had seen him look the night before when he had donned
those things at my command.

"Hola there, within!" came Montresor's voice. "Monsieur le Capitaine!" A
fresh shower of blows descended on the oak panels.

I yawned with prodigious sonority, and overturned a chair with my foot.
Then bracing myself for the ordeal, through which I looked to what scant
information I possessed and my own mother wit, to bear me successfully,
I strode across to admit my visitor.

Muffling my voice, as I had heard St. Auban do at the inn, by drawing my
nether lip over my teeth--

"Pardieu!" quoth I, as I opened the door, "it seems, Lieutenant, that I
must have fallen asleep over those musty documents."

I trembled as I watched him, waiting for his reply, and I thanked Heaven
that in the role I had assumed a mask was worn, not only because it
hid my features, but because it hid the emotions which these might have
betrayed.

"I was beginning to fear," he replied coldly, and without so much as
looking at me, "that worse had befallen you."

I breathed again.

"You mean--?"

"Pooh, nothing," said he half contemptuously. "Only methinks 't were
well whilst we remain at Canaples that you do not spend your nights in a
room within such easy access of the terrace."

"Your advice no doubt is sound, but as I shall not spend another night
at Canaples, it comes too late."

"You mean, Monsieur--?"

"That we set out for Paris to-day."

He shrugged his shoulders.

"Oh, ca! I have just visited the stables, and there are not four horses
fit for the journey. So that unless you have in mind the purchase of
fresh animals--"

"Pish! My purse is not bottomless," I broke in, repeating the very words
that I heard St. Auban utter.

"So you said once before, Monsieur. Still, unless you are prepared
to take that course, the only alternative is to remain here until the
horses are sufficiently recovered. But perhaps you think of walking?" he
added with a sniff.

"Such is your opinion, your time being worthless and it being of little
moment where you spend it. I have conceived a plan."

"Ah!"

"Has it not occurred to you that the danger which threatens us and which
calls for the protection of a troop is only on this side of the Loire,
where the Blaisois might be minded to attempt a rescue of the Chevalier?
But over yonder, Chevalier, on the Chambord side, who cares a fig for
the Lord of Canaples or his fate? None; is it not so?"

He made an assen