4 THE SPORTSMAN IN FRANCE. 



the dogs. Our landlord made his appear- 

 ance en bonnet de nuit, with a magnum of 

 superlative Cognac under his arm, that we 

 might drink success to the expedition : 

 some diminutive glasses were handed 

 round to the assembled party, but prior 

 to the contents being swallowed, three 

 cheers were given, which were followed 

 by a concert of horn music that had well 

 nigh shattered my tympanum. 



These deafening sounds having been 

 cut short at my earnest entreaty, the goutte 

 was quaffed with appropriate honours, 

 and some of the more resolute of the 

 followers took a double dose, to fortify 

 themselves for the approaching encounter. 



A Frenchman never commences his 

 day's work without his goutte, or morning 

 drop. We Englishmen call it an " anti- 

 fogmatic." The Yankee designates it as a 

 ' ' phlegm-cutter. " I have not time now to 

 discuss the relative merits or appropriate- 



