Of their courteous attention to strangers, there needed no other
proof than the compliment which had been paid to them, together with
the governor's connivance at Peregrine's employing his own servants
in carrying the baggage to the inn, contrary to the privilege of
the inhabitants.
While he expatiated with a remarkable degree of self-indulgence on
this subject, the valet-de-chambre coming into the room interrupted
his harangue by telling his master that their trunks and portmanteaus
must be carried to the custom-house, in order to be searched, and
sealed with lead, which must remain untouched until their arrival
at Paris.
Peregrine made no objection to this practice, which was in itself
reasonable enough; but when he understood that the gate was
besieged by another multitude of porters, who insisted upon their
right of carrying the goods, and also of fixing their own price, he
absolutely refused to comply with their demand. Nay, he chastised
some of the most clamorous among them with his foot, and told them,
that if their custom-house officers had a mind to examine his baggage,
they might come to the inn for that purpose.
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