rd; but taking the pale-faced young man by the hand in a
very solemn manner, and leading him up to the fine lady, gravely said to
her: 'I have the honor, Madam, of presenting to you the most poetic genius
of the company in a cotton night-cap.' We all burst into a shout of
laughter, but the lady never forgave Ganguernet, nor the cotton night-cap.

All the jokes which Ganguernet played, however, were not prompted by
vengeance; a spirit of fun merely being the grand principle of most of his
tricks. Before we come to the occurrence which showed this man to me in
his true colors, I must relate a few more of the humorous pranks in which
he took the greatest pride. Opposite his residence at Rennes there dwelt a
worthy pair of venerable citizens, who were the sole occupants of a small
house, which was their only possession. Once a week this honest couple
were in the habit of dining, and having a little game of piquet with a
relation, who resided at some distance from their abode. On these
occasions they were usually regaled with curds and whey, which they
moistened with sparkling cider; and not unfrequently a bowl of punch
concluded the repast; so that the worthy pair commonly returned home about
eleven o'clock, singing and staggering along in a state of happy
elevation.

On a certain fatal Sunday evening, these good folks returned to their
abode, both of them pretty much, 'how came you so.' They arrived at the
door of their next neighbour, which they recognized, and then proceeded on
ten paces farther, which was just the distance to their own door. The
husband, after fumbling in his pocket for the key of the street-door,
pulled it out, and sought the key-hole; but no key-hole was to be found.
'What has become of the key-hole?' cried he. 'You have drank too much
cider, Monsieur Larquet,' said his wife; 'you are looking for the
key-hole, and we are still before the wall of neighbour Bompart.'

'That is true,' replied Monsieur Larquet; 'we must go a few paces
farther.' They walked on; but this time they went too far, for as they had
before recognized the door of their right-hand neighbor, they now found
themselves in front of that of their neighbor on the left hand. Their own
door ought to be between these two doors. They return, groping along the
wall until they come to a door, which to their consternation they again
find to be that of their right-hand neighbor! The honest couple become
alarmed about the soundness of their wits