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CHAPTER XX. 



MY FIRST WILD BOAE. 



WHEN I was a cheery boy of some seven- 

 teen or eighteen — and that is a long 

 time ago — I was passing a long vacation in 

 that, alas ! now no longer, most charming of all 

 places, Paris. My old and dear friend. General, 

 afterwards Due, de St. Simon, was ordered 

 into Brittany, to inspect some cavalry regi- 

 ments. I was wild to go with him, for he was 

 a keen and good sportsman, a fine rider, a 

 good shot, a gallant soldier, and a thorough 

 French gentleman of the old regime. Brittany 

 was then famed for its sports, and I knew how 

 my friend would employ his non-inspecting 

 days. He was willing to take me ; but how ? 

 was the question. His travelling caleche only 

 held himself and his aide-de-camp, and he 

 laughingly said that the only way would be to 

 ride with his faithful servant and courier, 

 Aimee ; but that was too much for me, particu- 

 larly at that time of the year. This put me 



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