ISLANDS OF THE ^GEAN 337
the carriage on my way to the Piraeus, a five-mile
drive from Athens. There we were joined by a cap-
tain of the French army attached to the Legation at
Athens, who in the unavoidable absence of the Minis-
ter represented the French Republic.
There was premonitory mischief in the fresh breeze.
It soon became fairly wicked in its sport with the sea,
until it had aroused that sensitive element into ungov-
ernable fury. The waves rioted in the Saronic Gulf.
It was a relief to get into the strait the next day,
where the wind had little scope for its exercise.
It was four o'clock in the afternoon when, after
stopping at Karystos, Alivari, and Chalcis, we reached
the village of Aidipsos in the northern part of the
island. Seven saddle horses (three for attendants)
and a wagon for the luggage awaited us. We
mounted and rode for half an hour to a point where
the roads were smooth enough for carriages. From
the attendants we learned the particulars of the death
of Baron Mimont. An hour later we reached the
chateau in Xerochori. A few soldiers were in the
yard. In the house were the demarch, the chief of
police, various local officials, and the village priest.
On the death of Baron Mimont the morning before,
the safe had been scaled and various official pre-
cautions taken for the security of property. There
was an exchange of formalities and the reading of
documents to discharge the town from responsibility.
Then the officials shook hands with us all and bowed
themselves out.
Baron Mimont's extensive property of I know not
how many thousands of acres, yields large returns
of grapes, olives, grain, tobacco and other crops.
the carriage on my way to the Piraeus, a five-mile
drive from Athens. There we were joined by a cap-
tain of the French army attached to the Legation at
Athens, who in the unavoidable absence of the Minis-
ter represented the French Republic.
There was premonitory mischief in the fresh breeze.
It soon became fairly wicked in its sport with the sea,
until it had aroused that sensitive element into ungov-
ernable fury. The waves rioted in the Saronic Gulf.
It was a relief to get into the strait the next day,
where the wind had little scope for its exercise.
It was four o'clock in the afternoon when, after
stopping at Karystos, Alivari, and Chalcis, we reached
the village of Aidipsos in the northern part of the
island. Seven saddle horses (three for attendants)
and a wagon for the luggage awaited us. We
mounted and rode for half an hour to a point where
the roads were smooth enough for carriages. From
the attendants we learned the particulars of the death
of Baron Mimont. An hour later we reached the
chateau in Xerochori. A few soldiers were in the
yard. In the house were the demarch, the chief of
police, various local officials, and the village priest.
On the death of Baron Mimont the morning before,
the safe had been scaled and various official pre-
cautions taken for the security of property. There
was an exchange of formalities and the reading of
documents to discharge the town from responsibility.
Then the officials shook hands with us all and bowed
themselves out.
Baron Mimont's extensive property of I know not
how many thousands of acres, yields large returns
of grapes, olives, grain, tobacco and other crops.