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where I sat a little apart； eating with Parabere and my gentlemen。
〃Sir；〃 he said； on a sudden and without preface； 〃I see that you are the leader of this party。〃
As I was more plainly dressed than Parabere； and had been giving no orders； I wondered how he knew； but I answered； without any remark； 〃Well； sir； and what of that？〃
〃You are in great danger；〃 he replied。
〃I？〃 I said。
〃Yes； sir； you！〃 he answered。
〃You know me？〃
He shrugged his shoulders。 〃Not I；〃 he said； 〃but those who speak by me。 Enough that you are in danger。〃
〃From what？〃 I asked sceptically； while my companions stared； and the troopers and servants； who were just within hearing； listened open…mouthed。
〃A one…eyed woman and a one…eyed house；〃 he answered darkly。 Then； before I could frame a question； he turned from me as abruptly as he had come； and； mounting a sorry mare that stood near； stumbled away through the ford。
It required little wit to see that the man was an astrologer； and one whose predictions； if they had not profited his clients more than himself； had been ominous indeed。 I was inclined； therefore； to make sport of him； knowing that the pretenders to that art are to the true men as ten to one。 But his words； and particularly the fact that he had asked for nothing； had impressed my followers differently； so that they talked of nothing else while we ate； and could still be heard discussing him in the saddle。 The wildness of the road and the gloomy aspect of the valley had doubtless some effect on their minds； which a thunderstorm that shortly afterwards overtook us and drenched us to the skin did not tend to lighten。 I was glad to see the roofs of Saury before us； though； on a nearer approach； we found all the houses except the inn ruined and tenantless； and even； that scorched and scarred； with the great gate that had once closed its courtyard prostrate in the road before it。
However； in view of the country we had come through； and the general desolation； we were thankful to find things no worse。 The village stood at the entrance to a gorge； with the Creuse here a fast…rushing streamrunning at the back of the inn。 The latter was of good size； stone…built and tiled； and； at first； seemed to be empty； but the servants presently unearthed a man and then a boy。 Fires were lit； and the horses stabled； and a second room with a chimney being found； Parabere and I； with Colet and my gentlemen； took possession of it； leaving the kitchen to my following。
I had had my boots removed； and was drying my clothes and expecting supper； when Boisrueil； who was beside me； uttered an exclamation of amazement。
〃What is it？〃 I said。
He did not answer； and I followed his eyes。 A woman had just entered the room with a bundle of sticks。 She had one eye！
I confess that； for an instant； this staggered me； but a moment's thought reminded me that the astrologer had come from this inn to us； and I smiled at the credulity which would have built on a coincidence that was no coincidence。 When the woman had retired again； therefore； I rallied Boisrueil on his timidity； but； though he admitted the correctness of my reasoning； I saw that he was not entirely convinced。 He started whenever a shutter flapped； or the draughts； which searched the grim old building through and through； threatened to extinguish our lights。 He hung cloaks over the windows to obviate the latter inconvenience he saidand was continually going out and coming back with gloomy looks。 Parabere joined me in rallying him； which we did without mercy； but when I had occasion； after a while； to pass through the outer room I found that he was not alone in his fears。 The troopers sat moodily listening； or muttered together； while the cup passed round in silence。 When I bade a man go on an errand to the stable； four went； and when I dropped a word to the woman who was attending to her pot； a dozen heads were stretched out to catch the answer。
Such a feelingto which； in this instance； the murmur of the stream and the steady downpour of rain doubtless added something is so contagious that I was not surprised to find Colet and La Font sinking under it。 Only Parabere； in fact； rose quite superior to the notion； laughed at their fears； and drank to their better spirits； and； making the best of the situation； as became an old soldier； presently engaged me in tales of the war fought again the siege of Laon； and buried men whose bodies bad lain for ten years under the oaks at Fontaine Francoise。
Talk of this kind； which we still maintained after we had despatched our supper； was sufficiently engrossing to erase Boisrueil's fancies entirely from my mind。 They were recalled by his sudden entrance； with Colet at his elbow； the faces of both full of importance。 I saw that they had something to say； and asked what it was。
〃We have been examining the back gate； M。 le Marquis；〃 Colet said。
〃Well； man？〃
〃It is barricaded； and cannot be opened；〃 he answered。
〃Well；〃 I said again； 〃there is nothing wonderful in that。 Anyone can see that there has been rough work here。 The front gate was stormed； I suppose； and the back one left standing。〃
〃But if is so barricaded that it is not possible to open it；〃 he objected。 〃And the men have an idea〃
〃Well？〃 I said； seeing that he hesitated。
〃That this is a one…eyed house。〃
Parabere laughed loudly。 〃Of course it is！〃 he said。 〃That strolling rogue saw the gate as well as the woman； and made his profit of them。〃
〃Pardon； sir！〃 Boisrueil answered bluntly； 〃That is just what he did not do！〃
〃Well；〃 I said； silencing him by a gesture； 〃is that all？〃
〃No；〃 he replied； 〃I have tasted the men's wine。〃
〃And it is drugged？〃
〃No；〃 he said。 〃On the contrary； it is a great deal too good for the priceor the house。 And you ordered a litre apiece。 Some have had two； and not asked twice for it！〃
〃Ho； ho！〃 I said； staring at him。 〃Are you sure of that？〃
〃Quite！〃 he said。
I was genuinely startled at last； but Parabere still made light of it。 〃What！〃 he said。 〃Are we a pack of nervous women； or one poor traveller in a solitary inn； that we see shadows and shake at them？〃
〃The inn is solitary enough；〃 Boisrueil grumbled。
〃But we are twenty swords！〃 Parabere retorted； opening his eyes wide。 〃Why； I have ridden all day in an enemy's country with less！〃
〃And been beaten with more at Craon。〃
〃But； man alive； that was in a battle； and by an army！〃
〃Well； and there may be a battle and an army here；〃 Boisrueil answered sulkily；
I was inclined to laugh at this as extravagance； but seeing that La Font and Colet sided with Boisrueil； I remembered that the latter was no coward though a great gossip； and I thought better of it。 Accordingly； resolving to look into the thing myself； I bade La Font fetch a couple of lanthorns； and； when he had done so； went out with him and Boisrueil as if I had a mind to go round the horses before I retired。 Parabere declined to accompany me on the ground that he would not be at the pains of it； and Colet I left in the kitchen to keep an eye on the man and woman。
There was no moon； rain was still falling； and the yard； crowded with steaming； sh