plans had worked out beautifully; I was, to all
appearance, entirely in their power, and it would be easy for them
during the night to abstract the note. The one point in my favour was
that they believed I knew nothing of the plot, and I took pains not to
undeceive them. I laughed at the captain's jokes, and applauded his
stories, though half expecting every moment to hear him say, "And now,
M. de Lalande, I will trouble you for that slip of paper."

However, the evening wore on, the storm stopped, the servants fastened
the doors and went to bed, leaving their master to attend to us. And
all the while, whether laughing or talking, I was listening anxiously
for Pillot's signal. At last there came a tremendous knocking at the
outside door, and we heard the innkeeper stump along the passage.

"A late guest," laughed Courcy; "he will find but scant accommodation.
Oh, after all, it is only one of the villagers. What does he want, I
wonder?"

"Monsieur!" exclaimed the innkeeper, putting his head into the room;
"it is a man who has a horse for sale."

"I hope it isn't brother to the one in the stable!" exclaimed Captain
Courcy with a laugh. "However, we may as well look at it, De Lalande,
and then we will go to bed."

He was rising from his comfortable seat, when the landlord said, "The
horse is not here; the man has only just heard in the village that
monsieur required one."

"Still, he may bring it round soon enough in the morning! At what time
do you intend to start, captain?"

"Not a moment later than six."

"Well, I will ask him," and without the least appearance of hurry,
though my heart was thumping like a big hammer, I left the room.

This was the one critical moment. Would Courcy scent mischief and
follow? I purposely left the door ajar so that they might listen to
the conversation while they could see my hat and cloak in the room.

"Now, my man," I began brusquely, "about this horse? Can you bring it
here by five o'clock in the morning?"

"Certainly, monsieur."

"If it suits me, there will be no haggling over the price, but unless
the animal is thoroughly sound you will have your trouble for nothing."

"Monsieur will be satisfied, I know. It is as good a horse as one
would wish to meet with."

"Well, we shall see. Be here at five o'clock sharp, or even a little
earlier."

"Yes, monsieur," then the door slammed, and I was on the outside of the
inn with Pillot.

"This way, monsieur, qui