ntbreuil, monsieur? A word to a king's officer, and we should either
be dead, or in prison."

"Faith," I said laughing, though not with much heartiness, "you draw a
lively picture! Once outside these walls, I shall not care to venture
into a town again until we reach Tanlay."

"With these horses there should be no need."

The officer of the guard gazed at us suspiciously. "You travel early,
monsieur!" he remarked.

"Too early for comfort!" I replied, "but I must reach Nevers before
Marshal Tavannes leaves. He does not like idle excuses."

"You are right, monsieur!" replied the man, with an instant change of
expression, "one does not play tricks with the marshal. But I did not
know he was at Nevers."

"'Tis but a flying visit, I believe."

"Well, a pleasant journey to you. Have a care, though, if you ride late;
the country is infested with brigands."

Thanking him for his advice I followed after Jacques, who had taken
advantage of the conversation to ride on.

"I thought the officer might take a fancy to ask me some questions, and
I am not so intimately acquainted as you with the doings of the king's
general!" he said with a chuckle. "'Twas a bold stroke, monsieur, but it
paid."

"Yes," I said, "it paid. And now let us push forward."

Strangely enough, now that Jacques had recovered his composure I began
to feel nervous, and more than once caught myself glancing round as if
half expecting to see a body of pursuers on our track. However, we
proceeded all day without adventure, slept for two or three hours at a
village inn, and resumed our journey in high spirits.

"We should reach the Loire by midday," remarked Jacques. "Shall we go
into the town and cross by the bridge, or try for a ford? There is one a
little to the north."

"The ford will suit our purpose," I said, "and I hardly care about
trusting myself in the town."

There still wanted two hours to noon when, coming to a grassy and
tree-shaded plateau through which ran a sparkling stream, Jacques
proposed that we should rest the horses. So we dismounted, gave them a
drink, fastened them to a tree, and lay down beside them.

"Monsieur might be able to sleep," suggested Jacques. "I will watch, but
we cannot afford more than an hour."

"We will take turns," I said.

"Not at all, monsieur. I do not feel sleepy. I will waken you in good
time."

Feeling refreshed by the short rest I was just remounting when a rough,
sturdy-looking fellow came along