my way back to the tower. The leaves overhead were nowhere
so thick but that splashes of sunshine fell upon the earth and
undergrowth, and, by keeping the shadow of my horse and myself ever
straight in front, I maintained our direction. But besides this I
frequently notched the bark of some tree, always on its South side, with
my dagger. Having this to do, and the second horse to lead, and the
underbrush being often difficult, my progress was slower than suited my
impatience. But in about an hour and a half from starting, I came out of
the forest upon the bank of the Loir, which is so insignificant a stream
thereabouts that I may not have mentioned fording it upon entering the
woods on the previous day. I let the horses drink, and then rode
through, and across a meadow to the highway. I turned to the right, and
arrived, sooner than I had expected, at the gate of a town, which proved
to be Bonneval. I stopped at the inn across from the church, saw to the
feeding of my horses, and then went into the kitchen. I ordered a supply
of young fowl, bread, wine, milk in bottles, and other things; and
bargained with the innkeeper for a pair of pliable baskets and a strap
by which they might be slung across my horse like panniers. While I
waited for the chickens to roast, I used the time in reviving my own
energies with wine, eggs, and cold ham, which were to be had
immediately.

Three or four people came or went while I was eating, and each time
anybody crossed the threshold of the door, I glanced to see what sort of
person it was. This watchfulness had become habitual to me of late. But
as I was about finishing my meal, with my eyes upon my plate, I had an
impression that somebody was standing near and gazing at me. As I had
not observed any one to come so close, I looked up with a start. And
there stood Monsieur de Pepicot, his nose as long as ever, his eyes as
meek as when they had first regarded me at Lavardin.

"My faith!" I exclaimed. "You rise like a spirit. I neither saw nor
heard you enter."

"I am a quiet man," he replied with a faint smile, sitting down opposite
me.

"You are the very ghost of silence itself," said I. "What do you wear on
the soles of your boots?"

Again he smiled faintly, but he left my question unanswered. "So you
managed to keep out of trouble at that place where I last saw you?" said
he.

"If I did not keep out of it, at least I got out of it."

"You are a clever young man,--or a lucky one