282 A MONTH IN THE FOEESTS OF FRANCE. 



^' a draw." " Riled" and out of humour with this, 

 and regretting that I had not half killed the scoundrel 

 of a cabman, I wandered up and down the streets of 

 the bustling town ; and, on seeing a menagerie and 

 the picture of a huge bear on the outside, I had 

 serious thoughts, by way of passing the time, and for 

 amusement, and practice against future Havre occa- 

 sions — blows being forbidden — of letting myself out 

 at so much an hour to wrestle in public with the bear ; 

 so to learn the severest dodges in hugging, and the 

 tenderest place when compressed by Bruin's embraces, 

 whereon I might inflict similar ursine punishment on 

 any number of cab-drivers who might for the future 

 come in personal contact with me. 



Having thus occupied myself, I sat down wearied 

 with everything, and wrote a note to the Consul, asking 

 him if there was any earthly thing to be done in Havre 

 in the way of passing the time, save the aqueous one of 

 drowning myself from the pier. The answer was the 

 kindest that could by any possibility be, as well as 

 the most considerate ; and soon after the Consul him- 

 self took me to see all the remarkable things in the 

 town, and concluded by putting my name down as an 

 honorary member at his club and reading-rooms ; so 

 I became more reconciled to my dreary situation. 

 By way of varying my amusement, 1 went with my 



