"Nevertheless your house, whether that of Nostradamus or
not, is undoubtedly interesting, mademoiselle; quaint and ancient,
and worthy of careful examination."

" Oh, as to that, it is old enough," said mademoiselle — " as I
find to my cost," she added laughing, " for now a door comes
off its hinges, and now a casement gives way, and now a
wainscotting falls down, and now a foot goes through a rotten
stair. The latter is a most uncomfortable sensation. You feel
as if you were going down into the bowels of the earth, or as if
Mephistopheles were running off with you as he ran off with
that wicked Faust. Served him right, I always say. Du reste,
messieurs, you are welcome to inspect the house. Vous etes
les bien-venus. Pray come in, and I will have the pleasure of
doing the honours."

At this moment an agonised shriek went through the house,
startling the ancient echoes.
" What is it now ? " cried Mademoiselle Charlotte in affright.
" What is the matter now, Babette ? "

" Another rotten stair has given way, mademoiselle," shrieked
a terrified voice. "This time my whole leg is engulfed, and I
cannot extricate it. A — h ! a rat is nibbling at my shoe I I
shall die of horror ! A — h ! — h ! Au secours ! " The screams
augmented.
" Let me hasten ! " cried H. C, ever ready to rescue distressed
damsels. And he brushed past us and rapidly disappeared in
the direction of the sounds.
" That Babette will be the death of me yet," said
mademoiselle as we proceeded more leisurely towards the



246 IN THE VALLEY OF THE RHONE.
