264 A MONTH IN THE FORESTS OF FRANCE. 



return on the box of it yourself, and if you are quick^ 

 I will reward you with a franc." 



Two or three boys were about to start, so, in a 

 stentorian voice, I stopped them all ; and, laying my 

 hand on the selected lad's shoulder, I said, ^^ You go, 

 and only you — we want one carriage." 



I then stood looking after him till he was nearly 

 out of sight, and, as it was raining, turned to re-enter 

 the station. While this was going on, and, as I 

 believe, at a private signal from the rascal of an 

 omnibus contractor, the porters brought all our 

 luggage out into the rain. I instantly ordered it 

 back into the dry, and dared them to refuse it shelter, 

 told the moustached puppy he was a liar as to there 

 being no carriage, and longed to kick him. The 

 porters hesitated to comply, and looked towards their 

 abettor in all they did ; but on my reiterating my 

 orders to have the luggage taken out of the rain, 

 they obeyed me. While I was superintending this, 

 the young French gentleman came up to me much 

 excited, and said, " This fellow," pointing to the 

 omnibus contractor, " all this time has had a carriage 

 concealed round the corner close at hand ; it is 

 coming up, do not let us take it; I have already 

 refused it, and told him he was an impostor." 



*' You have done quite right," I replied ; " I would 



