ed, o

g. You will see the house from the spot where the road branches. You will pardon us for our hasty departur

sation, I said: "Adieu, monsieur, and a pleasant ending to your journey. You cannot

Jacques," I remarked presen

ash across his doublet? He has been pretty close to a naked sword, and not long ago either!

ubt transacts his priv

could spare the time I would ride back to discover what made Pierre suddenly dumb. I warrant he misli

end to the advo

r of mischief. One of these days m

I said, "but still all this has

" replied my companion, "but all the same

manner had impressed me, and I could not think of him in any other light than that of a courteous and gallant g

ht at a dilapidated inn in a half-deserted village. The landlord, a bent, feeble, old man, had gone to bed, but

ques, when we had finished our meal;

st to the guest-chamber, and, indeed, I was so thoroughly tired t

were plainly apparent, and the sights made one's heart ache. The fields lay waste and untilled; the cattle, few in number, were mere bundles

an woman and her friends. It is time that Frenchmen took their country int

, Jacques, and surely we have had eno

til they become masters. France will swim in blood one of these days. Do y

t Rochelle with an invalid aunt. She was seventeen years of a

kinds of dangers that are not likely to happen. Why

ied Jacques gravely; "he

to Saintbreuil," the little town where we intended to pass the night and to procure fresh horses. Jacques had an acquaintanc

but we managed to secure admittance, and Jacques had no diffic

ve us yourself. There is no need that all Saintbreuil should learn of our being h

to a chamber at the farther end of the house, and in a

iet?" asked Jac

raid of they know not what. There is a

re travelling fast. We have nearly foundered our animals, and yet it is necessary to push on ag

two in th

in exc

have to pa

eur is prepared to open his purse. Get them int

really good animals?" I aske

f horseflesh than Edouard, mon

host. Dressing hastily we went straight to the stables, and were more than satisfied with our new animals. They w

a whisper; "the sight of them gives me fresh courage. I car

to have turned you

he fellow. Perhaps you will laugh, but I thought he

s statement, and yet puzzled to

wounded man, and suddenly lose him. He failed to get any information from old Pi

el tell?" I aske

he district-that he is of the Religion-that the wound

te would certain

e description, would inform him who we were. That would arouse his s

ink he woul

ted, and could easily overtake us; but now,"

I said, "he is but one against two

ld we have in Saintbreuil, monsieur? A word to a king'

you draw a lively picture! Once outside these walls, I shall

rses there sho

at us suspiciously. "You travel

I must reach Nevers before Marshal Tavann

stant change of expression, "one does not play tricks

flying visit

e a care, though, if you ride late; t

ed after Jacques, who had taken adva

am not so intimately acquainted as you with the doings of the king's gener

paid. And now let

ht myself glancing round as if half expecting to see a body of pursuers on our track. However, we proceeded all

s. "Shall we go into the town and cross by the bridge,

" I said, "and I hardly care abo

through which ran a sparkling stream, Jacques proposed that we should rest the horses.

uggested Jacques. "I will watch, but

take turn

do not feel sleepy. I wil

ust remounting when a rough, sturdy-looking

cing at us, I thought, very keenly;

nswered ra

self going there? I am a

not going to the town, bu

e conversation, but presently rode on, and

meet on a dark night,

hat fellow meant us no good.

N

wn neighbourhood. It is pos

hat of

t is curious," and Jacq

travelled. It was very narrow, so narrow, indeed, that we were forced to ride in single file, Jacqu

re the ford is s

tion. Ah, what is that?"

ding swiftly along the bank of the river. They were out of sight in a

g to do with us, Jacq

r, nothing,"

er do we go bef

quarter o

iver we shall be i

all, mo

!" I cried, "can't you ma

agreeing wi

on was still in front, and I noticed he had loosened his sword. I had done the same, and in addition had seen that m

wing rein, and pointing straight ahead

," I

sible from here. It is very absurd, of course, but st

eady, J

ay 'Gallop!' stretch yo

Presently, without turning round, he said: "It is as I thought;

ill not expect a rush, and we may catch them off their guard. But i

you ready? We will ride abreast at the

ck. From him, too, as well as from my father, I had learned how to use a sword, though my weapon had never yet b

e of the trust reposed in me, I could not yield; either I mus

Fire your pistol directly we come within rang

give them war

t is as I thought! See, there is the man who overtook us in the v

m re