ot hard to please, as you see."
"We live in a poor country.
There is, in truth," added the wheelwright, "an old calash under the shed yonder, which belongs to a bourgeois of the town, who gave it to me to take care of, and who only uses it on the thirty-sixth of the month--never, that is to say.
I might let that to you, for what matters it to me?
But the bourgeois must not see it pass--and then, it is a calash; it would require two horses."
"I will take two post-horses."
"Where is Monsieur going?"
"To Arras."
"And Monsieur wishes to reach there to-day?"
"Yes, of course."
"By taking two post-horses?"
"Why not?"
"Does it make any difference whether Monsieur arrives at four o''clock to-morrow morning?"
"Certainly not."
"There is one thing to be said about that, you see, by taking post-horses-- Monsieur has his passport?"
"Yes."
"Well, by taking post-horses, Monsieur cannot reach Arras before to-morrow. We are on a cross-road. The relays are badly served, the horses are in the fields.
The season for ploughing is just beginning; heavy teams are required, and horses are seized upon everywhere, from the post as well as elsewhere.
Monsieur will have to wait three or four hours at the least at every relay. And, then, they drive at a walk.
There are many hills to ascend."