England. The extreme flatness of the country surprised him, and,
except in the quaintness of the villages and the variety of the
church towers, he saw little to admire during the journey.

"If it is all like this," he thought to himself, "I don't see that
they have any reason for calling it La belle France."

Of Paris he saw little. A blue-bloused porter carried his trunk what
seemed to Harry a long distance from the place where the conveyance
stopped. The streets here were quiet and almost deserted after the
busy thoroughfares of the central city. The houses stood, for the
most part, back from the street, with high walls and heavy gates.

"Here we are at last," his guide said, as he halted before a large
and massive gateway, surmounted by a coat of arms with supporters
carved in stone work. He rang at the bell, which was opened by a
porter in livery, who bowed profoundly upon seeing M. du Tillet.
Passing through the doorway, Harry found himself in a spacious
hall, decorated with armour and arms. As he crossed the threshold
M. du Tillet took his hand and shook it heartily, saying, "Welcome!"
Harry understood the action, though not the words, and nodded,
saying:

"I think I shall get on capitally if they are all as jolly as you
are."

Then they both laughed, and Harry looked round wondering what was
coming next.

"The marquis and his family are all away at their chateau near