Read "The Path of the King" by John Buchan online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
The horseman rode down the narrow vennel which led to the St. Denis gate of Paris, holding his nose like a fine lady. Behind him the city reeked in a close August twilight. From every entry came the smell of coarse cooking and unclean humanity, and the heaps of garbage in the gutters sent up a fog of malodorous dust when they were stirred by prowling dogs or hasty passengers.
"Another week of heat and they will have the plague here," he muttered. Oh for Eaucourt -- Eaucourt by the waters! I have too delicate a stomach for this Paris."