“Very well, good night,” said I, closing the door hastily, and not liking the farther scrutiny of the fellow’s eye, as he fastened it on me, as if to search what precise degree of relationship existed between myself and my fair friend, whom he had called “Madame” purposely to elicit an observation from me.  “Ten to one though,” said I, as I undressed myself, “but they think she is my wife—­how good—­but again—­ay, it is very possible, considering we are in France.  Numero vingt-huit, quite far enough from this part of the house I should suppose from my number,—­that old gen-d’arme was a fine fellow—­what strong attachment to Napoleon; and the story of the pope; I hope I may remember that.  Isabella, poor girl —­this adventure must really distress her—­hope she is not crying over it —­what a devil of a hard bed—­and it is not five feet long too—­and, bless my soul, is this all by way of covering; why I shall be perished here.  Oh!  I must certainly put all my clothes over me in addition, unfortunately there is no hearth-rug—­well, there is no help for it now —­so let me try to sleep—­numero vingt-huit.”

How long I remained in a kind of uneasy, fitful slumber, I cannot tell; but I awoke shivering with cold—­puzzled to tell where I was, and my brain addled with the broken fragments of half a dozen dreams, all mingling and mixing themselves with the unpleasant realities of my situation.  What an infernal contrivance for a bed, thought I, as my head came thump against the top, while my legs projected far beyond the foot-rail; the miserable portion of clothing over me at the same time being only sufficient to temper the night air, which in autumn is occasionally severe and cutting.  This will never do.  I must ring the bell and rouse the house, if only to get a fire, if they don’t possess such a thing as blankets.  I immediately rose, and groping my way along the wall endeavoured to discover the bell, but in vain; and for the same satisfactory reason that Von Troil did not devote one chapter of his work on “Iceland” to “snakes,” because there were none such there.  What was now to be done?  About the geography of my present abode I knew, perhaps, as much as the public at large know about the Coppermine river and Behring’s straits.  The world, it was true, was before me, “where top choose,” admirable things for an epic, but decidedly an unfortunate circumstance for a very cold gentleman in search of a blanket.  Thus thinking, I opened the door of my chamber, and not in any way resolved how I should proceed, I stepped forth into the long corridor, which was dark as midnight itself.