Our new acquaintance assured us, however, we were in the right road, and with great zeal began to describe to us how many more ends of streets we must pass before we should reach the desired spot.

His costume was somewhat singular, and we might have taken him for a character in the Carnival,--if it had been the proper season--or one _voue au blanc_, for he was entirely dressed in white, cap and all, following, we presume, the calling of a baker or a mason.

He expressed his pleasure that we thought it worth while to go and see _his_ poor old church of Sainte Croix, for he came from that _quartier_, and had a fondness for it: "It is past contradiction," said he, "the most ancient and beautiful in Bordeaux, though I say it, and deserves every attention, though it has been dreadfully battered about at different times.

People have tried to run it down, and have asserted that the sculpture on its facade, represented _des betises_; but all that has now disappeared.

It was built in the time of the Pagans, when the Protestant religion--to which," he continued, bowing, "no doubt you belong--was unknown, and when they were ignorant, and did many improper things.