“‘I have given you my ticket,’ said I, looking at him inquiringly.

    “‘This one is not for Liancourt:  it is for Creil.’

    “‘I was going to Creil, only the train brought me past.’

    “‘Exactly, and you will please pay for the extra distance,’ said he
    politely.

“It was too much.  I had the misfortune of being carried out of my way, and this exasperating clerk was coolly asking me to pay the company a premium for the result of the conductor’s carelessness.  It was one of those situations in which words fail to express the extent of your indignation.  The fellow’s audacity verged on the sublime.  He stood there with the calmness of a hero.  And what did I do?  Why, I paid him.  But I tell you truly that I have hated that whole railroad company with the blackest hatred ever since.  That was not all.  As soon as he received the provoking money—­I wish it had been red hot—­he turned on his heel and walked into his office.

“But it was not the time to indulge in resentment:  I must act promptly.  The people there when I arrived were fast dispersing.  I addressed myself to a half-grown boy who was standing near me:  ’When does the next train go to Paris?’ I thought I had better return and start afresh in the morning.

    “‘The last has gone for to-night,’ answered the lad.

    “‘Are you quite sure?’

    “He gave his head a decisive jerk.

    “‘How far is this place from Creil?’

    “‘About five miles.’

    “‘Can I get a carriage to take me there?’

    “‘No.’  This time he looked for corroboration to the group who had
    gathered round us, all of whom with one accord wagged their heads in
    the negative.

    “‘Is there a hotel here?’

    “‘No.’

    “‘Isn’t it a town?’

    “‘No,’ much intensified.

“I knew that there are many stations in France consisting of a single building located in the midst of fields:  these places take their names from the nearest town (which may be several miles distant), and are marked on the maps by a black spot like a hyphen:  many of them are served by an omnibus.  I found, on further questioning, that this was one of the aforesaid black spots, minus the omnibus.

    “‘What is the nearest town?’ I continued.

    “‘Liancourt is a little more than a mile off, but it is a village.’

    “‘Is there an inn there?’

    “‘I believe there is.’

“By this time most of my audience had satisfied their curiosity and departed, leaving only the boy, and an old man who attracted my attention.  He held a lantern which illuminated a kindly, weatherbeaten face, looking like that of an old sailor.  I discovered later that he had come from Normandy, and like most Normans had spent half his life on the waves.  He seemed interested in my hapless plight:  perhaps he would assist me.

    “‘I want to go back to Creil’ (I knew I should find a hotel there): 
    ‘won’t you come with me and show me the way with your lantern?’