se excursions; and on Sunday, the 30th of May,
he began his preparations. After reading all the extraordinary
advertisements which poor, blind and halt beggars distribute on the
street corners, he began to visit the stores with the intention of
looking about him only and of buying later on. First of all, he visited
a so-called American shoe store, where heavy travelling shoes were shown
him. The clerk brought out a kind of ironclad contrivance, studded with
spikes like a harrow, which he claimed to be made from Rocky Mountain
bison skin. He was so carried away with them that he would willingly
have bought two pair, but one was sufficient. He carried them away under
his arm, which soon became numb from the weight. He next invested in a
pair of corduroy trousers, such as carpenters wear, and a pair of
oiled canvas leggings. Then he needed a knapsack for his provisions, a
telescope so as to recognize villages perched on the slope of distant
hills, and finally, a government survey map to enable him to find his
way about without asking the peasants toiling in the fields. Lastly, in
order more comfortably to stand the heat, he decided to purchase a light
alpaca jacket offered by the famous firm of Raminau, according to their
advertisement, for the modest sum of six francs and fifty centimes. He
went to this store and was welcomed by a distinguished-looking young man
with a marvellous head of hair, nails as pink as those of a lady and a
pleasant smile. He showed him the garment. It did not correspond with
the glowing style of the advertisement. Then Patissot hesitatingly
asked, "Well, monsieur, will it wear well?" The young man turned his
eyes away in well-feigned embarrassment, like an honest man who does
not wish to deceive a customer, and, lowering his eyes, he said in
a hesitating manner: "Dear me, monsieur, you understand that for six
francs fifty we cannot turn out an article like this for instance." And
he showed him a much finer jacket than the first one. Patissot examined
it and asked the price. "Twelve francs fifty." It was very tempting,
but before deciding, he once more questioned the big young man, who was
observing him attentively. "And--is that good? Do you guarantee it?"
"Oh! certainly, monsieur, it is quite goad! But, of course, you must not
get it wet! Yes, it's really quite good, but you understand that there
are goods and goods. It's excellent for the price. Twelve francs fifty,
just think. Why, that's nothin