On the morning after my entrance into this family, I rang the bell of my bed-chamber, and requested a French servant to bring me hot water; in answer to this he replied, “_toute a l’heure_,” with the meaning of which I was at the time totally ignorant: after waiting a quarter of an hour, I rang again, and received the same reply, “_toute a l’heure_,” but with no better result: I again repeated my application, it was still “_toute a l’heure_:” at length, after, the lapse of an hour, he brought the water. At breakfast, I took the opportunity of inquiring the signification of this convenient expression, requesting to be informed, whether it implied any specific time, when they told me it meant “immediately.” I thought, however, in the present instance, that the action did not suit the word. It may be expected, that I should make some remarks concerning the Parisian theatres, and other places of amusement; however my ignorance of the language, and want of vision, as well as the state of the weather, diminished the ardour of the desires which I possessed, on entering Paris, to visit these scenes; however, the many recent accounts that have been published, leave me no cause to regret the omission. For similar reasons I am prevented from attempting any description of this grand city; and, therefore, in lieu of it, beg leave to offer the following laconic and popular _petite chanson_. LE PORTRAIT DE PARIS. Amour; marriage; divorce; Naissance; mort; enterrement; Fausse vertu; brillante écorce; Petit esprit; grand sentiment; Dissipateurs; prèteurs sur gages; Hommes de lettres; financiers; Financiers; créanciers; maltotiers, et rentiers; Tiedes amis; femmes volages; riches galants; Pauvres maris. Voilà Paris! Voilà Paris! Là des commères qui bavardent; Là des viellards; là des enfans; Là des aveugles qui regardent Ce que leur donnent les passant; Restorateurs; apoticaires; commis; pedants; Taileurs; voleurs; rimailleurs, ferrailleurs; Aboyeurs; juges de paix, et gens de guerre; Tendrons vendu, quittè, repris. Voilà Paris! Voilà Paris! Maints gazetiers; maints impostures; Maints enneuyeux; maints ennuyés; Beaucoup de fripons en voitures; Beaucoup d’honnêtes gens à pied; Les jeunes gens portent lunettes; Le vieux visage rajeuni; Rajeunis bien garnis, bien garnis de vernis; Acteurs; ventes; marionettes; grand melodrames; Plats ecris. Voilà Paris! Voilà Paris! The week now drawing to a close, I prepared to quit Paris; in particular, I had my passport arranged, a point frequently attended with much trouble, as it must in the first instance be procured from the police, then presented for the signature of the English ambassador, after which it is returned to the police, and some other office, for their definitive signatures, before the individual is permitted to depart. CHAP. III. JOURNEY TO BORDEAUX.