d. Thanks to the munificence of our kings, Paris is being constantly
improved and beautified, to the great admiration and delight of
everybody; more especially of foreigners, who take home wondrous tales
of its splendour."

"But what astonishes me," said de Sigognac, "more even than the grandeur
and sumptuousness of the buildings, both public and private, is the
infinite number of people swarming everywhere--in the streets and open
squares, and on the bridges--like ants when one has broken into an ant
hill; they are all rushing distractedly about, up and down, back and
forth, as if life and death depended upon their speed. How strange it is
to think that every individual in this immense crowd must be lodged
and fed--and what a prodigious amount of food and wine it must take to
satisfy them all."

And indeed, it was not surprising that the great numbers of people,
moving in every direction, should strike one unaccustomed to the crowded
thoroughfares of large cities as extraordinary. On the Pont-Neuf an
unceasing stream of vehicles rolled in each direction--fine carriages,
richly decorated and gilded, drawn by two or four prancing horses, with
lackeys in brilliant liveries clinging on behind, and stately coachmen
on the box; less pretentious carriages with more quiet steeds and fewer
servants; heavy carts laden with stone, wood, or wine-barrels, whose
drivers swore loudly at the detentions they were frequently obliged to
submit to, and which were unavoidable in such a crush of vehicles; and
among them all, gentlemen on horseback, threading their way carefully
in and out among the press of carts and carriages, and endeavouring
to avoid coming in contact with their muddy wheels--not always
successfully; while here and there a sedan chair crept slowly along,
keeping upon the edge of the stream, so as not to be crushed; and
the narrow, raised walk on either side was thronged with pedestrians.
Presently a drove of cattle made its appearance on the bridge, and then
the uproar and confusion became terrible indeed; horses, as well as
foot-passengers, were frightened, and tried to run away from danger,
requiring all the strength of their drivers to restrain them. Soon after
that excitement was over a detachment of soldiers came marching along,
with drums beating and colours flying, and everybody had to make way for
the valiant sons of Mars, no matter at what inconvenience to themselves.
And so it went on, one thing after another-