Honoré de Balzac 
The Illustrious Gaudissart [PDF ebook] 

A gifted travelling salesman finds his master in a provincial lunatic. A comedic short story written by Balzac in one night.
Gaudissart is one of the great commercial travelling salesmen, so renowned that his name is almost synonymous with the occupation. While in Vouvray he encounters several mystifying circumstances. Will he be able to unravel the mystery or has he met his match in these provincials? This short story is a fun read.