It really is past bearing, and that’s the long and short of the matter.”  This exclamation roused all the party, who began yawning and rubbing their eyes and looking at their watches.  The windows also were lowered to take in fresh air, and on looking out they found themselves rolling along a sandy road, lined on each side with apple-trees, whose branches were “groaning” with fruit.  They breakfasted at Beaumont, and had a regular spread of fish, beef-steak, mutton-chops, a large joint of hot roast veal, roast chickens, several yards of sour bread, grapes, peaches, pears, and plums, with vin ordinaire, and coffee au lait; but Mr. Jorrocks was off his feed, and stood all the time to ease his haunches.

Towards three in the afternoon they caught the first glimpse of the gilded dome of the Hospital of Invalids, which was a signal for all the party to brush up and make themselves agreeable.  Even the three-hundred-thousand miler opened out, and began telling some wonderful anecdotes, while the Countess and Mr. Jorrocks carried on a fierce flirtation, or whatever else they pleased to call it.  At last, after a deal of jargon, he broke off by appealing to the Yorkshireman to know what “inn” they should “put up at” in Paris.  “I don’t know, I’m sure,” said he; “it depends a good deal upon how you mean to live.  As you pay my shot it does not do for beggars to be choosers; but suppose we try Meurice’s” “Oh no,” replied Mr. Jorrocks, “her ladyship tells me it is werry expensive, for the English always pay through the nose if they go to English houses in Paris; and, as we talk French, we can put up at a French one, you know.”  “Well, then, we can try one of the French ones in the Rue de la Paix.”  “Rue de la Pay! no, by Jove, that won’t do for me—­the werry name is enough—­no Rue de la Pay for me, at least if I have to pay the shot.”  “Well, then, you must get your friend there to tell you of some place, for I don’t care twopence, as long as I have a bed, where it is.”  The Countess and he then laid their heads together again, and when the diligence stopped to change horses at St. Denis, Mr. Jorrocks asked the Yorkshireman to alight, and taking him aside, announced with great glee that her ladyship, finding they were strangers in the land, had most kindly invited them to stay with her, and that she had a most splendid house in the Rue des Mauvais-Garcons, ornamented with mirrors, musical clocks, and he didn’t know what, and kept the best company in all France, marquesses, barons, viscounts, authors, etc.  Before the Yorkshireman had time to reply, the conducteur came and hurried them back into the diligence, and closed the door with a bang, to be sure of having his passengers there while he and the postilion shuffled the cards and cut for a glass of eau-de-vie apiece.