tradesman; but that, having said some severe things of the manufactures of Vire in his first publication,[165] relating to the civil history of the Bocains, his townsmen sharply resented what they considered as reflections thrown out against them; and M. Seguin was told that perhaps his personal safety was endangered ...  He wanted not a second hint—­but fled from home with precipitancy:  and in his absence the populace suspended his effigy, and burnt it before the door of his house.  This, however, did not cool the ardour of authorship in M. Seguin.  He set about publishing his military history of the Bocains; and in the introductory part took occasion to retort upon the violence of his persecutors.  To return to M. Seguin.  In about ten minutes he appeared, with two copies in his hand—­which I purchased, I thought dearly, at five francs each volume; or a napoleon for the four books.  After the adventures of this day, I need hardly tell you that I relished a substantial dinner at a late hour, and that I was well satisfied with Vire.

Yesterday M. de Larenaudiere made good his engagement, and dined with me at five, in the salle a manger.  This is a large inn; and if good fare depended upon the number and even elegance of female cooks, the traveller ought to expect the very best at the Cheval Blanc.  The afternoon was so inviting—­and my guest having volunteered his services to conduct me to the most beautiful points of view in the immediate neighbourhood—­that we each seemed to vie with the other in quickly dispatching what was placed before us; and within thirty-five minutes, from the moment of sitting down, we were in the outskirts of Vire.  Never shall I forget that afternoon’s ramble.  The sun seemed to become more of a golden hue, and the atmosphere to increase in clearness and serenity.  A thousand little songsters were warbling in the full-leaved branches of the trees; while the mingled notes of the blanchisseuses and the milk-maids, near the banks of the rippling stream below, reached us in a sort of wild and joyous harmony—­as we gazed down from the overhanging heights.  The meadows were spotted with sheep, and the orchards teemed with the coming fruit.  You may form some notion of the value of this rich and picturesque scenery, when I tell you that M. de Larenaudiere possesses land, in the immediate vicinity of Vire, which lets per acre at the rate of 6l. 6s. English.  My guide was all gaiety of heart, and activity of step.  I followed him through winding paths and devious tracks, amidst coppice-wood and fern—­not however till I had viewed, from one particular spot upon the heights, a most commanding and interesting panorama of the town of Vire.