to hand him down with
honour to posterity. To this person's premises we strolled in the course
of the day, and found quite a little deputation inspecting the canoes.
There was a stout gentleman with a knowledge of the river, which he
seemed eager to impart. There was a very elegant young gentleman in a
black coat, with a smattering of English, who led the talk at once to
the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. And then there were three handsome
girls from fifteen to twenty; and an old gentleman in a blouse, with no
teeth to speak of, and a strong country accent. Quite the pick of
Origny, I should suppose.

The _Cigarette_ had some mysteries to perform with his rigging in the
coach-house, so I was left to do the parade single-handed. I found
myself very much of a hero whether I would or not. The girls were full
of little shudderings over the dangers of our journey. And I thought it
would be ungallant not to take my cue from the ladies. My mishap of
yesterday, told in an off-hand way, produced a deep sensation. It was
Othello over again, with no less than three Desdemonas and a sprinkling
of sympathetic senators in the background. Never were the canoes more
flattered, or flattered more adroitly.

"It is like a violin!" cried one of the girls in an ecstasy.

"I thank you for the word, mademoiselle," said I. "All the more since
there are people who call out to me that it is like a coffin."

"Oh I but it is really like a violin. It is finished like a violin," she
went on.

"And polished like a violin," added a senator.

"One has only to stretch the cords," concluded another, "and then
tum-tumty-tum"--he imitated the result with spirit.

Was not this a graceful little ovation? Where this people finds the
secret of its pretty speeches, I cannot imagine; unless the secret
should be no other than a sincere desire to please! But then no disgrace
is attached in France to saying a thing neatly; whereas in England to
talk like a book is to give in one's resignation to society.

The old gentleman in the blouse stole into the coach-house, and somewhat
irrelevantly informed the _Cigarette_ that he was the father of the
three girls and four more: quite an exploit for a Frenchman.

"You are very fortunate," answered the _Cigarette_ politely.

And the old gentleman, having apparently gained his point, stole away
again.

We all got very friendly together. The girls proposed to start with us
on the morrow, if you please! And, jesti