he worthy cure, however, was at once beside me, and after a few
directions to the party to make a litter for me, he knelt down to offer
up a short prayer for my deliverance; the rest followed the act with
implicit devotion, while I took off my hat in respect, and sat still
where I was.

'I see,' whispered he, when the _Ave_ was over--' I see you are a
Protestant. This is a fast day with us; but we 'll get you a poulet at
my cottage, and a glass of wine will soon refresh you.'

With many a thankful speech, I soon suffered myself to be lifted into
a large sheet, such as they use in the vineyards; and with a strong
cortege of the villagers carrying their torches, we took our way back to
Givet.

The circumstances of my adventure, considerably exaggerated of course,
were bruited over the country; and before I was out of bed next morning,
a chasseur, in a very showy livery, arrived with a letter from the
lord of the manor, entreating me to take my abode for some days at the
Chateau de Rochepied, where I should be received with a perfect welcome,
and every endeavour made to recover my lost effects. Having consulted
with the worthy cure, who counselled me by all means to accept this
flattering invitation--a course I was myself disposed to--I wrote a few
lines of answer, and despatched a messenger by post to Dinant to bring
up my heavy baggage, which I had left there.

Towards noon the count's carriage drove up to convey me to the chateau;
and having taken an affectionate farewell of my kind host, I set out
for Rochepied. The wicker conveniency in which I travelled, all alone,
albeit not the thing for Hyde Park, was easy and pleasant in its motion;
the fat Flemish mares, with their long tails tastefully festooned over
a huge cushion of plaited straw on their backs, went at a fair, steady
pace; the road led through a part of the forest abounding in pretty
vistas of woodland scenery; and everything conspired to make me feel
that even an affair with a gang of smugglers might not be the worst
thing in life, if it were to lead to such pleasant results afterwards.

As we jogged along, I learned from the fat Walloon coachman that the
chateau was full of company; that the count had invited numerous guests
for the opening of the _chasse_, and that there were French and Germans
and English, and for aught he knew Chinese expected to 'assist' at the
ceremony. I confess the information considerably damped the pleasure
I at first experie