The aspect of this province is very singular, and in summer most refreshing.
The country is divided into small farms, which are almost entirely occupied with pasture; the farms are again divided into small fields, and each field is surrounded by a belt of trees, growing out of high, green, flowering hedges.

The face of the country is like a thickly wooded demesne, divided and subdivided into an infinity of little paddocks.

The narrow lanes of the country, which are barely broad enough for the wheels of a carriage, and are seldom visited by such a vehicle, lie between thick, high hedges, which completely overshadow them; the wayfarer, therefore, never has before him that long, straight, tedious, unsightly line of road, which adds so greatly to the fatigue of travelling in an open country, and is so painful to the eye.
Through such a lane as this our party rode quickly and cheerily; quickly, for they had much work before them for that day; and cheerily, for they knew that the people among whom they were going would join them with enthusiasm.

They were all well mounted, for they rode the best horses from the stables of Durbelliere: the old Marquis would have blushed to have given less than the best to the service of his King.
Chapeau was peculiarly elated at the prospect of his day's work; but his joy was not wholly professional; for Jacques now accounted himself a soldier by profession.

He had another reason for the more than ordinary gaiety with which he trotted on towards Echanbroignes.