There
was a wonderful difference between this and their arrival at the last
inn they had stopped at--the night of the snow-storm--and the landlord,
hearing such welcome sounds without, ran himself to admit his guests,
and opened the two leaves of the great door, so that the chariot could
pass into the interior court. This hotel was the finest in Poitiers,
where all the rich and noble travellers were in the habit of alighting,
and there was an air of gaiety and prosperity about it very pleasing to
our comedians, in contrast with all the comfortless, miserable lodgings
they had been obliged to put up with for a long time past. The landlord,
whose double, or rather triple chin testified to bountiful fare, and the
ruddy tints of his face to the excellence of his wines, seemed to be the
incarnation of good humour.
He was so plump, so fresh, so rosy and so smiling, that it was a
pleasure only to look at him. When he saw the tyrant, he fairly bubbled
over with delight. A troupe of comedians always attracted people to his
house, and brought him in a great deal of money; for the young men of
leisure of the town sought their company, and were constantly drinking
wine with the actors, and giving dainty little suppers, and treats of
various kinds, to the actresses.
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