house, having pretty well made
up my mind how I would set about the task before me. As I passed one of
the windows, which was partially closed by a rude curtain made of old
sacks, I stopped to look in. Fresnoy and his four rascals were seated
on blocks of wood round the hearth, talking loudly and fiercely, and
ruffling it as if the fire and the room were their own. A pedlar,
seated on his goods in one corner, was eyeing them with evident fear
and suspicion; in another corner two children had taken refuge under a
donkey, which some fowls had chosen as a roosting-pole. The innkeeper, a
sturdy fellow, with a great club in his fist, sat moodily at the foot of
a ladder which led to the loft above, while a slatternly woman, who was
going to and fro getting supper, seemed in equal terror of her guests
and her good man.

Confirmed by what I saw, and assured that the villains were ripe for any
mischief, and, if not checked, would speedily be beyond my control, I
noisily flung the door open and entered. Fresnoy looked up with a sneer
as I did so, and one of the men laughed. The others became silent; but
no one moved or greeted me. Without a moment's hesitation I stepped to
the nearest fellow and, with a sturdy kick, sent his log from under him.
'Rise, you rascal, when I enter!' I cried, giving vent to the anger
I had long felt. 'And you, too!' and with a second kick I sent his
neighbour's stool flying also, and administered a couple of cuts with
my riding-cane across the man's shoulders. 'Have you no manners, sirrah?
Across with you, and leave this side to your betters.'

The two rose, snarling and feeling for their weapons, and for a moment
stood facing me, looking now at me and now askance at Fresnoy. But as he
gave no sign, and their comrades only laughed, the men's courage failed
them at the pinch, and with a very poor grace they sneaked over to the
other side of the fire and sat there, scowling.

I seated myself beside their leader. 'This gentleman and I will eat
here,' I cried to the man at the foot of the ladder. 'Bid your wife lay
for us, and of the best you have; and do you give those knaves their
provender where the smell of their greasy jackets will not come between
us and our victuals.'

The man came forward, glad enough, as I saw, to discover any one in
authority, and very civilly began to draw wine and place a board for us,
while his wife filled our platters from the black pot which hung over
the fire. Fresnoy's