ing the fellow's sleeve
with his whip.

"How came you into this masquerade?" he inquired.

"Ma foi," answered the man, shrugging his shoulders, "we were in rags.
The commissariat was demoralised, and supplies were not forthcoming. We
had to take what we could find, or else go naked."

"And where did you find these things?"

"Diable! Will your questions never come to an end, Citizen? Would you
not be better advised in putting them to the Captain himself?"

"Why, so I will. Where is he?"

In the distance a cloud of dust might be perceived above the long, white
road. The soldier espied it as La Boulaye put his question.

"I am much at fault if he does not come yonder." And he pointed to the
dust-cloud.

"I think," said La Boulaye, turning to his men, "that we will drink a
cup of wine at the 'Eagle Inn.'"

Mean though the place was, it was equipped with a stable-yard, to which
admittance was gained by a porte-cochere on the right. Wheeling his
horse, La Boulaye, without another word to the soldier he had been
questioning, rode through it, followed by his escort.

The hostess, who came forward to receive them, was a tall, bony woman of
very swarthy complexion, with beady eyes and teeth prominent as a rat's.
But if ill-favoured, she seemed, at least, well-intentioned, in addition
to which the tricolour scarf of office round La Boulaye's waist was a
thing that commanded respect and servility, however much it might be the
insignia of a Government of liberty, equality, and fraternity.

She bade the ostler care for their horses, and she brought them her best
wine, seeking under an assumed geniality to conceal the unrest born of
her speculations as to what might happen did Captain Charlot return ere
the Deputy departed.

Charlot did return. Scarce were they seated at their wine when the
confused sounds that from the distance had been swelling took more
definite shape. The hostess looked uneasy as La Boulaye rose and went to
the door of the inn. Down the road marched now a numerous company from
which--to judge by their odd appearance--the players at bowls had been
drawn. They numbered close upon threescore, and in the centre of them
came a great lumbering vehicle, which puzzled La Boulaye. He drew away
from the door and posted himself at the window, so that unobserved he
might ascertain what was toward. Into the courtyard came that company,
pele-mele, an odd mixture of rags and gauds, yet a very lusty party,
vigorous