THE SPORTSMAN IN FRANCE. 39 



spirits, and on the most sociable and 

 friendly terms ; and in somewhat less than 

 two hours we had reached our several 

 domiciles, with an hour to spare for 

 bathing and dressing prior to the de- 

 jeuner de gar^on. Five minutes were 

 devoted to my friend the chef, exhorting 

 him to call forth his talent distingue in 

 serving this repast, and to spare neither 

 trouble nor expense in rendering it worthy 

 of the occasion. 



Most energetically did he promise to 

 faire son possible : and that was no trifle. 

 Most faithfully and religiously did he 

 keep his word ! I still entertain a tender 

 reminiscence of this unsurpassable, I 

 had almost said unapproachable, dejeuner. 

 The endless variety and matchless ex- 

 cellence of his croquets, salmis, civets, 

 macedoines, marengos, and bechamels, are 

 to this day fresh in my memory. I hold 



