James Henry Yoxall

Alain Tanger's Wife James Henry Yoxall

This historic book may have numerous typos or missing text. Not indexed. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1903. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... ALAIN TANGER"S WIFE A ROMANCE OF 1899 THE THRESHOLD OF THE ADVENTURE I "Advised, when he came to a strange city, to worship the gods of the place." FIVE gay cracks of the whip announced the coming of five guests, and the collar-bells jangled cheerily as with "Hep!" and "Eup!" our coachee swung us into the courtyard of the Rusty Lance. Madame herself received us; "M'sieur!" bowed Madame the buxom; I lifted my hat with almost Gallic grace. I was third to step from the voiture but first to be served with a room. For am I not M'sieur the Angliche, at Brivac the rarest of birds? "But certainly, M'sieur,--a good room, our best,--the Number Seven." "I thank you, Madame," said I. "One likes well to give M'sieur the Number Seven," she smiled. "It is our most grand, it is the chamber historic. M'sieur will be charmed! It is a chamber of a double bed, however, and--M'sieur is sole? M'sieur is not accompanied? By his dame?" I winced. "No, my faith. No, indeed!" "Ah, it will matter nothing, that: Patrice, the Number Seven." And Madame turned to attend to her other newcoming guests. Confound my marriage! It jars me everywhere. "M'sieur milor' is sole?" even Patrice queried, as he led the way upstairs. "M'sieur brings not his dame to the Lance? Ah! M'sieur is sole for the moment, yes!" he grinned, as we passed along an open gallery. "But M'sieur milor' goes to have his dame here by-and-by?" I winced again, but I carried it off. "Why so, Patrick,--why?" I said. "Why, my exile of Erin?" For the fellow is the most Irish of Frenchmen, frank and rufous and droll, with sun and laughter in his eyes, and a pug-nose freckled. "Why so, my arrah-na-pogue?" He heaved up his shoulders and spread out his hands, dropping my kit-bag to do it. "The chamber historic, behold! is a chamber ...