these famous conscripts, who chase
without ever overtaking each other. Ah! if I were
there, with nothing but my Light Fourteenth, how I
would strike, no matter whom, according to the wish of
the government ! I am over head and ears in America ;
I wish the revolution would shift to some other country,
to give me a little change and amuse me."