e last eclipse of mind had come upon me without any rending and
tearing in the head, and facts returned clearly and directly. I saw the
black robed figures were Jews cooking supper at a large fireplace, and
we had driven upon the brick floor of a post-house which had a door
nearly the size of a gable. At that end spread a ghostly film of open
land, forest and sky. I lay stretched upon cushions as well as the
vehicle would permit, and was aware by a shadow which came between me
and the Jews that Skenedonk stood at the step.

"What are you about?" I spoke with a rush of chagrin, sitting up. "Are
we on the road to Paris?"

"Yes," he answered.

"You have made a mistake, Skenedonk!"

"No mistake," he maintained. "Wait until I bring you some supper. After
supper we can talk."

"Bring the supper at once then, for I am going to talk now."

"Are you quite awake?"

"Quite awake. How long did it last this time?"

"Two days."

"We are not two days' journey out of Mittau?"

"Yes."

"Well, when you have horses put in to-morrow morning, turn them back to
Mittau."

Skenedonk went to the gigantic hearth, and one of the Jews ladled him
out a bowlful of the cauldron stew, which he brought to me.

The stuff was not offensive and I was hungry. He brought another bowlful
for himself, and we ate as we had often done in the woods. The fire
shone on his bald pate and gave out the liquid lights of his fawn eyes.

"I have made a fool of myself in Mittau, Skenedonk."

"Why do you want to go back?"

"Because I am not going to be thrown out of the palace without a
hearing."

"What is the use?" said Skenedonk. "The old fat chief will not let you
stay. He doesn't want to hear you talk. He wants to be king himself."

"Did you see me sprawling on the floor like the idiot?"

"Not like the idiot. Your face was down."

"Did you see the duchess?"

"Yes."

"What did she do?"

"Nothing. She leaned on the women and they took her away."

"Tell me all you saw."

"When you went in to hold council, I watched, and saw a priest and
Bellenger and the boy that God had touched, all go in after you. So I
knew the council would be bad for you, Lazarre, and I stood by the door
with my knife in my hand. When the talk had gone on awhile I heard
something like the dropping of a buck on the ground, and sprang in, and
the men drew their swords and the women screamed. The priest pointed at
you and said, 'God has smitten the pretender!' Then the