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approaching mission to that neighbourhood； the honour of the company
of cet homme si justement celebre； Monsieur le Capitaine Richard
Doubledick。
Captain Doubledick； now a hardy； handsome man in the full vigour of
life； broader across the chest and shoulders than he had ever been
before； dispatched a courteous reply； and followed it in person。
Travelling through all that extent of country after three years of
Peace； he blessed the better days on which the world had fallen。
The corn was golden； not drenched in unnatural red； was bound in
sheaves for food； not trodden underfoot by men in mortal fight。 The
smoke rose up from peaceful hearths； not blazing ruins。 The carts
were laden with the fair fruits of the earth； not with wounds and
death。 To him who had so often seen the terrible reverse； these
things were beautiful indeed； and they brought him in a softened
spirit to the old chateau near Aix upon a deep blue evening。
It was a large chateau of the genuine old ghostly kind； with round
towers； and extinguishers； and a high leaden roof； and more windows
than Aladdin's Palace。 The lattice blinds were all thrown open
after the heat of the day； and there were glimpses of rambling walls
and corridors within。 Then there were immense out…buildings fallen
into partial decay； masses of dark trees； terrace…gardens；
balustrades； tanks of water； too weak to play and too dirty to work；
statues； weeds； and thickets of iron railing that seemed to have
overgrown themselves like the shrubberies； and to have branched out
in all manner of wild shapes。 The entrance doors stood open； as
doors often do in that country when the heat of the day is past； and
the Captain saw no bell or knocker； and walked in。
He walked into a lofty stone hall； refreshingly cool and gloomy
after the glare of a Southern day's travel。 Extending along the
four sides of this hall was a gallery； leading to suites of rooms；
and it was lighted from the top。 Still no bell was to be seen。
〃Faith；〃 said the Captain halting； ashamed of the clanking of his
boots； 〃this is a ghostly beginning！〃
He started back； and felt his face turn white。 In the gallery；
looking down at him； stood the French officerthe officer whose
picture he had carried in his mind so long and so far。 Compared
with the original； at lastin every lineament how like it was！
He moved； and disappeared； and Captain Richard Doubledick heard his
steps coming quickly down own into the hall。 He entered through an
archway。 There was a bright； sudden look upon his face； much such a
look as it had worn in that fatal moment。
Monsieur le Capitaine Richard Doubledick？ Enchanted to receive him！
A thousand apologies！ The servants were all out in the air。 There
was a little fete among them in the garden。 In effect； it was the
fete day of my daughter； the little cherished and protected of
Madame Taunton。
He was so gracious and so frank that Monsieur le Capitaine Richard
Doubledick could not withhold his hand。 〃It is the hand of a brave
Englishman；〃 said the French officer； retaining it while he spoke。
〃I could respect a brave Englishman； even as my foe； how much more
as my friend！ I also am a soldier。〃
〃He has not remembered me； as I have remembered him； he did not take
such note of my face； that day； as I took of his；〃 thought Captain
Richard Doubledick。 〃How shall I tell him？〃
The French officer conducted his guest into a garden and presented
him to his wife； an engaging and beautiful woman； sitting with Mrs。
Taunton in a whimsical old…fashioned pavilion。 His daughter； her
fair young face beaming with joy； came running to embrace him； and
there was a boy…baby to tumble down among the orange trees on the
broad steps； in making for his father's legs。 A multitude of
children visitors were dancing to sprightly music； and all the
servants and peasants about the chateau were dancing too。 It was a
scene of innocent happiness that might have been invented for the
climax of the scenes of peace which had soothed the Captain's
journey。
He looked on； greatly troubled in his mind； until a resounding bell
rang； and the French officer begged to show him his rooms。 They
went upstairs into the gallery from which the officer had looked
down； and Monsieur le Capitaine Richard Doubledick was cordially
welcomed to a grand outer chamber； and a smaller one within； all
clocks and draperies； and hearths； and brazen dogs； and tiles； and
cool devices； and elegance； and vastness。
〃You were at Waterloo；〃 said the French officer。
〃I was；〃 said Captain Richard Doubledick。 〃And at Badajos。〃
Left alone with the sound of his own stern voice in his ears； he sat
down to consider； What shall I do； and how shall I tell him？ At
that time； unhappily； many deplorable duels had been fought between
English and French officers； arising out of the recent war； and
these duels； and how to avoid this officer's hospitality； were the
uppermost thought in Captain Richard Doubledick's mind。
He was thinking； and letting the time run out in which he should
have dressed for dinner； when Mrs。 Taunton spoke to him outside the
door； asking if he could give her the letter he had brought from
Mary。 〃His mother； above all；〃 the Captain thought。 〃How shall I
tell her？〃
〃You will form a friendship with your host； I hope；〃 said Mrs。
Taunton； whom he hurriedly admitted； 〃that will last for life。 He
is so true…hearted and so generous； Richard； that you can hardly
fail to esteem one another。 If He had been spared；〃 she kissed （not
without tears） the locket in which she wore his hair； 〃he would have
appreciated him with his own magnanimity； and would have been truly
happy that the evil days were past which made such a man his enemy。〃
She left the room； and the Captain walked； first to one window；
whence he could see the dancing in the garden； then to another
window； whence he could see the smiling prospect and the peaceful
vineyards。
〃Spirit of my departed friend；〃 said he； 〃is it through thee these
better thoughts are rising in my mind？ Is it thou who hast shown
me； all the way I have been drawn to meet this man； the blessings of
the altered time？ Is it thou who hast sent thy stricken mother to
me； to stay my angry hand？ Is it from thee the whisper comes； that
this man did his duty as thou didst；and as I did； through thy
guidance； which has wholly saved me here on earth；and that he did
no more？〃
He sat down； with his head buried in his hands； and； when he rose
up； made the second strong resolution of his life；that neither to
the French officer； nor to the mother of his departed friend； nor to
any soul； while either of the two was living； would he breathe what
only he knew。 And when he touched that French officer's glass with
his own； that day at dinner； he secretly forgave him in the name of
the Divine Forgiver of injuries。
Here I ended my story as the first Poor Traveller。 But； if I had
told it now； I could have added that the time has since come when
the son of Major Richard Doubledick； and the son of that French
officer； friends as their fathers were before them； fought side by
side in one cause； with their respective nations； like long…divided
brothers whom the better times have brought together； fast united。
CHAPTER IIITHE ROAD
My story being finished； and the Wassail too； we broke up as the
Cathedral bell struck Twelve。 I did not take leave of my travellers
that night； for it had come into my head to reappear； in conjunction
with some hot coffee； at seven in the morning。
As I passed along the High Street； I heard the Waits at a distance；
and struck off to find them。 They were playing near one of the old
gates of the City； at the corner of a wonderfully quaint row of red…
brick tenements； which the clarionet obligingly informed me were
inhabited by the Minor…Canons。 They had odd little porches over the
doors； like sounding…boards over old pulpits； and I thought I should
like to see one of the Minor…Canons come out upon his top stop； and
favour us with a little Christmas discourse about the poor scholars
of Rochester； taking for his text the words of his Master relative
to the devouring of Widows' houses。
The clarionet was so communicative； and my inclinations were （as
they generally are） of so vagabond a tendency； that I accompanied
the Waits across an open green called the Vines； and assistedin
the French senseat the performance of two waltzes； two polkas； and
three Irish melodies； before I thought of my inn any more。 However；
I returned to it then； and found a fiddle in the kitchen； and Ben；
the wall…eyed young man； and two chambermaids； circling round the
great deal table with the utmost animation。
I had a very bad night。 It cannot have been owing to the turkey or
the beef；and the Wassail is out of the questionbut in every
e