34 A MONTH IN THE FORESTS OF FRANCE. 



Although the porters on the French rail are pro- 

 fessedly forbidden to demand money, there is not one 

 in fifty of them that does not dun the English traveller 

 for reward almost for the mere reply as to where he is 

 to take his ticket. When these fellows were attentive 

 and careful of my dogs, I gave them something ; but 

 when they demanded money, as they generally did, 

 for taking my luggage from the cab to the railway 

 office, I invariably refused it. 



At the Orleans station one of these men demanded 

 money at the very office window while I was taking 

 the ticket either for my dogs or for the extra weight 

 of luggage, I forget which ; and, on my giving him 

 a few sous, he complained that it was not enough. 

 On this I immediately reported him to the official 

 ticket-taker in the office, who shook his head at him 

 and laughed, when he returned the sous, and again 

 said they were not enough. I took them back and 

 told him if he wished to follow up his suit for more 

 he must apply to the king of the infernal regions, 

 as, having refused the sous from me, he would then 

 get nothing. Fortunately for me, at the Orleans 

 station there was a French lady who understood and 

 spoke English fluently, and with the greatest possible 

 kindness she came up and offered her services in the 

 shape of interpreter between me and the officials. 



