od view of the fellow, monsieur?"

I admitted that I had neither seen nor heard any one, at which he cried
scornfully: "'Tis plain I shall have to be eyes and ears for the party.
He was half hidden by yonder tree, but I saw the barrel of his arquebus.
Had I known I was to be dragged into your quarrels, I would have stayed
in Paris!"

"Tell me where to find your patron, and you can return at once," I said
sternly; "I want no unwilling service!" but, muttering something under
his breath he once more took his place beside Jacques.

"'Tis a rough dog, L'Estang has sent me," I thought, "but one that will
bite if need be. I wonder if the fellow he fired at was one of Cordel's
ruffians? Strange that neither Jacques nor I saw him."

The incident had rendered us more cautious, and we proceeded through the
wood carefully, keeping a sharp lookout and listening intently; but the
mysterious man had vanished so completely that I began to wonder if
Casimir had not been a victim of his imagination.

From the wood we turned into the highroad, and after travelling steadily
for nearly three hours halted at a wayside inn. For myself I wished to
push on, and Jacques was equally impatient, but our guide complained
that his horse was tired and needed a rest.

"'Twould be folly to risk foundering a valuable animal for the sake of
getting to a place before one is wanted there," said he, laughing as if
he had made some humorous remark. But laughter was not Casimir's strong
point, and he made a sorry business of it.

However, since we were entirely in his hands, he had his way, and much
precious time was wasted.

"It will take us three days at this rate to reach Poictiers," grumbled
Jacques, as we resumed the journey.

"We shall be there as soon as we are expected," returned Casimir, who
seemed to have a fresh fit of sullenness, which increased rather than
lessened as we proceeded.

About five miles from our stopping-place, two horsemen overtook us. They
were cantering briskly along, but drew rein to bid us good-day.

"Are you for Poictiers?" asked one of them pleasantly, but before I had
time to reply our guide broke in roughly:

"We are going where we please. The highroad is free to all, I suppose!"

"Certainly, friend, and I doubt if many travellers would care to share
it with you. A civil question is worth a civil answer."

"Our business is our own," muttered Casimir, "and we are able to look
after it."

The horseman who had