FRENCH COACHING. 293 



decked with gems were wrested from liini. 



" Are you content ?" cried Bezenval. 



"No," replied they, "the chaise is ours, as 

 all the rest ; get out of it." 



He alighted, and the brigands dispersed, one 

 only mounting one of the horses, and driving 

 off at a gallop. 



" Valentine, what is to be done ?" said the 

 Baron to his servant. 



"I really do not know," replied the latter; 

 " perhaps the wisest step is to go back to the 

 chateau." 



Thither they turned, and two hours of most 

 fatiguing walking brought them to it. The 

 gates were open, there were no servants in the 

 courts, and none in the ante-rooms. He entered 

 the drawing-room, and not a soul was in it. 

 But what did his eyes first fall upon ? His two 

 watches and their chains were hanging to the 

 chimney-piece ! Whilst he was gazing on them, 

 immense shouts of laughter arose, and the 

 bandits of quality crowded into the room in 

 their several disguises. Such was the method 

 devised to bring back the agreeable Baron de 

 Bezenval. 



Having described coaching in England, it 

 may not be uninteresting to give a brief notice 



