OR THE DESERT ISLAND. 17

pursue this insolent Merville, and compel him to give me
up my own property ?”

“No, my lord,” replied the old gardener, “there is no
batteau on the whole water within three miles of the cha-
teau in any direction; your lordship may remember, that
when you were quite small, and loved every thing in the
shape of a vessel, the marchioness, your mother, caused
all the skiffs and batteaus to be broken up, for fear you
might endanger your life in paddling about the lake.”

« And have none been built since ?” said the count.

‘No, my lord; we had two little barks and a small
canoe to fish with, and her ladyship had them burnt.
Perhaps your lordship does not forget the scolding you got
for going on the lake next day in a big tub ?”

Charles could not restrain a smile at this ludicrous re-
miniscence: “On my honour, Peter, I would embark ina
tub at this very moment if I thought it would answer my .
purpose !”

“Oh! I think of it now,” said the gardener, “ Captain
Monmort has a little skiff on the river, about a mile and a
half from here.”

“Run, make my come nOcHts} and ask the captain to
lend her to me for an hour.”

Two or three valets started directly ; but to bring a. boat