Released from the cavalry on the great disbandment of 1815, the worthy fellow had succeeded his father, who for many years had driven a coucou of capricious flight between Paris and Isle-Adam.

Having married the daughter of a small inn-keeper, he enlarged his business, made it a regular service, and became noted for his intelligence and a certain military precision.

Active and decided in his ways, Pierrotin (the name seems to have been a sobriquet) contrived to give, by the vivacity of his countenance, an expression of sly shrewdness to his ruddy and weather-stained visage which suggested wit.

He was not without that facility of speech which is acquired chiefly through "seeing life" and other countries.

His voice, by dint of talking to his horses and shouting "Gare!" was rough; but he managed to tone it down with the bourgeois.