me to understand, had set out four hours
before, after having told them I was a little indisposed, and desired I
might not be disturbed, but be informed when I should wake, that he had
taken the road to Noyons, where he would wait for my coming, at the Coq
d'Or. I spoke not a word, but with a heavy heart directed my course to
that place, at which I arrived in the afternoon, fainting with weariness
and hunger; but learned to my utter confusion, that no such person had
been there! It was happy for me that I had a good deal of resentment
in my constitution, which animated me on such occasions against the
villainy of mankind, and enabled me to bear misfortunes, otherwise
intolerable. Boiling with indignation, I discovered to the host my
deplorable condition, and inveighed with great bitterness against the
treachery of Balthazar; at which he shrugged up his shoulders, and
with a peculiar grimace on his countenance, said, he was sorry for my
misfortune, but there was no remedy like patience. At that instant some
guests arrived, to whom he hastened to offer his service, leaving me
mortified at his indifference, and fully persuaded that an innkeeper is
the same sordid animal all the world over.

While I stood in the porch forlorn and undetermined, venting
ejaculations of curses against the thief who had robbed me, and the old
priest who recommended him to my friendship, a young gentleman richly
dressed, attended by a valet de chambre and two servants in livery,
arrived at the inn. I thought I perceived a great deal of sweetness and
good-nature in his countenance; therefore he had no sooner alighted
than I accosted him, and, in a few words, explained my situation: he
listened with great politeness, and, when I made an end of my story,
said, "Well, monsieur, what would you have me to do?" I was effectually
abashed at this interrogation, which, I believe, no man of common sense
or generosity could make, and made no other compliment than a low bow:
he returned the compliment still lower, and tripped into an apartment,
while the landlord let me know that my standing there to interrupt
company gave offence, and might do him infinite prejudice. He had no
occasion to repeat his insinuation; I moved from the place immediately,
and was so much transported with grief, anger, and disdain, that a
torrent of blood gushed from my nostrils. In this ecstacy, I quitted
Noyons, and betook myself to the fields, where I wandered about like one
dist