A SPOTTING TRIP TO FRANCE. 221 



to the house and rang the bell. A servant in 

 livery answered it, and I could see at one glance 

 that everything was well kept, in fact I had dis- 

 covered that before I entered, as the beautiful 

 lawn and walks were in perfect order, and the 

 outside of the house presented an appearance far- 

 different from what you generally see in the 

 French chateaux, which are mostly in a tumble- 

 down, ramshackle condition. 



" I was shown into the count's library ; 

 sitting at a table, reading, was a fine gentle- 

 manly man of about fifty years of age. He in- 

 stantly rose and bowed courteously, and I 

 forthwith explained the object of my visit. 

 He most cheerfully gave me permission, not 

 only to shoot but to fish also if I chose, but he 

 asked me not to shoot at the clievreuil, as 

 there was to be a large hunting party on the 

 morrow, to which he gave me an invitation. 

 He asked me not to go into the woods at all, 

 but to content myself to fields. 



" Of course I expressed myself most grateful 

 for the permission so kindly accorded, and set 

 out in high spirits to thin the birds. I had 

 been shooting with tolerable success for three- 



