ver and gained the
town. I entered the inn, sought the host, and called for my bill,
baggage, and horse.

The innkeeper did not recognize me at first, and, when he did, showed
great wonder and curiosity at my absence. He was inclined to be
friendly, though, and, when he perceived I was in haste, did not delay
my departure with inquisitive talk. I saw that my horse had been
properly cared for in my absence, and was glad to be on its back again,
the more because I should thus leave no further scent for bloodhounds to
follow.

I rode out of the archway and turned my horse toward the road for Les
Roches and Paris. As I crossed the square, I could not help glancing
over my right shoulder toward the Lavardin road. In doing so, I happened
to see a young man coming out of the church, whose face I knew. I
thought a moment, then reined my horse around to intercept him, and, as
he was about to pass, said in a low voice:

"Good evening, Hugues."

He stopped in surprise, recalling my features but not my identity. I
leaned over my horse's neck, and spoke in an undertone:

"You will remember I met you on your way back from Sable, whither you
had carried a certain lady's message. I have since heard of you from
that lady. She is in a most unhappy plight, and so is her maid
Mathilde."

The young miller turned pale at this.

"I have just escaped from the chateau," I continued, "where the Count
meant to kill me. I am going as fast as possible to Paris, where I can
use means to render him powerless. But that will take time, and
meanwhile the worst may befall the Countess--and no doubt her faithful
Mathilde also. They are imprisoned in the tower. I thank God I have met
you, for now there is one friend here to whose solicitude I may leave
that unfortunate lady and her devoted maid while I am away."

"Monsieur," said he, with deep feeling, "I know no reason why you should
play a trick on me, and you don't look as if you were doing so. I will
trust you, therefore. But can you not come to my house, where we can
talk fully?"

"Where is your house?"

"About a quarter of a league down that road." He pointed toward the road
that ran northward from the square, as my road ran northeastward. "When
you are ready to go on, you can get the Paris road by a lane, without
coming back to the town."

There were good reasons against my losing any time before starting for
Paris. But it was well, on the other hand, for Hugues to know exactly
how m