# Epilogue to An Inland Voyage explained — Travel Essays > Chapter companion for Travel Essays by Robert Louis Stevenson. ## What happens The epilogue recounts the journey of the Arethusa and the Cigarette through the Loing valley after their canoe trip. The Arethusa, poorly dressed and carrying a book of Charles of Orléans, is mistaken for a pornographic peddler by a postman and later for a beggar by a landlady. He is arrested at Châtillon-sur-Loire for lacking papers, while the Cigarette, elegantly dressed and with a passport, is treated with respect. The Commissary eventually releases the Arethusa after being bribed with a volume of Michelet's history. ## Themes in this chapter ### Travel and Discovery The chapter details the journey through the Loing valley, highlighting the pleasures of solitary travel, the beauty of the weather, and the unexpected encounters that shape the experience. ### Freedom vs. Confinement The Arethusa's arrest and imprisonment in a bare cell contrast sharply with the freedom of the open road, illustrating the tension between liberty and bureaucratic control. ### Social Class and Inequality The differing treatment of the Arethusa (poorly dressed, suspected) and the Cigarette (elegant, respected) underscores how appearance and class affect one's experience with authority. ## Character check-ins ### The Arethusa The lean, ill-dressed traveler who carries Charles of Orléans' works, is mistaken for a pornographic peddler and a beggar, and is arrested at Châtillon-sur-Loire. ### The Cigarette The more elegant and philosophical companion, who carries a volume of Michelet, is arrested briefly but released due to his respectable appearance and passport. ### Mr. Commissary The sleepy, perspiring magistrate at Châtillon-sur-Loire who arrests the Arethusa and is bribed with a volume of Michelet to release him. ## Key lines > The Arethusa carried in his knapsack the works of Charles of Orléans, and employed some of the hours of travel in the concoction of English roundels. The Arethusa brought a book by Charles of Orléans and spent part of the journey writing English roundels. _Highlights the artistic and literary pursuits during the journey._ > The Cigarette walked burdened with a volume of Michelet. The Cigarette carried a book by Michelet as he walked. _Shows the Cigarette's intellectual companion on the trip._ > The Arethusa was unwisely dressed. He is no precisian in attire; but by all accounts, he was never so ill-inspired as on that tramp; having set forth indeed, upon a moment’s notice, from the most unfashionable spot in Europe, Barbizon. The Arethusa's clothing was poorly chosen, as he left hastily from Barbizon, a notably unfashionable place. _Explains the unfortunate appearance that led to suspicion._ > The postman was still visibly preoccupied, and his eyes were faithful to the Arethusa ’s knapsack. At last, with mysterious roguishness, he inquired what it contained, and on being answered, shook his head with kindly incredulity. “ Non ,” said he, “ non, vous avez des portraits. ” The postman kept staring at the Arethusa's knapsack and, with a playful air, asked what was inside. When told, he didn't believe it and insisted there were indecent pictures. _Illustrates the postman's mistaken assumption about the Arethusa's trade._ > The hostess, a comely woman, suckling a child, examined the traveller with kindly and pitying eyes. ... when he rose and asked what was to pay, the light came upon him in a flash. “ O, pour vous ,” replied the landlady, “a halfpenny!” Pour vous? By heaven, she took him for a beggar! The landlady, nursing a baby, looked at the Arethusa sympathetically and charged him only a halfpenny, making him realize she thought he was a beggar. _Shows how the Arethusa's appearance led to being mistaken for a beggar._ > A polite gendarme threw his shadow on the path. “ Monsieur est voyageur? ” he asked. And the Arethusa , strong in his innocence, forgetful of his vile attire, replied⁠—I had almost said with gaiety: “So it would appear.” A gendarme stopped the Arethusa and asked if he was a traveler; the Arethusa, unaware of his suspicious look, answered cheerfully. _Marks the beginning of the Arethusa's arrest._ > The Commissary sat at a table in his bedroom, stripped to the shirt and trousers, but still copiously perspiring; and when he turned upon the prisoner a large meaningless countenance, that was (like Bardolph’s) “all whelks and bubuckles,” the dullest might have been prepared for grief. The Commissary, half-dressed and sweating, had a pimply face that promised trouble for the prisoner. _Describes the Commissary's unappealing appearance and demeanor._ > The walls were of naked masonry, the floor of bare earth; by way of furniture there was an earthenware basin, a water-jug, and a wooden bedstead with a blue-gray cloak for bedding. The cell had rough stone walls, a dirt floor, and only a basin, jug, and a bed with a gray cloak. _Depicts the bleak conditions of the Arethusa's imprisonment._ > The Cigarette was drawing near at his more philosophic pace. In those days of liberty and health he was the constant partner of the Arethusa , and had ample opportunity to share in that gentleman’s disfavour with the police. The Cigarette approached slowly, having often shared in the Arethusa's troubles with the police. _Introduces the Cigarette's arrival and their shared history._ > The Cigarette (his one mistake throughout the interview) denied the soft impeachment, “ Alors ,” from the Commissary, “ ce n’est pas votre passeport! ” When the Cigarette denied being a baronet's son, the Commissary claimed the passport wasn't his. _Shows the Commissary's suspicion despite the Cigarette's respectable appearance._ > The work was promised him for the morrow, before our departure; and presently after, either because he had his price, or to show that he was not the man to be behind in friendly offices⁠—“ Eh bien The Cigarette promised the Commissary the Michelet volume for the next day, and soon after, the Commissary relented, either bribed or wanting to be friendly. _Indicates the bribe that secured the Arethusa's release._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/travel_essays_se/chapters/epilogue-to-an-inland-voyage - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/travel_essays_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/travel_essays_se/chapters