The landlady of the Grand Cerf received us with smiles.——
Had we both travelled on that one little velocipede?
—But J—— was in no humour for compliments.——
Could she give us a room?
There was not one in the house, she said; these autumn manœuvres had brought so many people to town. She had just that moment given up hers to two gentlemen who had telegraphed that they would arrive by a late train, and she and her daughter must spend the night in a friend’s house.
—She must have seen the despair in our eyes, for, before we had time to speak, she added, that she would send to a neighbour’s to see what could be done for us there.
Her messenger, however, came back to say there was not one room to spare. But suddenly, with a happy inspiration, the landlady bade us come in, and suggested that if we were willing to wait, and would be satisfied with makeshifts, she could put up two beds in a small dining-room so soon as dinner was over.—Makeshifts indeed! She was offering luxuries.——
In the meantime, since the two gentlemen had not arrived, we could use her room to prepare for dinner.
—Though the Grand Cerf was not the commercial house of Cosne, it was that night full of commercial gentlemen, ready for friendly talk. After dinner in its café J—— asked the waiter what there was in the town?——