a tiny point of light shining at the foot of a little hill
some distance from the road.

"Behold," cried the pedant, "our guiding star! as welcome to us weary
travellers, lost in the desert, as the polar star to the distressed
mariner 'in periculo maris.' That blessed star yonder, whose rays shine
far out into the darkness, is a light burning in some warm, comfortable
room, which forms--Heaven be praised!--part of the habitation of human
and civilized beings--not Laestrygon savages. Without doubt there is a
bright fire blazing on the hearth in that cosy room, and over it hangs
a famous big pot, from which issue puffs of a delicious odour--oh,
delightful thought!--round which my imagination holds high revel, and
in fancy I wash down with generous wine the savoury morsels from that
glorious pot-au-feu."

"You rave, my good Blazius," said the tyrant, "the frost must have
gotten into your brain--that makes men mad, they say, or silly. Yet
there is some method in your madness, some truth in your ravings, for
yonder light must indicate an inhabited dwelling. This renders a change
in the plans for our campaign advisable. We will all go forward together
towards the promised refuge, and leave the chariot where it is; no
robbers will be abroad on such a night as this to interfere with its
contents. We will take our few valuables--they are not so numerous or
weighty but that we can carry them with us; for once it is an advantage
that our possessions are few. To-morrow morning we will come back to
fetch the chariot: now, forward, march!--and it is time, for I am nearly
frozen to death."

The comedians accordingly started across the fields, towards the
friendly light that promised them so much--Isabelle supported by de
Sigognac, Serafina by Leander, and the duenna dragged along by Scapin;
while Blazius and the tyrant formed the advance guard. It was not easy
work; sometimes plunging into deep snow, more than knee high, as they
came upon a ditch, hidden completely under the treacherously smooth
white surface, or stumbling, and even falling more than once, over
some unseen obstacle; but at length they came up to what seemed to be a
large, low building, probably a farm-house, surrounded by stone walls,
with a big gate for carts to enter. In the expanse of dark wall before
them shone the light which had guided their steps, and upon approaching
they found that it proceeded from a small window, whose shutters--most
fortunately for the