Year: 1861

1t happened that at one period of my
life the path of my destiny (not tin path
then) lay along the highways and byways
Of France, and that had occasion to make
frequent stoppages at common French road
side caparets-that kind of tavern has a
very bad name in French books and
French plays l had engaged myself in an
undertaking viii h rendered such journeys
necessary. A very old friend had recently
established himself at Paris in Wholesale
commercial enterprise. into the nature of
which it is not necessary for our present
purpose to enter. He had proposed to me
a certain share in the undertaking, and
one of the duties of my post was toinvolve
occasional journeys among the smaller
towns and villages of France with a view
of establishing agencies and opening con-
nections. My friend had applied to me to
undertake this function, rather than to a
native, feeling that he could trust me bet
ter than a stranger. He knew also that
in consequence Of my having been half my
life at school in France, my knowledge of
the language would be sufficient for every
purpose that could be required


accepted my friends proposal, ard en-
tered with such energy as could COM
mand upon my new mode of life. Some
times my journeyings from place to place
were accomplished by means of the rail
road, or other public conveyance but
there were other occasions, and these last
I liked IT, best, when it was necessary
should go to out-ofthe-way-places, and by
such cross roads as rendered it more con-
venient for me to travel with a carriage
and horse of my own. My carriage was
kind of phaeton without a coach-box, with
leather hood that would put up and
down; and there was plenty of room at
the back for such specimens or samples of
goods as it was necessary that I should
carry with me. For my horse-it was alb
solutely indispensable that it should be an
animal of some value, as no horse but
very good one would be capable of per-
forming the long courses. day after day,
which my mode of travelling rendered nee
essary. He cost me two thousand francs,
and was anything but dear at that price.


Many were the journeys we performed
together over the broad acres of beautiful
France, Many were the hotels, many the
auberges, many the bad dinners many the
damp beds, and many the Aeas which
encountered en- route. Many were the dull
old fortified towns over whose drawhrdges
| rolled; many the still more dull old
towns without draw bridges, at which my
avocations make it necessary for me to
| halt.


don't know how it was that on the
morning when | was to start from the town
of D0ulaise, with the intention of sleeping
at Fancy-le-G Grand, was an hour late, in
commencing my journey than I ought to
have been. | have said | don't know how
it was, but this is scarcely true. I do
know how it was. 1t was because on that
morning, to use popular expression, ev-
erything went wrong. So it was an hour
later than it ought to have been, gentlemen,
when | drew up the sheepskin lining of my
carriage apron over my legs. and establish
ing my little dog comfortably on the scat
beside me, set off on my journey, In all
nay expeditions | was accompanied by a
favorite terrier of mine, which | had
J brought from England. | never travelled
without her, and found her comI anion


1t was miserable day in the month of
October. A perfectly cray sky, with white
CLEANS about the horizon, gave unmistak-
able evideI ee that the small drizzle which
was falling would continue for four-and-
/ twenty hours at least. 1t was cold and
cheerless weather, and on the deserted
road was pursuing there was scarcely a
human being (unless it was an occasional
cantonnier, or road-mender) to break the
solitude. A deserted way indeed, with
poplar trees on each side of it. which had
turned yellow in the autumn, and had
shed their leaves in abundance all across
the road, so that my mares footsteps had
quite muffled sound as she trampled them
under her hoofs. Misunderstanding fats
spread out on either side till the view was
lost in an uncomfortable melancholy scene,
and the road itself was so perfectly straight
that you could see something like ten
miles of it diminishing to point in front
of you, while a similar view was visible
through the little window at the back of
the carriage.


In the hurry of the morning departure I
had omitted to enquire, as generally did
in travelling an unknown road, at what
village it would be best for me to stop,
about noon, to bait, and what was the
name of the most respectable house of
public entertainment in my way; SO that
when | arrived between twelve and one
o'clock at a certain place where four roads
met, and when at one of the corners form
ed bv their union l saw great bare look
/ ing inn. with the sign of the Tete Noire
swinging in front, had nothing for it hut
TO put up there, without knowing anything
of the character of the house.


The look of the place did not please me-
1t was great, bare, uninhabited- looking
house, which seem much larger than was
necessary. and presented black and dir.
ty appearance which, considering the dis
tance from any town, it was difficult to
account for. All the doors and all the
windows were shut; there was no sign of
any living creature about the place; and
niched into the wall above the principal
entrance was grim, and ghastly-looking
life-sze figure of Saint For moment
| hesitated whether I should turn into The
open gates of the stable-yard, or go further
IL