ly
that I lay the second night at Dreux, and, hearing the way was still
worse between that place and my destination, began to think that I
should be fortunate if I reached Rosny by the following noon. The
country in this part seemed devoted to the League, the feeling
increasing in violence as I approached the Seine. I heard nothing save
abuse of the King of France and praise of the Guise princes, and had
much ado, keeping a still tongue and riding modestly, to pass without
molestation or inquiry.

Drawing near to Rosny, on the third morning, through a low marshy
country covered with woods and alive with game of all kinds, I began to
occupy myself with thoughts of the reception I was likely to encounter;
which, I conjectured, would be none of the most pleasant. The daring
and vigour of the Baron de Rosny, who had at this time the reputation of
being in all parts of France at once, and the familiar terms on which he
was known to live with the King of Navarre, gave me small reason to hope
that he would listen with indulgence to such a tale as I had to tell.
The nearer I came to the hour of telling it, indeed, the more improbable
seemed some of its parts, and the more glaring my own carelessness in
losing the token, and in letting mademoiselle out of my sight in such
a place as Blois. I saw this so clearly now, and more clearly as the
morning advanced, that I do not know that I ever anticipated anything
with more fear than this explanation; which it yet seemed my duty to
offer with all reasonable speed. The morning was warm, I remember;
cloudy, yet not dark; the air near at hand full of moisture and very
clear, with a circle of mist rising some way off, and filling the woods
with blue distances. The road was deep and foundrous, and as I was
obliged to leave it from time to time in order to pass the worst places,
I presently began to fear that I had strayed into a by-road. After
advancing some distance, in doubt whether I should persevere or turn
back, I was glad to see before me a small house placed at the junction
of several woodland paths. From the bush which hung over the door, and a
water-trough which stood beside it, I judged the place to be an inn; and
determining to get my horse fed before I went farther, I rode up to the
door and rapped on it with my riding-switch.

The position of the house was so remote that I was surprised to see
three or four heads thrust immediately out of a window. For a moment I
thought I s