The Merry Past 



These malles went about nine miles an hour, and 

 the changes were constant, which was uncomfortable 

 at night, as people were awakened every hour, in 

 addition to the tilting and swinging of the vehicle. 

 A quaint figure was the maitre cie foste, in his nightcap, 

 slippers, and shorts, often raw-boned, from a diet of 

 soup maigre, or lanky with fasting, but not with pray- 

 ing. Nevertheless, he was always a courtier, whether 

 hungry or not ; as were the two hommes a cheval, who 

 lugged at the heads of five creatures, high-backed, 

 low-necked, and stiff-legged, which were, when thus 

 used, also stiff-tempered. These horses, though cer- 

 tainly not crammed like turkeys, but rather more like 

 rats half starved, had light and airy hearts ; with but 

 a good word, " mon petit garfon,^' or '^ ma belle fille,^^ 

 back would go their ears, and a smile and a kick would 

 at once indicate that they were ready to go. 



The postilion was equipped in striped linen trousers 

 — in jack-cases or jack-boots for the legs, wanting only 

 a jump to get into. The jacket was lancer-like — blue 

 body, red facings, and a multitude of fleur-de-lis 

 buttons in bright brass — a glazed hat over a white 

 nightcap, just touching the head of a bien poudre — 

 tail of hair. In his mouth was a short pipe, and a 

 devilish long whip was ever present in his hand. The 

 three stallions before him, all in a row, were generally 

 under excellent control. 



The decadence of English coaching was but the ful- 

 filment of that law of Nature which ordains that once 

 perfection has been accomplished decay should begin. 



At the time of the introduction of the railway 



152 



