ight. I will ride south until I come upon
some hamlet that will afford me shelter and, in the morning, direction."

I left him with that, and set out at a brisk trot. Night had now fallen,
but the sky was clear, and a crescent moon came opportunely if feebly to
dispel the gloom.

I quitted the field, and went back until I gained a crossroad, where,
turning to the right, I set my face to the Pyrenees, and rode briskly
amain. That I had chosen wisely was proved when some twenty minutes
later. I clattered into the hamlet of Mirepoix, and drew up before an
inn flaunting the sign of a peacock--as if in irony of its humbleness,
for it was no better than a wayside tavern. Neither stable-boy nor
ostler was here, and the unclean, overgrown urchin to whom I entrusted
my horse could not say whether indeed Pere Abdon the landlord would
be able to find me a room to sleep in. I thirsted, however; and so I
determined to alight, if it were only to drink a can of wine and obtain
information of my whereabouts.

As I was entering the hostelry there was a clatter of hoofs in the
street, and four dragoons headed by a sergeant rode up and halted at the
door of the Paon. They seemed to have ridden hard and some distance, for
their horses were jaded almost to the last point of endurance.

Within, I called the host, and having obtained a flagon of the best
vintage--Heaven fortify those that must be content with his worst!--I
passed on to make inquiries touching my whereabouts and the way to
Lavedan. This I learnt was but some three or four miles distant. About
the other table--there were but two within the room--stood the dragoons
in a whispered consultation, of which it had been well had I taken heed,
for it concerned me more closely than I could have dreamt.

"He answers the description," said the sergeant, and though I heard the
words I took no thought that it was of me they spoke.

"Padrieu," swore one of his companions, "I'll wager it is our man."

And then, just as I was noticing that Master Abdon, who had also
overheard the conversation, was eyeing me curiously, the sergeant
stepped up to me, and--

"What is your name, monsieur?" quoth he.

I vouchsafed him a stare of surprise before asking in my turn "How may
that concern you?"

"Your pardon, my master, but we are on the King's business."

I remembered then that he had said I answered some description. With
that it flashed through my mind that they had been sent after me by