36 THE SPORTSMAN IN FRANCE. 



no little havoc with the cellar. I never 

 saw so many empty bottles after a 

 drinking bout in my life ; — but I must 

 not tell tales. Thanks to a strong head, I 

 found my way to my own bed, and awoke 

 betimes without any unpleasant symp- 

 toms. 



Before any of the guests were stirring, 

 I sent a boy off on a pony to mine host 

 of the Grande Maison at Rennes with a 

 note, desiring him to prepare a recherche 

 dejeuner a la fourchette for twenty-five, 

 which he was to have ready by one 

 o'clock. 



The visitors made their appearance by 

 ones, twos, and threes, and by nine 

 o'clock all were assembled. The invi- 

 tation to breakfast en ville was proffered 

 by Captain P , Mr. W , and my- 

 self, and accepted with the same frank- 

 ness and cordiahty as it was given. 



Like prudent gastronomes, therefore, we 



