146 SPORTING IN BOTH HEMISPHERES. 



ease with himself and all the world. He stumbled against 

 the king, and would have passed on without further notice, 

 had not his majesty stopped, and looked hard at him, when 

 at length he touched his hat, and made an awkward attempt 

 at a bow. " Well," thought Charles X., " it is fortunate that 

 he even does this, by way of making up for his rudeness to- 

 wards the master, or rather occupier, of the chateau. No 

 doubt this man, in his own way, is what is now termed a 

 liberal, denying all rights, and despising all courtesies ;" but 

 immediately resuming his usual amiability of manner, he 

 addressed him. 



" You have made a good day's work of it, it seems, my 

 brave man." 



"Not bad, thanks to my gun." 



" You are a chasseur, then F 



"I should think so. My old gun, with its flint and steel 

 lock, is a pretty ancient acquaintance of the game in these 

 parts ; and having by its means made an excellent breakfast 

 to-day at the king's expense, I am taking a walk to assist 

 digestion. These are my reasons, if they seem good to you, 

 my bourgeois ! Pardon, my general ! for I suppose you are 

 a general, at least." 



The king was forced to bite his lips to prevent laughing. 

 " And what may have been this excellent repast you have 

 made at the king's expense ? Did his majesty invite you to 

 his table ?" 



" Not precisely, I invited myself; and I did right, for the 

 king probably would have forgotten me; and with a fat 

 pheasant killed in the park close by, Robert and I have 

 breakfasted like a general a royal intendant aye, like the 

 king himself; and have washed it down with the best wine 

 of the Commune of Garches. To your health, my general ! 

 One of the king's pheasants is no bad thing, I can tell you." 



'' And you are not afraid of telling me so ?" 



