324 The Unknown River. 



Monsieur B. is a very celebrated man indeed. People 

 write from a distance to order a dinner, and then travel 

 to Toulon to eat it. Unfortunately, he is also celebrated 

 as the most irascible man in the country ; which, con- 

 sidering the generally explosive character of French 

 tempers, is saying a good deal. As that man must be a 

 wonderfully perfect Sabbatarian who can win fame in 

 Scotland for his observance of the day of rest, so that 

 Frenchman must be irascible indeed who can make him- 

 self famous for his irritability. His powers of voluble 

 invective surpassed all that I had ever heard in the way 

 of scolding, and their effect was immensely enhanced 

 by the most scientific modulation of tone. His loud 

 voice disturbed me in the early morning as he scolded a 

 boy-cook for having used a pound of first-rate butter, 

 reserved especially for pastry, in cooking yesterday's 

 dinner. Now the misapplication of the butter was 

 commented upon in a restrained and subdued piano, 

 with deep concentrated rage ; and now it passed with a 

 rapid crescendo to forte and a terrible fortissimo, that 

 made the very windows rattle. When a servant is to 

 be reprimanded, the first observations are made in the 

 utmost moderation, and if only Monsieur B. could stop 

 there, he would deserve the credit of being a reasonable 

 though vigilant master ; but the sound of his own voice 

 exasperates him, and even when the culprit offers no 

 reply, his fault is described to him over and over again, 

 every time with increasing vehemence, till at length the 

 floodgates of invective are opened wide, and the torrent 

 rolls and roars. 



