2 A MONTH IN THE FORESTS OF FRANCE. 



lings, I should depart from Beacon Lodge at an 

 amiable hour on Wednesday morning, dine comfor- 

 tably at Southampton, and find myself again plea- 

 santly seated at Paris on the Thursday night ; but, 

 thanks to hot water, and the go-ahead character of the 

 age, distance is boiled to nothing, and Time, the only 

 enemy whose wilful rule death and the doctor can 

 alone deal with, is all that the traveller has now to 

 consider. The minute has slain the mile, and Time 

 has added another laurel to the despot's crown. 



How happily I had passed my time preparing for 

 this journey ! The two great double guns of the 11- 

 gauge were thoroughly inspected and packed care- 

 fully in their cases ; my old favourite single rifle had 

 been petted up by Lang, in Cockspur-street, till it 

 looked quite fresh ; and every crevice of each case 

 was stuffed with wadding, balls, and heavy cartridges. 

 In addition to these, my straight hunting-horns, by 

 Shyrly, of Regent- street, my spurs, my belts, my 

 boots, my hunting- knife, and everything that a sports- 

 man or a gentleman could require, were gathered 

 together and nicely stowed away ; and when all was 

 cared for, even to my fishing-tackle, with a shake to 

 the travelling dress in which I stood, I said to myself 

 with all the gusto of a boy on the eve of his^r*^ 1st 

 of September ; ** Now for my friend D' Anchald, his 



