DILEMMA AS TO A PASSPORT. 261 



for me to get my passport from the British Consul. 

 Taking also a letter with me from the master of the 

 Hotel Biron, to a brother hotel-keeper at the Hotel 

 de I'Europe at Havre, I thought myself all right in 

 case the consul should be out of the way, and any 

 explanation demanded. This having been done, I 

 repaired to the railway station. 



While taking my tickets for my dogs and myself, 

 a gentlemanlike young Frenchman volunteered to 

 see my tickets were all right, and I found he was 

 going to England in the same packet. His father, 

 who seemed anxious about him, addressed me, 

 saying, that as his son was strange to my country, 

 he should esteem it as a great favour if I would 

 attend to his travelling interests in the packet, 

 and in England when I got there. To this I replied 

 I would do so as long as we were together with 

 the greatest pleasure, were it only for the gratitude I 

 felt towards his nation for the kind and hospitable 

 attention shown me during my visit at the Chateau 

 Sauvages. We parted, I hope mutually pleased with 

 each other. Alas, he and I little knew what incon- 

 venience, loss and extortion, ruffianism and roguery, 

 his son (I suppose from being in an Englishman's 

 company) was about to meet with at Havre : we were 

 destined not to reach England together. The train 



s 3 



