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and the shawl was soon discovered and confiscated. The trunks of the travellers were then inspected successively; but when, the officers came to that of the silent passenger, they made a polite bow, and left it untouched. The travellers then resumed their places. The lady was extremely peevish, and manifested her displeasure with her silent companion, who continued mute as before. At length, when they had proceeded two stages beyond the customhouse, he began to speak: "Madam," said he, courteously, "you suspect that it was I who informed of you at the custom-house, and consequently occasioned the loss of your shawl; you are perfectly right." The passengers were about to assail him. "Softly! softly!" cried he, motioning with his hand; "hear me out first. I had myself ten shawls which I wished to smuggle into France, and I could devise no better method of accomplishing this purpose than laying an information against you." His fellow-travellers could not suppress their indignation. "Gently, gently!" repeated he, with the utmost sang froid, "let me only finish. As then, madam, I have been the cause of your loss, I am determined to make you compensation for it, and request you to select for yourself the best shawl out of my ten." It is scarcely necessary to describe the instant change which