l the expectations which
Mademoiselle de Verneuil had based on the charm of his appearance. He
applied himself to ordering his breakfast with the eagerness of a boy,
questioned the cook and the landlady about their receipts, wondered at
provincial customs like a Parisian just out of his shell, made as
many objections as any fine lady, and showed the more lack of mind
and character because his face and manner had seemed to promise them.
Corentin smiled with pity when he saw the face he made on tasting the
best cider of Normandy.

"Heu!" he cried; "how can you swallow such stuff as that? It is meat and
drink both. I don't wonder the Republic distrusts a province where they
knock their harvest from trees with poles, and shoot travellers from the
ditches. Pray don't put such medicine as that on the table; give us some
good Bordeaux, white and red. And above all, do see if there is a good
fire upstairs. These country-people are so backward in civilization!" he
added. "Alas!" he sighed, "there is but one Paris in the world; what
a pity it is I can't transport it to sea! Heavens! spoil-sauce!" he
suddenly cried out to the cook; "what makes you put vinegar in that
fricassee when you have lemons? And, madame," he added, "you gave me
such coarse sheets I couldn't close my eyes all night." Then he began
to twirl a huge cane, executing with a silly sort of care a variety
of evolutions, the greater or less precision and agility of which
were considered proofs of a young man's standing in the class of the
Incroyables, so-called.

"And it is with such dandies as that," said Corentin to the landlord
confidentially, watching his face, "that the Republic expects to improve
her navy!"

"That man," said the young sailor to the landlady, in a low voice, "is
a spy of Fouche's. He has 'police' stamped on his face, and I'll swear
that spot he has got on his chin is Paris mud. Well, set a thief to
catch--"

Just then a lady to whom the young sailor turned with every sign of
outward respect, entered the kitchen of the inn.

"My dear mamma," he said. "I am glad you've come. I have recruited some
guests in your absence."

"Guests?" she replied; "what folly!"

"It is Mademoiselle de Verneuil," he said in a low voice.

"She perished on the scaffold after the affair of Savenay; she went to
Mans to save her brother the Prince de Loudon," returned his mother,
rather brusquely.

"You are mistaken, madame," said Corentin, gently, emphasizing