on.

In its adaptation to the needs of travelling poets the breakfast was a
master-stroke. It was simple, substantial, delicious; and in its
accompanying prodigal outpouring of red and white Hermitage, Cornas, and
Saint-Peray, the contrast with the bottle-niggardliness of Serrieres was
bravely marked. The Hermitage, from the hill-sides directly across the
river from Tournon, around the town of Tain, scarcely lives up to its
heroic tradition just now--the phylloxera having destroyed the old
vines, planted by the hermit of blessed memory, and the new vines having
in them still the intemperate strength of youth. Yet is it a sound rich
wine, in a fair way to catch up again with its ancient fame.

While we feasted, the _boite_ and the band took turns in exploding with
violence; and when, with the filet, the band struck up "La Coupe" away
we all went with it in a chorus that did not die out entirely until well
along in the galantine. The toasts came in with the ices, and on the
basis of the regional champagne, Saint-Peray--sweet, but of good
flavour--that cracked its corks out with the irregular volleyings of a
line of skirmishers firing in a fog. The tri-coloured Mayor on behalf of
Tournon, and Paul Arene and delightful Sextius Michel on behalf of the
Felibrige and the Cigaliers, and M. Maurice Faure, the Deputy, on behalf
of the Nation at large, exchanged handsome compliments in the most
pleasing way; and the toasts which they gave, and the toasts which other
people gave, were emphasized by a rhythmic clapping of hands in unison
by the entire company--in accordance with the custom that obtains always
at the feasts of the Felibres.

But that was no time nor place for extended speech-making. All in a
whiff our feast ended; and in another whiff we were up and off--whisking
through the Lycee corridors and the crowded streets and under the
triumphal arch and so back on board the _Gladiateur_. The Mayor, always
heroically ablaze with his patriotic scarf of office, stood on the
landing-stage--like a courteous Noah in morning dress seeing the
animals safely up the Ark gang-plank--and made to each couple of us one
of his stately bows; the _boite_ fired a final salvo of one round; the
band saluted us with a final outburst of the "Marseillaise"; everybody,
ashore and afloat, cheered--and then the big wheels started, the current
caught us and wrenched us apart from all that friendliness, and away we
dashed down stream.

VII

Lo