The San Francisco call., 1906-04-01

wife TO proceed at her leisure. In this
way I was able. by taking rough paths
10 90 in two or three hours a distance
which her, coaches had scarcely covered
IN the day, but on the third evening, in
tending to make short cut by q ford on
the Nancouleurs. ] found. to my chagrin,
the advantage on the other sice-the ford
when / reached It at sunset proving i'm
practicable. As there was every prospect.
however, that the water would fall within
a few hours determined TO wait where
was until morning and complete my
journey TO Houdan in the early hours.
There was a poor inn near the ford, TO
which ] made my way. with Maignan and
La Trape, who formed. with two grooms,
my only attendants. On coming near the
house and looking about with a curious
eye ! remarked something which fixed my
attention and for the moment brought me
10 a halt. This was the spectacle of three
horses OF fair quality feeding in a field of
growing corn near the inn. They were
trampling and spelling more than they
ate. and supposing that they had strayed
into the place and the house showing no
signs Of life I bade my grooms fetch them
out
Suddenly a man came round the corner
Of the house. and seeing US and what my
men were doing began 10 gesticulate vio-
lently, but without sound. He ran up TO
my stirrup, his face flushed and sullen.
do you want TO see US all ruined?" he
muttered. And he begged me to call my
men out Of the corn.
You are more likely to be ruined
o that way" I answered, looking down at
him. TWhy, man, is il the custom in
your country to turn horses into the
half-ripe corng'
lie shook his fist stealthily God
forbid" he said But the devil is with
IN doors. and we must do his bidding"
AIR replied, my curiosity aroused.
I should like to see him"
The boor shaded his eyes. and looked
at me sulkily from under his matted
and tangled hair. You are not of his
eompany?7 he said. with suspicion.
Il hope not" I answered. smiling at
his simplicity. But your corn is your
own. I will call the men out" On
whichsI made sign to them to return
Now" I said, as / walked my horse
slowly toward the house, while he
trampled along beside me, who is
within?'
Monsieur Gringuet." he said, with
another stealthy gesture. The tax
gatherer."
oh: and those are his horses?"
He nodded.
still, I do not see why they are in
the corn2"
I have no hay"
But there is grass"
"Ay." the innkeeper answered bitter
ly, and he said that ] might eat ii. 1t
was not good enough for his horses.
They must have hay or corn: and if /
had none, so much the worse for me-
Full Of indignation, I made in my
mind a note Of Monsieur Gringuet's S
name; but at the moment I said no
more. and we proceeded to the house,
the exterior Of which, though neager,
and even miserable, gave me an i'm
preston OF neatness. From the inside
however, a hoarse, continuous noise was
issuing, which resolved itself. as we
crossed the threshold, into a man. S
voice. The speaker was out Of sight. in
an upper rooT1, 10 which the ladder
gave access, but his oaths, complaints
and imprecations almost shook the
house.
The roaring and clustering continuing
upstairs, I stood a moment in sheer as
constituent rs that Monsieur Grin
guet?" I said at last.
The innkeeper nodded sullenly. while his
wife stared at me. What is the matter
with him?" I said.
The gout. But for that he would have
been gone these two days to collect at lie
Mesnil."
While stood in the middle Of the
kitchen, debating whether I should order
the servants to fling the fellow out, and
bid him appear before me at Villebon in
stead, or should have him brought up
there and then. the mans koarse voice.
which had never ceased to growl and
Gnarl above US. rose on a sudden still
louder. Something fell on the floor over
diately a young girl, barefoot and short
skirted, scrambled hurredly and blindly
down the ladder and landed among US.
She was sobbing and a little blood was
flowing from q cut in her lip: and she
trenbled all over. At sight of the blood
and her tears the woman seemed TO be
transported. Snatching UP a saucepan,
she sprang toward the ladder with a ges-
ture of rage, and in a moment would
have ascended IL her husband had not
followed and dragged her back.
Bat the woman. whom her husband had
only half pacifed. shook her fist at the
ceiling with a laugh OF defiance. ''Shriek:
ay you make shrek, you wretch she
cried. You must be waited on by my
girl. must you-no older face viii do for
you-and you beat her2 Your horses must
eat corn, must they, while we eat grass
And VIC buy salt for you. and wheaton
bread for you. and are beggars for you'll
For you, you tfieviDg wretch, who tax
the poor and let the rich go free; who"
.-Sjlence. womans~ ner husband cried,
cutting her short. with a pale face.
Hush, hush, he will hear you."
But the woman was too far gone in
-ere 10 obey. What, and is IL not
true7" she answered, her eyes glittering.
ssNin he not tomorrow go to lie Mesnil
and squeeze the poor2 Ay. and will not
Lescaut, the corn dealer, and Philippon,
the silk merchant. come to him with
bribes and go free? And De Fonvelle
and De curtin-they with q de forsoothi
-plead their nobility and grease his
HANDS and go freef Ay, and"
But how long has your friend up
stairs been here7" interrupted.
ssrSu.o 6e~9 rvaouefer1r" abe answered,