78 LOUIS AGASS1Z. 



over to your side. Among them is my uncle 

 here, who never speaks of you now but with 

 enthusiasm. What more can be said ? I gave 

 him your letter to read, and since then he has 

 asked me a dozen times at least if I had not 

 forgotten to forward the remittance you asked 

 for, saying that I must not delay it. The truth 

 is, I have deferred writing till the last mo- 

 ment, because I have not succeeded in getting 

 your fishes, and have always been hoping that 

 I might be able to fulfill your commission. I 

 busied myself on your behalf with all the zeal 

 and industry of which I was capable, but 

 quite in vain. The devil seemed to be in it. 

 The season of Bondelles was over two months 

 ago, and there are none to be seen ; as to 

 trout, I don't believe one has been eaten in 

 the whole town for six weeks. I am forever 

 at the heels of the fishermen, promising them 

 double and treble the value of the fish I want, 

 but they all tell me they catch nothing except 

 pike. I have been to Cudrefin for lampreys, 

 but found nothing. Rodolphe l has been pad- 

 dling in the brook every day without success. 

 I went to Sauge, no eels, no anything but 

 perch and a few little cat-fish. Two mortal 

 Sundays did I spend, rod in hand, trying to 



1 An experienced old boatman. 



