XXXIV + 

вЄЇвБ†But it is an indubitable verity, continued I, addressing myself to the commissary, changing only the form of my asseverationвБ†вЄЇвБ†that I owe the king of France nothing but my goodwill; for he is a very honest man, and I wish him all health and pastime in the worldвБ†вЄЇвБ† + 

Pardonnez moiвБ†вАФreplied the commissary, you are indebted to him six livres four sous, for the next post from hence to St.¬†Fons, in your route to AvignonвБ†вАФwhich being a post royal, you pay double for the horses and postillionвБ†вАФotherwise вАЩtwould have amounted to no more than three livres two sousвБ†вЄЇвБ† + 

вЄЇвБ†But I donвАЩt go by land; said I. + 

вЄЇвБ†You may if you please; replied the commissaryвБ†вЄЇвБ† + 

Your most obedient servantвБ†вЄЇвБ†said I, making him a low bowвБ†вЄЇвБ† + 

The commissary, with all the sincerity of grave good breedingвБ†вАФmade me one, as low again.вБ†вЄЇвБ†I never was more disconcerted with a bow in my life. + 

вЄЇвБ†The devil take the serious character of these people! quoth IвБ†вАФ(aside) they understand no more of irony than thisвБ†вЄЇвБ† + 

The comparison was standing close by with his panniersвБ†вАФbut something sealвАЩd up my lipsвБ†вАФI could not pronounce the nameвБ†вАФ + 

Sir, said I, collecting myselfвБ†вАФit is not my intention to take postвБ†вЄЇвБ† + 

вАФBut you mayвБ†вАФsaid he, persisting in his first replyвБ†вАФyou may take post if you chooseвБ†вЄЇвБ† + 

вАФAnd I may take salt to my pickled herring, said I, if I chooseвБ†вЄЇвБ† + 

вАФBut I do not chooseвБ†вАФ + 

вАФBut you must pay for it, whether you do or no. + 

Aye! for the salt; said I (I know)вБ†вЄЇвБ† + 

вАФAnd for the post too; added he. Defend me! cried IвБ†вЄЇвБ† + 

I travel by waterвБ†вАФI am going down the Rh√іne this very afternoonвБ†вАФmy baggage is in the boatвБ†вАФand I have actually paid nine livres for my passageвБ†вЄЇвБ† + 

CвАЩest tout egalвБ†вАФвАЩtis all one; said he. + 

Bon Dieu! what, pay for the way I go! and for the way I do not¬†go! + 

вЄЇвБ†CвАЩest tout egal; replied the commissaryвБ†вЄЇвБ† + 

вЄЇвБ†The devil it is! said IвБ†вАФbut I will go to ten thousand Bastiles firstвБ†вЄЇвБ† + 

O England! England! thou land of liberty, and climate of good sense, thou tenderest of mothersвБ†вАФand gentlest of nurses, cried I, kneeling upon one knee, as I was beginning my apostrophe. + 

When the director of Madam Le BlancвАЩs conscience coming in at that instant, and seeing a person in black, with a face as pale as ashes, at his devotionsвБ†вАФlooking still paler by the contrast and distress of his draperyвБ†вАФaskвАЩd, if I stood in want of the aids of the churchвБ†вЄЇвБ† + 

I go by waterвБ†вАФsaid IвБ†вАФand hereвАЩs another will be for making me pay for going by oil. + 