XXXV + 

As I perceived the commissary of the post-office would have his six livres four sous, I had nothing else for it, but to say some smart thing upon the occasion, worth the money: + 

And so I set off thus:вБ†вЄЇвБ† + 

вЄЇвБ†And pray, Mr.¬†Commissary, by what law of courtesy is a defenceless stranger to be used just the reverse from what you use a Frenchman in this matter? + 

By no means; said he. + 

Excuse me; said IвБ†вАФfor you have begun, Sir, with first tearing off my breechesвБ†вАФand now you want my pocketвБ†вЄЇвБ† + 

WhereasвБ†вАФhad you first taken my pocket, as you do with your own peopleвБ†вАФand then left me bare aвБ†вЄЇвАЩd afterвБ†вАФI had been a beast to have complainвАЩdвБ†вЄЇвБ† + 

As it isвБ†вЄЇвБ† + 

вЄЇвАЩTis contrary to the law of nature. + 

вЄЇвАЩTis contrary to reason. + 

вЄЇвАЩTis contrary to the gospel. + 

But not to thisвБ†вЄЇвБ†said heвБ†вАФputting a printed paper into my hand, + 

Par le Roy. + 

вЄЇвЄЇвАЩTis a pithy prolegomenon, quoth IвБ†вАФand so read onвБ†вЄївЄї¬≠вЄївЄї¬≠вЄївЄї¬≠вЄївЄї¬≠вЄївЄї¬≠вЄївЄї¬≠вЄївЄї¬≠вЄївЄї¬≠вЄївЄї¬≠вЄївЄї¬≠вЄївЄї¬≠вЄївЄї¬≠вЄївЄї¬≠вЄївЄї¬≠вЄївЄї¬≠вЄївЄї¬≠вЄївЄї¬≠вЄївЄї¬≠вЄївЄї¬≠вЄївЄї¬≠вЄївЄї¬≠вЄївЄї¬≠вЄївЄї¬≠вЄївЄї¬≠вЄївЄї¬≠вЄївЄї¬≠вЄївЄї¬≠вЄївЄї¬≠вЄївЄї¬≠вЄївЄї + 

вЄЇвБ†By all which it appears, quoth I, having read it over, a little too rapidly, that if a man sets out in a post-chaise from ParisвБ†вАФhe must go on travelling in one, all the days of his lifeвБ†вАФor pay for it.вБ†вАФExcuse me, said the commissary, the spirit of the ordinance is thisвБ†вАФThat if you set out with an intention of running post from Paris to Avignon, etc., you shall not change that intention or mode of travelling, without first satisfying the fermiers for two posts further than the place you repent atвБ†вАФand вАЩtis founded, continued he, upon this, that the revenues are not to fall short through your ficklenessвБ†вЄЇвБ† + 

вЄЇвБ†O by heavens! cried IвБ†вАФif fickleness is taxable in FranceвБ†вАФwe have nothing to do but to make the best peace with you we canвБ†вЄЇвБ† + 

And so the peace was made; + 

вЄЇвБ†And if it is a bad oneвБ†вАФas Tristram Shandy laid the cornerstone of itвБ†вАФnobody but Tristram Shandy ought to be hanged. + 