We proceeded, without farther challenge, until we came to a very
magnificent house, with some fine trees before it. We approached the door,
and rung the doorbell. It was immediately opened, and we entered a large
desolate, looking vestibule, about thirty feet square, filled in the centre
with a number of bales of goods, and a variety of merchandise, while a
heavy wooden stair, with clumsy oak balustrades, wound round the sides of
it. We ascended, and, turning to the right, entered a large well furnished
room, with a table laid out for supper, with lights, and a comfortable
stove at one end. Three young officers of cuirassiers, in their superb
uniforms, whose breast and back pieces were glittering on a neighbouring
sofa, and a colonel of artillery, were standing round the stove. The
colonel, the moment we entered, addressed my conductor:
"Ah,-----, we are devilish hungry--Ich bin dem Verhungern nahe and were
just on the point of ordering in the provender had you not appeared."
"A little more than that," thought I; for the food was already smoking on
the table.
Mine host acknowledged the speech with a slight smile.
"But who have we here?" said one of the young dragoons. He waited a
moment "Etes--vous Francais?" I gave him no answer. He then addressed me
in German--"Sprechen sie geldufig Deutsch?"
"Why," chimed in my conductor, "he does speak a little French
indifferently enough; but still"
Here I was introduced to the young officers, and we all sat down at table;
the colonel, civility itself, pressing my host to drink his own wine, and
eat his own food and even rating the servants for not being sufficiently
alert in their attendance on their own master.
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