82 Rambles with a Fisliing-Rod. 



required. But the accounts of the Charen- 

 tonne were far from favourable : it appeared 

 a sluggish stream, more likely to hold coarse 

 fish than trout, and it seemed very doubtful 

 whether, even some miles above the town, it 

 would be worth trying. Still, we determined 

 that if the morning were fine, as the scenery 

 was pretty, no harm could be done by walking 

 up to the village of Broglie which is also the 

 seat of the once famous political duke who has 

 disappeared into political darkness and try- 

 ing on our way for a trout. 



But the first of morning sounds was the 

 steady pour of the rain. So, soon after eight 

 o'clock, the railway station, and not the road to 

 Broglie, proved to be our object; and before 

 noon we were at Evreux, in the valley of the 

 Iton a town three hours' distance by rail 

 from Eouen. The wet morning turned into a 

 warm day, with puffs of west wind, so that, 

 after a good walk, the cider of the country was 

 very acceptable. The cider of Normandy is an 

 excellent beverage, and is always given gratis 

 as part of the dinner; and many a thirsty 

 traveller must often, as he quaffs it, think of 

 old Oliver Basselin, the typical poet of medi- 



