r, I think, as I mounted--you
would not have thought the precaution amiss, or found in your heart to
have taken it in dudgeon; for my own part, I took it most kindly; and
determined to make him a present of them, when we got to the end of our
journey, for the trouble they had put him to, of arming himself at all
points against them.

Before I go further, let me get rid of my remark upon Avignon, which is
this: That I think it wrong, merely because a man's hat has been blown
off his head by chance the first night he comes to Avignon,--that he
should therefore say, 'Avignon is more subject to high winds than any
town in all France:' for which reason I laid no stress upon the accident
till I had enquired of the master of the inn about it, who telling me
seriously it was so--and hearing, moreover, the windiness of Avignon
spoke of in the country about as a proverb--I set it down, merely to ask
the learned what can be the cause--the consequence I saw--for they
are all Dukes, Marquisses, and Counts, there--the duce a Baron, in all
Avignon--so that there is scarce any talking to them on a windy day.

Prithee, friend, said I, take hold of my mule for a moment--for I
wanted to pull off one of my jack-boots, which hurt my heel--the man was
standing quite idle at the door of the inn, and as I had taken it into
my head, he was someway concerned about the house or stable, I put the
bridle into his hand--so begun with the boot:--when I had finished the
affair, I turned about to take the mule from the man, and thank him--

--But Monsieur le Marquis had walked in--

Chapter 4.XXIII.

I had now the whole south of France, from the banks of the Rhone to
those of the Garonne, to traverse upon my mule at my own leisure--at my
own leisure--for I had left Death, the Lord knows--and He only--how far
behind me--'I have followed many a man thro' France, quoth he--but never
at this mettlesome rate.'--Still he followed,--and still I fled him--but
I fled him cheerfully--still he pursued--but, like one who pursued
his prey without hope--as he lagg'd, every step he lost, softened his
looks--why should I fly him at this rate?

So notwithstanding all the commissary of the post-office had said, I
changed the mode of my travelling once more; and, after so precipitate
and rattling a course as I had run, I flattered my fancy with thinking
of my mule, and that I should traverse the rich plains of Languedoc upon
his back, as slowly as foot could fa