d to tumbling in one particular direction--which, if so, must have
been somewhat of a tyranny, seeing they were but men, and Belgians.

'This might seem all very absurd and very fabulous if I referred to a
number of years back; but when I say that the code still exists, in the
year of grace, 1856, what will they say at Melton or Grantham? So you
may imagine,' said Laura, on concluding her description, which she gave
with much humour, 'how manifold your transgressions have been this day.
You have offended the _grand maitre, maitres_, and aspirants, in one
_coup_; you have broken up the whole "order of their going."'

'And run away with the belle of the chateau,' added I, _pour comble de
hardiesse_. She did not seem half to relish my jest, however; and gave
a little shake of the head, as though to say, 'You're not out of _that_
scrape yet.'

Thus did we chat over our dinner, which was really excellent, the host's
eulogy on the Meuse trout being admirably sustained by their merits; nor
did his flask of Haut-Brion lower the character of his cellar. Still
no note of preparation seemed to indicate any arrangements for our
departure; and although, sooth to say, I could have reconciled myself
wonderfully to the inconvenience of the Toison d'Or for the whole week
if necessary, Laura was becoming momentarily more impatient, as she
said--

'_Do_ see if they are getting anything like a carriage ready, or even
horses; we can ride, if they'll only get us animals.'

As I entered the little kitchen of the inn, I found my host stretched
at ease in a wicker chair, surrounded by a little atmosphere of smoke,
through which his great round face loomed like the moon in the grotesque
engravings one sees in old spelling-books. So far from giving himself
any unnecessary trouble about our departure, he had never ventured
beyond the precincts of the stove, contenting himself with a wholesome
monologue on the impossibility of our desires, and that great Flemish
consolation, that however we might chafe at first, time would calm us in
the end.

After a fruitless interrogation about the means of proceeding, I asked
if there were no chateau in the vicinity where horses could be borrowed.

He replied,' No, not one for miles round.'

'Is there no mayor in the village--where is he?'

'I am the mayor,' replied he, with a conscious dignity.

'Alas!' thought I, as the functionary of Givet crossed my mind, 'why
did I not remember that the mayor is