a good deal at
Ingoldstadt, principally in buying articles we could have done without,
but which we got in order to give an excuse for your going into the
town, and in these disguises and pistols. However, we shall not, I hope,
require much more outlay; and after getting axes and knives we shall
have enough to pay for our food, such as it is, for some time. However,
there is certainly nothing in our pockets to tempt robbers."

"No, master; but if they searched you they would notice your clothes.
They would show at once that you are a person of quality; and although,
as you left your scarf behind you, they might not know that you are an
officer, they would see that there was a mystery about you."

"That is true, and I think that perhaps it would be as well if both of
us were to take off our own clothes when we get beyond the town tonight,
and go on only in those you got for us. When we rejoin our friends we
can get money and replace them."

"I have money with me, master," Paolo said. "I have had no occasion to
spend aught for a long time, and have changed my wages as you paid
them into gold, and have forty pistoles sewn up in the waistbelt of my
breeches. I heard you say that it was always a good thing to carry a
certain amount about with one in case of being taken prisoner or laid up
wounded."

"It was a wise precaution, Paolo; but just at the present moment I would
rather that you did not have it about you. However, I do not suppose we
shall be interfered with. You may as well continue to wear your breeches
under those you have outside, but leave your doublet when I change.
After all, if you were to be searched the pistoles would show that we
are not what we seem, unless we could make up some plausible tale as to
how we came possessed of them."

"Oh, we could manage that easily enough, master! There are other ways of
getting pistoles than by earning them."

Thus chatting they had crossed the bridge and were now entering
Eichstadt. Going to a quiet cabaret they ate a hearty meal, and Hector
afterwards bought the axes and knives, and they left the town just
before the gates were closed. They had walked some miles when a
thunderstorm, which had for some time been threatening, broke over them.

"We must get some shelter if we can," Hector said. "I see a light on
ahead. Let us push on and take refuge before we are wet to the skin."

On reaching the house they saw that it was a wayside inn.

"We are in luck, Paolo,