ar trees, and lay down, with my travelling bag
for pillow, and my cloak for bed and blanket. The horse, left to his
will, chose to lie near me; and so, in well-earned sleep, we passed the
rest of the night.

The next morning, when we were on the road again, I decided to exchange
talk with as many travellers as possible who were going my way, in the
hope of falling in with one who knew Montoire. At a distance from the
place, I might more safely be inquisitive about Monsieur de Merri and
his friendships than at Montoire itself. The news of what had happened
at La Fleche would not have come along the road any sooner than I had
done, except by somebody who had travelled by night and had passed me
while I slept. In the unlikelihood of there being such a person, I could
speak of Monsieur de Merri without much danger of suspicion. But even if
there was such a person, and the news had got ahead, nobody could be
confident in suspecting me. I was not the only young gentleman of my
appearance, mounted on a horse like mine, to be met on the roads that
day. And besides, I was no longer attended by a servant on a mule, as I
had been at La Fleche. So I determined to act with all freedom, accost
whom I chose, and speak boldly.

Passing early through Le Lude, I breakfasted at last, and talked with
various travellers, both on the road and at the inn there, but none of
them showed any such interest, when I casually introduced the name of
Montoire, as a dweller of that place must have betrayed. To bring in the
name of the town was easy enough. As thus:--in the neighbourhood of Le
Lude one had only to mention the fine chateau there, and after admiring
it, to add: "They say there is one very like it, at some other town
along this river--I forget which--is it Montoire?--or La Chartre?--I
have never travelled this road before." A man of Montoire, or who knew
that town well, would have answered with certainty, and have added
something to show his acquaintance there. The chateau of Le Lude served
me in this manner all the way to Vaas, where there is a great church,
which answered my purpose thence to Chateau du Loir. But though I threw
out my conversational bait to dozens of people, of all conditions, not
one bite did I get anywhere on the road between Le Lude and La Chartre.

It was evening when I arrived at La Chartre, and I was now thirteen
leagues from La Fleche, thanks to having journeyed half the previous
night. Anybody having left La Fl