Marquis de Hautlieu, for such was his rank, was
as short and sententious as French politeness permitted - he answered every
question, but proposed nothing, and encouraged no farther inquiry.
    The truth was, that, not very accessible to foreigners of any nation, or
even to strangers among his own countrymen, the Marquis was peculiarly shy
towards the English. A remnant of ancient national prejudice might dictate this
feeling; or it might arise from his idea that they are a haughty, purse-proud
people, to whom rank, united with straitened circumstances, affords as much
subject for scorn as for pity; or, finally, when he reflected on certain recent
events, he might perhaps feel mortified as a Frenchman, even for those successes
which had restored his master to the throne, and himself to a diminished
property and dilapidated chateau. His dislike, however, never assumed a more
active form than that of alienation from English society. When the affairs of
strangers required the interposition of his influence in their behalf, it was
uniformly granted with the courtesy of a French gentleman, who knew what is due
to himself and to national hospitality.
    At length, by some chance, the Marquis made the discovery, that the new
frequenter of his ordinary was a native of Scotland, a circumstance which told
mightily in my favour. Some of his own ancestors, he informed me, had been of
Scottish origin, and he believed his house had still some relations in what he
was pleased to call the province of Hanguisse, in that country. The connection
had been acknowledged early in the last century on both sides, and he had once
almost determined, during his exile (for it may be supposed that the Marquis had
joined the ranks of Condé, and shared all the misfortunes and distresses of
emigration), to claim the acquaintance and protection of his Scottish friends.
But, after all, he said, he cared not to present himself before them in
circumstances which could do them but small credit, and which they might think
entailed some little burden, perhaps even some little disgrace; so that he
thought it best to trust in Providence, and do the best he could for his own
support. What that was I never could learn; but I am sure it inferred nothing
which could be discreditable to the excellent old man, who held fast his
opinions and his loyalty, through good and bad repute, till time restored him,
aged, indigent, and broken-spirited, to the country which he had left in the
prime of youth and health, and sobered by age into patience, instead of that
tone