AIX-LA-CHAPELLE. 



137 



ance; with a good word for everybody who came in 

 search of accommodation. She furnished me with 

 the fresh-water cray-fisli which are now in my 

 museum. One day, her house-maid was somewhat 

 too attentive to my labours. I had finished the 

 dissection (which cost me three hours of labour), 

 of a very fine cray-fish, and had carefully placed 

 the shell on my table, with the useless carcass 

 apart from it ; — and I left them there — having to 

 go into the town for a short half- hour. On my 

 return, I missed the shell of the cray-fish. Upon 

 enquiry, I learned that the house-maid had thrown 

 the shell into the kitchen fire, and left the carcass 

 for my own eating ! " Tantum ne noceas, dum vis 

 prodesse videto." 



Had Madame Van Gulpen been still at the 

 Dragon d'or, I should not have changed my quar- 

 ters. But, time stole on her apace, just as it does 

 on me. Preferring ease to turmoil, she has retired 

 into private life, with ample means to soothe her 

 evening hour. 



Latterly, I have sojourned at the spacious Belle- 

 Vue hotel, kept by Mr. Frank : — and I certainly 

 intend to do so, in every succeeding visit. His 

 accommodations are of the first order — his table 

 excellent, his attendance punctual, and his charges 

 moderate. I take leave of him, with the full con- 



