272 A MONTH IN THE FORESTS OF FRANCE. 



me, and attempting to extort money. The constable 

 then made me tell my story — alas! for this fresh 

 delay — and then heard the cabman's defence, when 

 he put forward his face right into the cabman's till 

 their noses nearly touched, and in slow scornful tones 

 desired the cabman to " molest me no further, for it 

 was impossible for me to have ordered three car- 

 riages, and as I had paid for one, the cabman, if he 

 had been really called off the stand, must look 

 for remuneration from the man who sent for him, or 

 who called him off." 



The constable was about then to pass on, when 

 I made my touter assure him I wished him to go 

 back with me to the quay, for if he did not, the 

 moment I was left alone the blackguard would 

 repeat his annoyances. The constable, however, 

 refused to accompany me, and the cabman van- 

 ished in the surrounding darkness. The touter con- 

 gratulated me on my having thus settled the matter, 

 and we reached the quay. The instant I came 

 there, there was the rascal again, dancing a sort of 

 war-dance, and surrounded by about forty of the 

 lowest of the low, and at his back two constables of 

 an inferior grade to the one we had just parted with, 

 and he gave me in charge to them for striking him 

 and refusing to pay him his fare. They took the 

 charge, and the spokesman of the two told me he 



