who was called de L'Isle was a lieutenant in the same regiment; the
third son, who had the surname La Coste served, like my father, in the
Royal Bodyguard; the daughter was called Mlle. Du Puy,and she was my
mother.

My father became a close friend of M. Certain de La Coste, and it
would have been difficult to do otherwise, for quite apart from the
three months which they spent in quarters at Versailles during their
period of duty, the journeys which they made together, twice a year,
were bound to make a bond between them.

At that time public coaches were very few in number, dirty,
uncomfortable, and travelled by very short stages; also it was
considered not at all fashionable to ride in them. So, gentry who
were old or in poor health travelled by carriage, while the young and
officers in the armed forces went on horseback. There was an
established custom among the Bodyguard, which today would seem most
peculiar. As these gentlemen did only three months on duty, and as
in consequence the corps was split into four almost equal sections,
those of them who lived in Brittany, the Auvergne, Limousin and other
parts of the country where there were good small horses had bought a
number of these at a price not exceeding 100 francs, which included
the saddle and bridle. On a fixed day all the Bodyguards from the
same province, who were called to go and take up their duties, would
meet, on horseback, at an agreed spot and the cheerful caravanserai
would take the road for Versailles.

They made twelve to fifteen leagues each day, sure of finding
every evening, at an agreed and reasonable price, a good lodging and
a good supper at the inns previously arranged as stopping places.