, which he carried with him, and as he turned into the road its
ruddy light suddenly flashed upon de Sigognac and his horse.

"Is it really you, my lord?" cried Pierre, joyfully, as he caught sight
of his young master; "Miraut had tried to tell me of your arrival in his
own way before I left the house, but as I had not heard anything about
your even thinking of coming, I feared that he might be mistaken.
Welcome home to your own domain, my beloved master! We are overjoyed to
see you."

"Yes, my good Pierre, it is really I, and not my wraith. Miraut was not
mistaken. Here I am again, if not richer than when I went away, at least
all safe and sound. Come now, lead the way with your torch, and we will
go into the chateau."

Pierre, not without considerable difficulty, opened the great door,
and the Baron de Sigognac rode slowly through the ancient portico,
fantastically illuminated by the flaring torchlight, in which the three
sculptured storks overhead seemed to be flapping their wings, as if
in joyful salutation to the last representative of the family they had
symbolized for so many centuries. Then a loud, impatient whinny, like
the blast of a trumpet, was heard ringing out on the still night air, as
Bayard, in his stable, caught the welcome sound of his master's voice.

"Yes, yes, I hear you, my poor old Bayard," cried de Sigognac, as he
dismounted in the court, and threw the bridle to Pierre; "I am coming to
say how d'you do," and as he turned he stumbled over Beelzebub, who
was trying to rub himself against his master's legs, purring and mewing
alternately to attract his attention. The baron stooped down, took the
old black cat up in his arms, and tenderly caressed him as he advanced
towards the stables; then put him down gently as he reached Bayard's
stall, and another touching scene of affectionate greeting was enacted.
The poor old pony laid his head lovingly on his master's shoulder, and
actually tried to kick up his hind legs in a frisky way in honour of the
great event; also, he received the horse that de Sigognac had ridden all
the way from Paris, and which was put in the stall beside his own,
very politely, and seemed pleased to have a companion in his solitary
grandeur.

"And now that I have responded to the endearments of my dumb friends,"
said the baron to Pierre, "we will go into the kitchen, and examine
into the condition of your larder. I had but a poor breakfast this
morning, and no dinner at all,