After walking for a very long time, I stopped in a village in front of a wine shop. I went in and ordered dinner, with the assurance of a government messenger. I was well treated; I had an open, honest face, and I jingled my money as I hopped about the kitchen and uncovered all the dishes in order to select what I wanted. The host watched me laughingly and let me do as I chose. He served a good dinner and gave me white wine and red wine. A little hunchback, who was dining at a table near me, examined me closely. He tried to enter into conversation with me and find out where I came from and where I was going; but as I have never liked inquisitive people and as the little hunchback’s remarks displeased me, I looked at him without answering, or whistled and sang while he was talking. When I was well filled, I asked the host how much he wanted; the rascal asked me fifteen francs for my dinner. I made a wry face; but I paid the bill and left the inn, reflecting that my louis, which was to last forever, would not suffice to pay for a second meal, if I chose to continue to play the nobleman. The place where I had dined and which I had taken for a village was Saint-Germain; I asked the way to the forest and resumed my journey, stopping only to jump ditches, and to belabor donkeys that I happened to pass. As I was entering Poissy, I heard a horse trotting behind me; I stopped and recognized my hunchback, who was riding a raw-boned little horse, which he was obliged to strike constantly with the spur and the whip; else the animal would have stopped every few steps. He ceased to crack his whip when he was beside me, and contented himself with a walk, in order to remain at my side. He tried to enter into conversation, and as I was beginning to be tired then, and the croup of a horse, however thin the beast might be, seemed to me a very agreeable seat, I displayed less pride, and talked with the hunchback. “Where are you going at this rate, my dear boy?” he asked me. “Why, I don’t exactly know. I mean to travel, to see the country and enjoy myself.” “Have you no parents?” “Oh, yes! But they are in Paris and want me to pass my time in reading and writing; I got tired of that and I came away.” “I understand; a piece of folly! a youthful escapade! Oh! I know what it is. That’s about all one sees now.--But have you much money for your travels?” “I have nine francs.” “Nine francs! Hum! you’ll have to eat wild cow.”[A] [A] _Manger de la vache enragée: i.e._, to endure hunger and privation. “What do you mean with your cow? I ate chicken and eels and pigeons and ducks.” “Yes, but you spent fifteen francs, and with the nine you’ve left, you can’t eat three more meals like that.” I made no reply, but I realized that the hunchback was right; and yet, as I had a will of my own, and as I was accustomed to make up my mind quickly, I looked at the little man with a decided air, and said to him after a moment: “All right! I will eat cow.”