The Last of the Foresters eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 411 pages of information about The Last of the Foresters.

The Last of the Foresters eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 411 pages of information about The Last of the Foresters.

The younger traveller could not, and would not—­a room.

The landlord assumed a dogged expression, and replied that he made no distinction among his guests.  What was good enough for one was good enough for all.

Then, the young traveller said, he would not stay in such a place.

The host replied, that he might go and welcome—­the sooner the better—­he wanted no lofty foreign gentlemen with their airs, etc.

The two gentlemen bowed with grave politeness, and made a sign to their servants, who came forward, looking with terrible frowns at Boniface.

Prepare the carriage to set out again—­they would not dine there.

How Monseigneur would go on in spite of—­

Enough—­Monseigneur would consult them when it was necessary.  Harness the horses again.

The result of which command was, that in ten minutes the two gentlemen were again upon the road.

The landlord watched them, with a frown, as they departed.  He then bethought him of the book where the servant had inscribed their names, and opened it.  On the page was written: 

“MR. LOUIS PHILLIPPE,
“MR. MONTPENSIER,
PARIS.”

The landlord had driven from his establishment the future king of the French, and his brother, because they wanted a private apartment to dine in.

The common version that the Duke was personally assaulted, and turned out, is a mere fiction—­our own account is the proper and true one.

So Bousch’s Tavern was only fated to be historical, when Mr. Jinks approached it—­that character having not yet been attached to it.  Whether the absence of such associations affected the larder in Mr. Jinks’ opinion, we cannot say—­probably not, however.

Certain is it that Jinks entered with dignity, and accosted the fat, ruddy, German landlord, Mr. Bousch, and proceeding to do what a quarter of a century afterwards a Duke imitated him in, asked for a private chamber.  Mr. Bousch seemed to see nothing improper in this request, and even smiled an assent when Jinks, still scowling, requested that a measure of Jamaica rum might be dispatched before him, to his chamber.

Jinks then strolled out to the pathway before the tavern, and looked around him.

Suddenly there came out of the stable yard a young man, mounted on a shaggy horse, which young man was clad in a forest costume, and held a rifle in his hand.

Jinks directed a terrible glance toward him, and started forward.

As the horseman came out of the gateway, he found the road obstructed by Mr. Jinks, whose drawn sword was in his hand.

“Back! rash youth!” cried Jinks, with terrible emphasis, “or this sword shall split thy carcass—­back!”

And the speaker flashed the sword so near to Cloud’s eyes that he tossed up his head and nearly reared.

Verty had been gazing at the sky, and was scarcely conscious of Mr. Jinks’ presence;—­but the movement made by Cloud aroused him.  He looked at the sword wonderingly.

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Project Gutenberg
The Last of the Foresters from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.