The Tales Of The Heptameron, Vol. V. (of V.) — Part 10

Near the town of Alençon there lived a gentleman called the Lord of La Tireliere, who one morning came from his house to the town afoot, both because the distance was not great and because it was freezing hard. (1) When he had done his business, he sought out a crony of his, an advocate named Anthony Bacheré, and, after speaking with him of his affairs, he told him that he should much like to meet with a good breakfast, but at somebody else’s expense. While thus discussing, they sat themselves down in front of an apothecary’s shop, where there was a varlet who listened to them, and who forthwith resolved to give them their breakfast.

1 The phraseology of this story varies considerably in the different MSS. of the _Heptameron_. In No. 1520, for instance, the tale begins as follows: “In the town of Alençon, in the time of the last Duke Charles, there was an advocate, a merry companion, fond of breakfasting o’ mornings. One day, whilst he sat at his door, he saw pass a gentleman called the Lord of La Tilleriere, who, by reason of the extreme cold, had come on foot from his house to the town in order to attend to certain business there, and in doing so had not forgotten to put on his great robe, lined with fox-skin. And when he saw the advocate, who was much such a man as himself, he told him that he had completed his business, and had nothing further to do, except it were to find a good breakfast. The advocate made answer that they could find breakfasts enough and to spare, provided they had some one to defray the cost, and, taking the other under the arm, he said to him, ‘Come, gossip, we may perhaps find some fool who will pay the reckoning for us both.’ Now behind them was an apothecary’s man, an artful and inventive fellow, whom this advocate was always plaguing,” &c.--L.

He went out from his shop into a street whither all repaired on needful occasions, (2) and there found a large lump of ordure standing on end, and so well frozen that it looked like a small loaf of fine sugar. Forthwith he wrapped it in handsome white paper, in the manner he was wont to use for the attraction of customers, and hid it in his sleeve.

2 In olden time, as shown in the _Mémoires de l’Académie de Troyes_, there were in most French towns streets specially set aside for the purpose referred to. At Alençon, in Queen Margaret’s time, there was a street called the Rue des Fumiers, as appears from a report dated March 8, 1564 (Archives of the Orne, Series A). Probably it is to this street that she alludes. (Communicated by M. L. Duval, archivist of the department of the Orne).--M.