to give each other
our names."

"Monsieur de Merri is my master's name, as far as I know it. I have been
with him only since yesterday." He spoke in a somewhat disgruntled way,
as if not too well satisfied with his new place.

"So I have heard." I said. "And it seems you were hustled off rather
sooner than you expected, this morning."

"My master did change his mind suddenly. Yesterday he said he wouldn't
leave Sable till the end of the week."

"Yes; but of course when he received the letter--" I stopped, as if not
thinking worth while to finish, and idly scrutinized the floor.

"What letter, Monsieur?" inquired the fellow, after a moment.

"Why, the letter that made him change his mind. Didn't you see the
messenger?"

"Oh, and did that man bring a letter, then?"

"Certainly. How secretive your master is. The man from--from--where
_did_ he come from, anyhow?"

"A man came to see my master at Sable early this morning--the only man I
know of. I heard him say that he had ridden all the way from Montoire,
following my master from one town to another."

"Yes, that is the man, certainly," said I in as careless a manner as
possible, fearful lest my face should betray the interest of this
revelation to me. "Well, I think I will go and see what has become of my
servant. When you have finished that bottle, drink another to me." I
tossed him a silver piece, and sauntered out. Nicolas was fastening the
saddle girth of my horse in the yard. An ostler was attending to the
mule. The innkeeper was looking on. I asked him about the different
roads leading from the place, and by the time I had got this information
all was ready. We mounted, I replied to the landlord's adieu, threw a
coin to the ostler, and clattered out under the archway. From the square
I turned South to cross the Loir, passing not far from the place where,
surrounded by trees and bushes, the body of my adversary must still be
lying.

"Poor young man!" said I. "Once we get safe off, I hope they will find
him soon."

"They will soon be seeking him, at least," replied Nicolas. "Before you
came out of the kitchen, the landlord was wondering to the ostler what
had become of him."

"As he was to ride on at once, his absence will appear strange. Well,
I'm not sorry to think he will be found before he lies long exposed. The
authorities, no doubt, will take all measures to find out who he is and
notify his people."

"And to find the person who left him in th