stomach cried out angrily at my heart, and I returned to the inn,
seeking supper. His Grace was closeted with my lord, and I turned into
the public room, desiring no other company than what should lie on my
plate. But my host immediately made me aware that I must share my meal
and the table with a traveller who had recently arrived and ordered a
repast. This gentleman, concerning whom the host seemed in some
perplexity, had been informed that the Duke of Monmouth was in the
house, but had shown neither excitement at the news nor surprise, nor,
to the host's great scandal, the least desire for a sight of his Grace.
His men-servants, of whom he had two, seemed tongue-tied, so that the
host doubted if they had more than a few phrases of English, and set the
whole party down for Frenchmen.

"Hasn't the gentleman given his name?" I asked.

"No. He didn't offer it, and since he flung down money enough for his
entertainment I had no cause to ask it."

"None," I remarked, "unless a man may be allowed more curiosity than a
beast. Stir yourself about supper," and walking in, I saluted, with all
the courtesy at my command, a young gentleman of elegant appearance (so
far as I could judge of him in traveller's garb) who sat at the table.
His greetings equalled mine in politeness, and we fell into talk on
different matters, he using the English language, which he spoke with
remarkable fluency, although evidently as a foreigner. His manner was
easy and assured, and I took it for no more than an accident that his
pistol lay ready to his hand, beside a small case or pocket-book of
leather on the table. He asked me my business, and I told him simply
that I was going in the Duke's train to Dover.

"Ah, to meet Madame the Duchess of Orleans?" said he. "I heard of her
coming before I left France. Her visit, sir, will give great pleasure to
the King her brother."

"More, if report speaks true, than to the Prince her husband," said I
with a laugh. For the talk at Court was that the Duke of Orleans hated
to let his wife out of his sight, while she for her part hated to be in
it. Both had their reasons, I do not doubt.

"Perhaps," he answered with a shrug. "But it's hard to know the truth
in these matters. I am myself acquainted with many gentlemen at the
French Court, and they have much to say, but I believe little of it."

Though I might commend his prudence, I was not encouraged to pursue the
topic, and, seeking a change of conversati