late. We started pretty early, and commenced 

 chatting about the probability of the day's sport 



just in front of M n's country house, which 



was prettily situated on a little elevation from the 

 high-road, with a lawn and entrance in front. 



Of course my brother must poke his nose 

 everywhere ; and naturally enough must examine 



the grounds of M n's country house. He 



was intent upon " game " (as were all the party) ; 

 and most unluckily, at this moment, the favorite 

 peacock crossed his path. Presently we were 

 all startled and alarmed by a loud shrill sound 

 like "gluck, gluck, keroo ! " " gluck, gluck, 

 keroo ! " and looking round to ascertain from 

 whence it proceeded, there was the peacock, fly- 

 ing straight across the road at about six feet 

 from the ground, and Carlo springing after him ! 

 I immediately joined him ; and on we went 



through Mr. D t's meadow; and the grass 



being very high, somehow or other the affrighted 

 bird escaped, and we also escaped a good sound 

 thrashing. This we certainly should have had 

 on our return (and to say the truth we well de- 

 served it), had not Jean and Bombyx been afraid 

 of attracting attention. 



Bombyx and his sons now went on quickly, 

 and Jean lingered behind until he was convinced 

 that no one had seen anything of this adventure, 

 — knowing full well what a disturbance there 



would be should M n twig what had been 



" up." We then proceeded to " Crissier," where 

 we had some famous sport ; and on our return it 

 was wisely determined to come home by the lake, 



in order to avoid passing M n's country 



house ; thus probably risking another adventure 

 which we might not so easily get over. 



Well, we had just got to the bottom of Mr. 



D t's orchard (which borders the lake, at a 



distance of about a mile from M n's house), 



when Carlo began running about the grass and 

 sniffing up the air in a most anxious manner, — 

 his stump shaking about most rapidly. I dashed 

 in to see what the fun was; — when "gluck, gluck, 

 keroo ! " " gluck, gluck, keroo ! " was again re- 

 peated. The unfortunate peacock had wandered 

 down to this spot, and probably could not find his 

 way home ! Up he started, and flew towards the 

 lake, — Carlo after him. I followed. At last Carlo 

 got firm hold of his tail, and I seized Carlo's 

 stump. My young master had now come up ; 

 and one seized my tail, and the other got hold of 

 his brother's jacket. As for Bombyx and Jean, 

 they could not move for laughing for several 

 moments. Our approach to the lake, however, 

 compelled the young gentlemen to loose their hold; 

 they not being anxious, at that season, for a cold 

 bath. 



Thus lightened, the peacock pushed forward 

 most vigorously ; but we retained our hold firmly, 

 till the feathers of the poor bird's tail gave way, 

 and he escaped only to fly a little further, — then 

 dropping from pure exhaustion. What was to be 

 done ? There was no boat nearer than " Ouchy ;" 

 and as the lake was very rough, the bird would 

 be dead long before we got there. The water was 

 gradually carrying the unfortunate creature 

 further out every minute. After a minute's con- 

 sultation, we' were called back ; indeed we did 

 not want much calling, as the water was very 

 cold and unpleasant. 



Bombyx, his sons, and ourselves, went quietly 

 home, whilst Jean stopped behind to reconnoitre. 

 There was no garde-champetre near. The coast 

 appeared quite clear, and so it was; for Jean, 

 after loitering about for a couple of hours, came 



home straight before M n's house, and wished 



" Bon soir" to his gardener, who was just coming 

 out of the gate. He was now quite sure that 

 nothing was known of this adventure ; and on 

 going down to the lake next morning, he espied 

 the poor bird's tail feathers which were left in my 

 brother's remorseless jaw. 



Two mornings after, he went out again ; and 



passing M n, who was standing at his gate, 



spoke to him. Yet not a word about the peacock 

 escaped his lips ! It was thus all safe ; and we 

 had only to keep quiet. Bombyx's idea was, to 



go at once to M n, and tell him the exact 



truth ; offering either to replace the peacock or to 

 pay its value. But this, Jean overruled. He 



said (and truly) that with M n's hatred to all 



foreigners (and particularly to Bombyx), there 

 was no knowing what he might do when he 

 should fairly have got him in his power, especially 

 as he was just then a great favorite with the 

 celebrated " Coco." So we kept our own counsel, 



and thus we escaped entirely: for although M n 



had even offered a reward for the recovery of his 

 favorite, and had much regretted his loss, yet 

 he never suspected anything of the unfortunate 

 occurrence. 



You may believe how grieved Bombyx was at 

 not being able to follow his inclination, and make 

 the proper amende. Still it was wise to be guided 

 by Jean, who knew his customer well. There is 

 no knowing what might have been the result, — 

 everything was so mixed up with radicalism. 

 It required no little tact to live peaceably at that 

 period ; for all foreigners were looked upon with 

 the most jealous suspicion. To such a pitch was 

 this bitter acharnement carried, that a radical 

 would not walk on the same side of the street as 

 a conservative ; and if by any chance they met 

 on the same trottoir, or in the same allcj', they 

 would rush up against each other ; when the 

 weakest was obliged to yield. Violent quarrels 

 and deadly rencontres were of hourly occurrence. 

 It was never safe to go out after dark unarmed. 

 My old master always carried a pair of pistols in 

 his pocket; well loaded, and ready in case of 

 need. 



Singular enough, although M n enlisted his 



all in radicalism, like most others he ruined him- 

 self, and was obliged to sell everything he 

 possessed. His friend "Coco," however, gave 

 him the situation of governor of the lunatic 

 asylum, and thence he got the name of " Maitre 

 Fou," which dreadfully incensed him. Some old 

 aunt has since died, and bequeathed him a nice 

 little property ; but whether " Maitre Fou " con- 

 tinues to hold the governorship of the lunatic 

 asylum or whether he has returned to his old 

 residence, I know not. Perhaps he has followed 

 the example of his cunning master, " Coco," who 

 rowed with the stream of radicalism until he got 

 a well-assured comfortable income, and then 

 turned a stanch conservative, which he will now 

 probably ever remain. 



I have a vast many more funny anecdotes in store 

 for you ; but I perceive you are going to take a 



