I had once pass'd there, I
might get to Paris without interruption; but that in Paris I must
make friends and shift for myself. - Let me get to Paris, Monsieur
le Count, said I, - and I shall do very well. So I embark'd, and
never thought more of the matter.
When La Fleur told me the Lieutenant de Police had been enquiring
after me, - the thing instantly recurred; - and by the time La Fleur
had well told me, the master of the hotel came into my room to tell
me the same thing, with this addition to it, that my passport had
been particularly asked after: the master of the hotel concluded
with saying, He hoped I had one. - Not I, faith! said I.
The master of the hotel retired three steps from me, as from an
infected person, as I declared this; - and poor La Fleur advanced
three steps towards me, and with that sort of movement which a good
soul makes to succour a distress'd one: - the fellow won my heart
by it; and from that single trait I knew his character as
perfectly, and could rely upon it as firmly, as if he had served me
with fidelity for seven years.
Mon seigneur! cried the master of the hotel; but recollecting
himself as he made the exclamation, he instantly changed the tone
of it. - If Monsieur, said he, has not a passport (apparemment) in
all likelihood he has friends in Paris who can procure him one. -
Not that I know of, quoth I, with an air of indifference. - Then
certes, replied he, you'll be sent to the Bastile or the Chatelet
au moins. - Poo! said I, the King of France is a good natur'd soul:
- he'll hurt nobody. - Cela n'empeche pas, said he - you will
certainly be sent to the Bastile to-morrow morning. - But I've taken
your lodgings for a month, answer'd I, and I'll not quit them a day
before the time for all the kings of France in the world. La Fleur
whispered in my ear, That nobody could oppose the king of France.
Pardi! said my host, ces Messieurs Anglois sont des gens tres
extraordinaires; - and, having both said and sworn it, - he went out.
THE PASSPORT. THE HOTEL AT PARIS.
I could not find in my heart to torture La Fleur's with a serious
look upon the subject of my embarrassment, which was the reason I
had treated it so cavalierly: and to show him how light it lay
upon my mind, I dropt the subject entirely; and whilst he waited
upon me at supper, talk'd to him with more than usual gaiety about
Paris, and of the Opera Comique. - La Fleur had been there himself,
and had followed me through the streets as far as the bookseller's
shop; but seeing me come out with the young fille de chambre, and
that we walk'd down the Quai de Conti together, La Fleur deem'd it
unnecessary to follow me a step further; - so making his own
reflections upon it, he took a shorter cut, - and got to the hotel
in time to be inform'd of the affair of the police against my
arrival.
