his hat and gloves and removed
a pair of pistols from his belt; the landlord having by this time set
a knife and fork for him, the three guests began to satisfy their
appetites in silence. The atmosphere of this room was hot and the flies
were so numerous that Prosper requested the landlord to open the window
looking toward the outer gate, so as to change the air. This window
was barricaded by an iron bar, the two ends of which were inserted into
holes made in the window casings. For greater security, two bolts were
screwed to each shutter. Prosper accidentally noticed the manner in
which the landlord managed these obstacles and opened the window.

As I am now speaking of localities, this is the place to describe to you
the interior arrangements of the inn; for, on an accurate knowledge of
the premises depends an understanding of my tale. The public room in
which the three persons I have named to you were sitting, had two outer
doors. One opened on the main road to Andernach, which skirts the Rhine.
In front of the inn was a little wharf, to which the boat hired by the
merchant for his journey was moored. The other door opened upon the
courtyard of the inn. This courtyard was surrounded by very high walls
and was full, for the time being, of cattle and horses, the stables
being occupied by human beings. The great gate leading into this
courtyard had been so carefully barricaded that to save time the
landlord had brought the merchant and sailors into the public room
through the door opening on the roadway. After having opened the window,
as requested by Prosper Magnan, he closed this door, slipped the iron
bars into their places and ran the bolts. The landlord's room, where
the two young surgeons were to sleep, adjoined the public room, and
was separated by a somewhat thin partition from the kitchen, where
the landlord and his wife intended, probably, to pass the night. The
servant-woman had left the premises to find a lodging in some crib or
hayloft. It is therefore easy to see that the kitchen, the landlord's
chamber, and the public room were, to some extent, isolated from
the rest of the house. In the courtyard were two large dogs, whose
deep-toned barking showed vigilant and easily roused guardians.

"What silence! and what a beautiful night!" said Wilhelm, looking at the
sky through the window, as the landlord was fastening the door.

The lapping of the river against the wharf was the only sound to be
heard.

"