The cottages, which were no more than mean, small huts, ran in a straggling double line, with many gaps--through fallen trees and ill-cleared meadows.

Among them a noisy brook ran in and out, and the inhabitants--charcoal-burners, or swine-herds, or poor devils of the like class, were no better than their dwellings.

I looked in vain for the Chateau.

It was not to be seen, and I dared not ask for it.
The man led me into the common room of the tavern--a low-roofed, poor place, lacking a chimney or glazed windows, and grimy with smoke and use.

The fire--a great half-burned tree--smouldered on a stone hearth, raised a foot from the floor.