THE WALKS ABROAD OF 



great writer, I forget who " (and as L6on could not 

 help smiling), "yes, a great writer" (measuring his 

 syllables with emphasis), "has denned botany as the 

 ' art of calling plants names in Greek ! ' " 



u Come, come ! " said Leon, now laughing openly. 

 " This is a regular philippic, a denouncement, an 

 impeachment of us by the public prosecutor." 



Rene was not disconcerted, on the contrary, he 

 continued more confidently 



"I will allow you as much as this: suppose we 

 were living in one of those far-off countries where 

 extraordinary plants and wonderful animals are met 

 with wherever one goes, then I would be your faith- 

 ful companion, your Friday ; but here we are only 

 four hours from Paris four hours, when the train 

 is not delayed at Lisieux, be it understood. I 

 really do not see what sort of studies you can even 

 pretend to make here : I suppose you do not intend 

 to demonstrate that at Villers there may be seen 

 oxen, horses, dogs and cats, as specimens of domesti- 

 cated animals, and as ferce naturce, partridges, hares, 

 and rabbits, until the shooting season commences, 

 of course. You may add that the natives wear ear- 

 rings and cotton hats, and I believe then your work 

 is exhausted." 



" And suppose I prove to you exactly the opposite," 

 said L6on. " Suppose I show you that at only four 

 hours' distance from Paris, yes, even at Paris itself, 



