24 BRITANNY AND THE CHASE. 



money in a round sum, and thrashed another to take out 

 the change; and once kept three gendarmes at bay for some 

 time. A nobleman near to him had procured some phea- 

 sants with much trouble and expense, and placed them in an 

 adjacent coppice. Our friend one day, hearing that he was 

 absent, went straight to the wood, and commenced blazing 

 away. A garde appeared, of whom he made short work, 

 speedily sending him back in a worse plight than he came ; 

 then another, who was served in the same way ; and mean- 

 while he shot nearly every bird in the cover. The marquis 

 was furious to learn all this on his return, and immedi- 

 ately informed the authorities, who sent a strong force to 

 capture him. The Englishman was in his house when they 

 came up : he sent his man to lock the front door, and then 

 locked himself in his own room. When they summoned 

 him he did not appear, but his servant assuring them that 

 he was within, they waited some time longer, and then 

 broke open the doors. But they found the bird flown. 

 He had profited by the delay to pack up his valuables in a 

 small compass, had dropped out of his window into the 

 garden, and making direct for a little port, where, luckily 

 for him, was a boat which he knew to be about sailing for 

 England, had got on board and away with him, nor has he 

 agam appeared on this side of the water. All this, though 

 plucky, is bad, and injures his countrymen in those parts. 

 I myself found a difficulty in getting my permis de chasse 

 shortly after, and, as I gathered from the conversation of 

 the officials, simply because I was English. It is certain 

 that, whatever Messrs. Cobden and Co. and the philanthro- 

 pists may say to the contrary, there is a strong sub- 



