CHAPTER II

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A NARBONNE HOSTESS.

Carcassonne--In feudal times--Simon de Montfort--Canal du Midi--L'age d'or et le Grand Monarque--A modern Golden Fleece--One of earth's fair scenes--Choice of evils--M. le Chef yields--Narbonne--A woman of parts--The course of true love runs smooth--_Diner de contrat_--Honey _versus the lune de miel_--Madame's philosophy--_L'Allee des Soupirs_--An unfinished cathedral--At the gloaming hour--Mystery and devotion--The Hotel de Ville--A domestic drama--High festival and champagne--The next morning--H. C. repentant--Madame at her post--Ambrosial breakfast--"Il faut payer pour ses plaisirs"--Dramatic exit--Perpignan--Home of the kings of Majorca--Elne--"Adieu, ma chere France!"--Over the frontier--Gerona--Crowded platform--What H. C. thought--Unpoetical incident--From the sublime to the ridiculous 12

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