He Shrugged
Up His Shoulders, And Retired To The Inn Door.
Having waited
about half an hour, I beckoned to him, and when he approached,
upbraided him with having told me that I should be supplied with
fresh horses in a few minutes:
He seemed shocked, and answered,
that he thought he had reason for what he said, observing, that
it was as disagreeable to him as to me to wait for a relay. As it
began to rain, I pulled up the glass in his face, and he withdrew
again to the door, seemingly ruffled at my deportment. In a
little time the horses arrived, and three of them were
immediately put to a very handsome post-chaise, into which he
stepped, and set out, accompanied by a man in a rich livery on
horseback. Astonished at this circumstance, I asked the hostler
who he was, and he replied, that he was a man of fashion (un
seigneur) who lived in the neighbourhood of Auxerre. I was much
mortified to find that I had treated a nobleman so scurvily, and
scolded my own people for not having more penetration than
myself. I dare say he did not fail to descant upon the brutal
behaviour of the Englishman; and that my mistake served with him
to confirm the national reproach of bluntness, and ill breeding,
under which we lie in this country. The truth is, I was that day
more than usually peevish, from the bad weather, as well as from
the dread of a fit of the asthma, with which I was threatened:
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