THE SPORTSMAN IN FRANCE. 83 



on the lands of the farmers, who, one 

 and all, he said, had given their consent 

 for me to shoot partout. 



This was all very pleasant, and far be 

 it from me to impeach the veracity of 

 any one of our continental neighbours ; 

 but, nevertheless, whenever a Frenchman 

 conveys any intelligence to me which he 

 himself is very much interested in, or 

 which, with a proverbial good feeling, he 

 knows will afford gratification, I always 

 (if it be numerically practicable,) divide by 

 three ; by which arithmetical process I 

 generally arrive at something like a true 

 result. 



In this instance, my scepticism induced 

 me to resort to my accustomed rule ; and 

 I found, even with my own mental de- 

 duction, that I should have no reason to 

 regret having availed myself of Monsieur 



B 's kindness. My setters were at 



Guimgamp, so I was obliged to employ 



