DEVASTATED ARCADIA 271 



ing to the enemy's time-table, there was to be in a 

 week or so a grand victorious entry into Paris, previous 

 to a glorious descent upon English shores. There was a 

 chance, therefore, that the Chalet du Lac remained serenely 

 whole by the lakeside. I tried to cheer Mr. Walton 

 by these surmises, but he shook his head, remarking, 

 " I am afraid I shall never see my dear little chalet 

 again, or, if so, everything dreadfully mutilated." So 

 we turned the conversation, and I beguiled him into 

 telling me once more the history of his connection 

 with the Epioux lakes. Being a good, all-round sports- 

 man, having been raised on a Yorkshire country estate, 

 where there was abundant work for both rod and gun, 

 he made, of course, the Field his weekly study, and 

 found the advertisement columns as interesting to read 

 as any other. 



There, when settled in the world of London, he saw 

 the fishing advertised as an eligible resort, where you 

 might get your angling for a few shillings per day. 

 He went over, and found that the lakes were occupied 

 by two English pisciculturists, and that the water was 

 in a measure stocked. Mr. Walton was so pleased 

 with his fishing, especially in the upper lake, that he 

 at once took a fancy to the place, and arranged for due 

 warning should the tenancy become vacant, as seemed 

 to be likely before long. In about eighteen months the 

 result was that the lease was secured. 



Materials were sent from England by Mr. Walton, and 

 the chalet built as described above. There was one 

 German name at any rate mentioned by him with 

 affectionate regard, namely, the late Herr Jaffe, who was 

 called in to assist in stocking. This was thoroughly 

 done. Rainbow trout were in the fashion then, and 

 300 worth of them were promptly introduced. They 

 took most kindly to the water, and as they were 6,000 



