Parisians in the Country

The country gentleman, lodging at the Hotel de Mayence, Rue Saint-Honore, near the Place Vendome, one morning received a visit from a confidential agent of the Ministry, who was an expert in winding up business. This elegant personage, who stepped out of an elegant cab, and was dressed in the most elegant style, was requested to walk up to No. 3–that is to say, to the third floor, to a small room where he found his provincial concocting a cup of coffee over his bedroom fire.