1829. ] An Adventure near Granville. 357 
girl turned as pale as ashes, and I myself did not feel too comfortable, 
though I could not imagine what I had done in my retirement to draw 
upon me the attention of the authorities of Granville. Nor would the 
officer vouchsafe me a syllable in answer. Without bestowing a single 
look upon the terrified Madelon, he peremptorily bade me follow him, 
assuring me that he had at hand the means of compelling obedience if I 
were so unwise as not to yield it voluntarily. This was true enough. 
Without were three sturdy fellows in waiting; and I had, therefore, 
nothing left to me but to do as I was ordered. 
From the marked incivility of the subaltern, I augured little good of 
my meeting with his superior. But herein I was agreeably disappointed. 
_ The Prefect (or rather Sous-préfet), a tall, dark man, with a keen, yet 
by no means unpleasant expression of features, received me with the 
greatest politeness. His first words were to apologize for any uneasiness 
he might have given me, and the next to beg that I would be under no 
apprehensions. “ His conduct,” he said, “ had its origin in motives 
which he could not at present explain ; but any thing rather than evil 
was intended to me personally.”— 
« You are,” he added, “ an Englishman?” 
«7 am.” 
«« And probably have served in the army ?” 
«Nos? 
* In the navy, then?” 
« No; my pursuits are literary.” 
A dissatisfied “ hem!” followed this answer ; my examiner was evi- 
dently puzzled by it, and seemed like one who wavered in some pre- 
conceived purpose. At length he abruptly asked, “ Are you a man of 
courage ?” 
There was something so ambiguous, and at the same time so absurd, 
in this query, that I knew not whether to laugh or to be offended. I 
replied, “ That to ask a man if he had courage was about as reasonable as 
to ask a woman if she were chaste. What answer could he possibly 
expect to such a question ?” 
The Prefect smiled as he replied, “I am quite satisfied ; we may 
proceed to business.” 
I was all attention. 
* Your life will be attempted to-night. You seem surprised; but 
nothing can be more certain. Are you in the habit of keeping any 
weapons in your bed-room ?—-pistols, for instance ?” 
“ Undoubtedly ; I never go to rest, or travel, without having a brace 
of pistols at my side.” 
** Whatever you may see or hear, you must not make use of them on 
the present occasion—if, indeed, that has not already been provided 
against.” 
“ How!” I exclaimed, “ not defend myself if I see a fellow in my 
bed-room ready to cut my throat ?” 
“ No,” replied the Prefect, coolly. “ You must not even speak, or 
move, or take any sort of notice, see what you will. Have you sufli- 
cient firmness for this? If not, say so plainly: yet I hope better things; 
I hope I am speaking to an English gentleman.” 
I bowed—what else could I do? 
“ We understand each other, then?” continued the Prefect; “ you 
trust yourself to my vigilance, and promise to be perfectly passive, let 
what will happen?” 
