mained outside to take care of our horses, and Marchas
said to stout Ponderel, who followed him: 'The stables must be on the
left; I saw that as we came in; go and put the animals up there, for we
do not want them,' and then turning to me he said: 'Give your orders,
confound it all!'

"This fellow always astonished me, and I replied with a laugh: 'I shall
post my sentinels at the country approaches and I will return to you
here?' 'How many man men are you going to take?' 'Five. The others will
relieve them at five o'clock in the evening.' 'Very well. Leave me four
to look after provisions, to do the cooking and to set the table. I will
go and find out where the wine is hidden away.'

"I went off, to reconnoiter the deserted streets, until they ended in
the open country, so as to post my sentries there.

"Half an hour later I was back, and I found Marchas lounging in a great
armchair, the covering of which he had taking off, from love of luxury
as he said. He was warming his feet at the fire, and smoking an
excellent cigar, whose perfume filled the room. He was alone, his elbows
resting on the arms of the chair, his shoulders, his cheeks flushed, his
eyes bright, and looking delighted.

"I heard the noise of plates and dishes in the next room, and Marchas
said to me, smiling in a beatific manner: 'This is famous; I found the
champagne under the flight of steps outside, the brandy--fifty bottles
of the very finest--in the kitchen garden under a pear tree, which did
not look to me to be quite straight, when I looked at it by the light
of my lantern. As for solids, we have two fowls, a goose, a duck and
three pigeons. They are being cooked at this moment. It is a delightful
part of the country.'

"I had sat down opposite to him, and the fire in the grate was burning
my nose and cheeks. 'Where did you find this wood?' I asked. 'Splendid
wood,' he replied. 'The owner's carriage. It is the paint which is
causing all this flame, an essence of punch and varnish. A capital
house!'

"I laughed for I found the creature was funny, and he went on: 'Fancy
this being the Epiphany! I have had a bean put into the goose, but there
is no queen; it is really very annoying!' And I repeated like an echo:
'It is annoying, but what do you want me to do in the matter?' 'To find
some, of course. Some women,' 'Women?... you must be mad?' 'I managed to
find the brandy under the pear tree, and the champagne under the steps;
and yet there was