othing, and we conversed very well together. I noticed, however,
that he stopped speaking more than once, as though to listen; but
conceiving that he was merely reverting to the party in the other room,
who grew each moment more uproarious, I said nothing, and was completely
taken by surprise when he rose on a sudden, and, going to the open
window, leaned out, shading his eyes with his hand.

'What is it?' I said, preparing to follow him.

He answered by a quiet chuckle. 'You shall see,' he added the next
instant.

I rose, and going to the window looked out over his shoulder. Three
men were approaching the inn on horseback. The first, a great burly,
dark-complexioned man with fierce black eyes and a feathered cap, had
pistols in his holsters and a short sword by his side. The other two,
with the air of servants, were stout fellows, wearing green doublets and
leather breeches. All three rode good horses, while a footman led two
hounds after them in a leash. On seeing us they cantered forward, the
leader waving his bonnet.

'Halt, there!' cried my companion, lifting up his voice when they were
within a stone's throw of us. 'Maignan!'

'My lord?' answered he of the feather, pulling up on the instant.

'You will find six horses in the shed there,' the stranger cried in a
voice of command. 'Turn out the four to the left as you go in. Give each
a cut, and send it about its business!'

The man wheeled his horse before the words were well uttered, and crying
obsequiously 'that it was done,' flung his reins to one of the other
riders and disappeared in the shed, as if the order given him were the
most commonplace one in the world.

The party in the other room, however, by whom all could be heard, were
not slow to take the alarm. They broke into a shout of remonstrance, and
one of their number, leaping from the window, asked with a very fierce
air what the devil we meant. The others thrust out their faces, swollen
and flushed with the wine they had drunk, and with many oaths backed up
his question. Not feeling myself called upon to interfere, I prepared to
see something diverting.

My companion, whose coolness surprised me, had all the air of being as
little concerned as myself. He even persisted for a time in ignoring the
angry lawyer, and, turning a deaf ear to all the threats and abuse with
which the others assailed him, continued to look calmly at the prospect.
Seeing this, and that nothing could move him, the man w