She was going that route, she said. -
Vous n'etes pas de Londres? - She was not, she replied. - Then Madame
must have come through Flanders. - Apparemment vous etes Flammande?
said the French captain. - The lady answered, she was. - Peut etre de
Lisle? added he. - She said, she was not of Lisle. - Nor Arras? - nor
Cambray? - nor Ghent? - nor Brussels? - She answered, she was of
Brussels.
He had had the honour, he said, to be at the bombardment of it last
war; - that it was finely situated, pour cela, - and full of noblesse
when the Imperialists were driven out by the French (the lady made
a slight courtesy) - so giving her an account of the affair, and of
the share he had had in it, - he begg'd the honour to know her
name, - so made his bow.
- Et Madame a son Mari? - said he, looking back when he had made two
steps, - and, without staying for an answer - danced down the street.
Had I served seven years apprenticeship to good breeding, I could
not have done as much.
THE REMISE. CALAIS.
As the little French captain left us, Mons. Dessein came up with
the key of the Remise in his hand, and forthwith let us into his
magazine of chaises.
The first object which caught my eye, as Mons. Dessein open'd the
door of the Remise, was another old tatter'd desobligeant; and
notwithstanding it was the exact picture of that which had hit my
fancy so much in the coach-yard but an hour before, - the very sight
of it stirr'd up a disagreeable sensation within me now; and I
thought 'twas a churlish beast into whose heart the idea could
first enter, to construct such a machine; nor had I much more
charity for the man who could think of using it.
I observed the lady was as little taken with it as myself: so
Mons. Dessein led us on to a couple of chaises which stood abreast,
telling us, as he recommended them, that they had been purchased by
my lord A. and B. to go the grand tour, but had gone no further
than Paris, so were in all respects as good as new. - They were too
good; - so I pass'd on to a third, which stood behind, and forthwith
begun to chaffer for the price. - But 'twill scarce hold two, said
I, opening the door and getting in. - Have the goodness, Madame,
said Mons. Dessein, offering his arm, to step in. - The lady
hesitated half a second, and stepped in; and the waiter that moment
beckoning to speak to Mon. Dessein, he shut the door of the chaise
upon us, and left us.
THE REMISE. CALAIS.
C'est bien comique, 'tis very droll, said the lady, smiling, from
the reflection that this was the second time we a had been left
together by a parcel of nonsensical contingencies, - c'est bien
comique, said she.
