Non-Fiction > Books > London, 1878 - Inland voyage

Prdcy and the Marmiettes, 229
You should hear him recounting his ex-
periences over a bottle of wine ; such a pleasant
vein of talk as he has, with a ready smile at his
own mishaps, and every now and then a sudden
gravity, like a man who should hear the surf
roar while he was telling the perils of the deep.
For it was no longer ago than last night, perhaps,
that the receipts only amounted to a franc and
a half, to cover three francs of railway fare and
two of board and lodging. The Matj-e, a man
worth a million of money, sat in the front seat,
repeatedly applauding Mdlle. Ferrario^ and yet
gave no more than three sons the whole even-
ing. Local authorities look with such an evil
eye upon the strolling artist. Alas ! I know it
well, who have been myself taken for one, and
pitilessly incarcerated on the strength of the
misapprehension. Once, M. de Vauversin visited
a commisary of police for permission to sing.
The commissary, who was smoking at his ease.