and directly he had
thanked us for our assistance we rode on.

"Rather an abrupt departure, Jacques," I remarked presently, feeling
somewhat puzzled.

"Better that, monsieur, than wait to be asked inconvenient questions.
Did you notice that slash across his doublet? He has been pretty close
to a naked sword, and not long ago either! What does he want with
Etienne Cordel? He looks more fitted for the camp than the law courts."

"Monsieur Cordel no doubt transacts his private business for him."

"No doubt," said Jacques, with a shrug of his shoulders. "But I did not
like his appearance, and if we could spare the time I would ride back to
discover what made Pierre suddenly dumb. I warrant he misliked his
questioner; but if the stranger is seeking information, he can obtain
all he wants from Cordel."

"You are no friend to the advocate, Jacques!"

"He is a spy, monsieur, and a maker of mischief. One of these days men
will learn his true character."

"I have no liking for Cordel," I said, "but still all this has nothing
to do with our errand."

"Perhaps not, monsieur; we will hope not," replied my companion, "but
all the same, I wish we had started an hour earlier."

Honestly I felt rather inclined to laugh at Jacques' vague fears, for
the stranger's pleasant speech and affable manner had impressed me, and
I could not think of him in any other light than that of a courteous and
gallant gentleman. In spite of wise saws, one is often tempted to
believe that occasionally fine feathers make fine birds.

We rode on steadily, stopping for an hour or two during the hottest part
of the day, and putting up late at night at a dilapidated inn in a
half-deserted village. The landlord, a bent, feeble, old man, had gone
to bed, but he set about preparing some supper, while, since there was
no ostler, we fed and groomed the animals ourselves.

"We must start at daybreak," said Jacques, when we had finished our
meal; "that will give us four hours' sleep."

"Fourteen would suit me better!" I laughed, as we followed our host to
the guest-chamber, and, indeed, I was so thoroughly tired that my head
scarcely touched the pillow before I was sound asleep.

It was still dark when Jacques roused me, and by dawn we were once more
on the road. On this second day's journey the ravages of the late war
were plainly apparent, and the sights made one's heart ache. The fields
lay waste and untilled; the cattle, few in number, were mere bundl