[83] 



and oppression. I went out one morning 

 with my dog and gun, to endeavour to kill 

 a bird for a sick father-in-law. I did not 

 leave home till after eleven o'clock. On 

 my way I met the keeper, and informed 

 him of the country I was going to beat ; he 

 answered, "fort bien, Monsieur." Shortly 

 afterwards, in a small field of beet root, I 

 killed an unfortunate quail: some people 

 were at work at the very time on a public 

 road near the spot, and a shepherd was 

 keeping some sheep a mile at least from 

 the field. The next morning, I was in- 

 formed by a friend a proces verbal was 

 made against me, that I had killed a doe 

 hare with young, close to the proprietor's 

 chateau. I answered, " it is impossible ; I 

 am not aware I was on his land ; and as to 

 a beau lievre, I did not see one the whole 

 day." Still, however, the shepherd, a per- 

 fect stranger, and a mile off at the time, 

 swore to my person, and insisted that I 



