The San Francisco call., 1906-04-01

wipinga the persplration from her brow
and speaking more quietly.
We'll" 1 answered. at any rate. we
have had enough of this noise Maig-
nan" l continued, :-see the man and
tell him that the inn is not his private
house and that he must groan more soft
", but do not mention my name And
let him have his brine bath or there will
be no peace for any one"
At daybreak- we left: and, the water
having duly fallen in the night, we
crossed the river without rnishap and for
q league pursued our proper road. Then
! halted and. dispatching the two grooms
TO Houdan with letter for my wife, I
took myself the road to LIE Mesnil which
lies about three leagues to the west.
AT little inn league short of LIE Mes
nil l stopped, and instructing my two at
tendants in the parts they were to play
which never left Maignan's custody, the
papers necessary to enable me to enact
the role Of Gringuet's deputy.
Accordingly, riding UP to the inn about
sunset called, with an air. for the land
lord. There were half a dozen loungers
seated in row on a bench before the
door, and one Of these went in TO fetch
him. When the host came out, with his
apron twisted round his waist 1 asked
him If he had a room.
Yes" he said, shading his eyes to look
at me, Il have"
Very we'll" I answered pompously,
considering that had just such an audi
ence as l desired-by which I mean one
that. without being too critical, would
spread the Tews-"I am Monsieur Grin
guet's deputy and 1 am here with author
ity to collect and remit, receive and give
receipts for his Majesty's taxes tolls ano
dues now or to be due and owing. There
fore. my friend, 1 viii trouble you to
show me TO my room"
To my surprise. he only stared at me-
.Eh.' he exclaimed at last, in faltering
tone, Monsieur Gringuet's deputy?"
Yes / said. dismounting somewhat
impatiently; "he is i'll with the gout and
cannot come"
Still he did not move to do my bidding.
but continued to rub his bald head and
stare at me as if 1 fascinated him. "Well
AMI mean-Is think we are FULL he
stammered at last, with his eyes like
saucers.
1 replied with some impatience that
he had just said that he had room;
adding that if 1 was not in it and COM
fortably settled before five minutes
were up 1 would know the reason.
thought that this would settle the mat
ter, whatever maggot had got into the
mans head; and, in way. 1t did so.
for he begged my pardon hastily. and
made way for me to enter. But when
we were inside the door, instead of
showing me through the kitchen to my
room, he muttered something. and hur-
ried away, leaving me TO wonder what
was amiss with him and why the loun-
gers outside, who had listened with all
their ears TO our conversation. had
come in after us as far as they dared
and were regarding us with an odd
mixture of suspicion and amusement.
At length he returned bearing a
candle and followed by serving man.
+ asked him roughly why he had been
so long, and began TO rate him; but he
took the words out of my mouth by his
humility, and going before me through
the kitchen, he opened a door which led
again into the outer air.
1T is across the yard" he said apollo
getically, as he went before, and open
ing a second door stood aside for us to
enter. But 1t is good room, and. If
you please, a fire shall be lighted. The
shutters are closed" he continued, as
we passed him. Maignan and La Trape
carrying my baggage, but they shall
be opened. Hallol Pierre! Pierre,
therei Open these shut
On the word his voice rose-and
broke; and in a moment the door
through which we had all passed un-
us. Before we could move we heard
the bars drop across it. We were out
witted. We were prisoners.
In the first shock of the discovery,
hearing the bars drop home, we stood
gaping, and wondering what it meant.
Then Maignan, with an oath, sprang to
the door and tried it-fruitlessly.
1 Joined him more at my leisure, and
raising my voice asked angrily what this
foI1 ~ ssOna, 1o +haraf
you hear. landlord?" 1 called.
No one moved. though Maignan con-
tinued to rattle the door furiously.
do you hear?" I repeated. between
anger and amazement at the fix in which
we had placed ourselves. "Open!'
But. although the murmur Of voices
outside the door grew louder, no one
answered, and / had time to take in the
full absurdity of the position. Maignan was
furious. La Trape vicious, while my own
equanimity scarcely supported me against
tho thought that we should probably be
where we were until the arrival OF my
people, whom had directed my wife to
send to lie Mesnil at noon next day.
Their coming would free US. indeed. but
at the cost OF ridicule and laughter.
Wincing at the thought, bade Maig-
nan be silent. and. drumming on the door
myself. 1 called for the landlord. Some
one who had been giving directions in a
tone Of great consequence ceased speak
ing, and came close to the door. After
listening a moment, he struck it with his
hand.
Silence. request" he cried do you
hear? Silence there, unless you want
your ears nailed to the post"
"Foolf' ! answered. open the door
Instantly Are you all mad here, that
you shut up the Kings servants in this
way"
The Kings servantsl" he cried jeering
at US. Where are they?'
"Herew I answered. swallowing my
rage as well as I might II am Monsieur
Gringuet's deputy. and II you do not this
instant"
Monsieur Gringuet's deputy! Ho, hop
he said why, the fool, Monsieur Grim
gusts deputy arrived two hours before
you. You must get up a little earlier