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Sure enough； in but a little while after； he fell into a sleep as
gentle as an infant's； which insensibly changed into the sleep of
death。 I had my arm about his body at the time and remarked
nothing； unless it were that he once stretched himself a little； so
kindly the end came to that disastrous life。 It was only at our
evening halt that the Major and I discovered we were travelling
alone with the poor clay。 That night we stole a spade from a field
… I think near Market Bosworth … and a little farther on； in a wood
of young oak trees and by the light of King's lantern； we buried
the old soldier of the Empire with both prayers and tears。
We had needs invent Heaven if it had not been revealed to us； there
are some things that fall so bitterly ill on this side Time！ As
for the Major； I have long since forgiven him。 He broke the news
to the poor Colonel's daughter； I am told he did it kindly； and
sure； nobody could have done it without tears！ His share of
purgatory will be brief； and in this world； as I could not very
well praise him； I have suppressed his name。 The Colonel's also；
for the sake of his parole。 REQUIESCAT。
CHAPTER XV … THE ADVENTURE OF THE ATTORNEY'S CLERK
I HAVE mentioned our usual course； which was to eat in
inconsiderable wayside hostelries； known to King。 It was a
dangerous business； we went daily under fire to satisfy our
appetite； and put our head in the loin's mouth for a piece of
bread。 Sometimes； to minimise the risk； we would all dismount
before we came in view of the house； straggle in severally； and
give what orders we pleased； like disconnected strangers。 In like
manner we departed； to find the cart at an appointed place； some
half a mile beyond。 The Colonel and the Major had each a word or
two of English … God help their pronunciation！ But they did well
enough to order a rasher and a pot or call a reckoning； and； to say
truth； these country folks did not give themselves the pains； and
had scarce the knowledge； to be critical。
About nine or ten at night the pains of hunger and cold drove us to
an alehouse in the flats of Bedfordshire； not far from Bedford
itself。 In the inn kitchen was a long； lean； characteristic…
looking fellow of perhaps forty； dressed in black。 He sat on a
settle by the fireside； smoking a long pipe； such as they call a
yard of clay。 His hat and wig were hanged upon the knob behind
him； his head as bald as a bladder of lard； and his expression very
shrewd； cantankerous； and inquisitive。 He seemed to value himself
above his company； to give himself the airs of a man of the world
among that rustic herd； which was often no more than his due；
being； as I afterwards discovered； an attorney's clerk。 I took
upon myself the more ungrateful part of arriving last； and by the
time I entered on the scene the Major was already served at a side
table。 Some general conversation must have passed； and I smelled
danger in the air。 The Major looked flustered； the attorney's
clerk triumphant； and three or four peasants in smock…frocks （who
sat about the fire to play chorus） had let their pipes go out。
'Give you good evening； sir！' said the attorney's clerk to me。
'The same to you； sir；' said I。
'I think this one will do；' quoth the clerk to the yokels with a
wink； and then； as soon as I had given my order； 'Pray； sir；
whither are you bound？' he added。
'Sir；' said I； 'I am not one of those who speak either of their
business or their destination in houses of public entertainment。'
'A good answer；' said he； 'and an excellent principle。 Sir； do you
speak French？'
'Why； no； sir；' said I。 'A little Spanish at your service。'
'But you know the French accent； perhaps？' said the clerk。
'Well do I do that！' said I。 'The French accent？ Why； I believe I
can tell a Frenchman in ten words。'
'Here is a puzzle for you； then！' he said。 'I have no material
doubt myself； but some of these gentlemen are more backward。 The
lack of education； you know。 I make bold to say that a man cannot
walk； cannot hear； and cannot see； without the blessings of
education。'
He turned to the Major； whose food plainly stuck in his throat。
'Now； sir；' pursued the clerk； 'let me have the pleasure to hear
your voice again。 Where are you going； did you say？'
'Sare； I am go…ing to Lon…don；' said the Major。
I could have flung my plate at him to be such an ass； and to have
so little a gift of languages where that was the essential。
'What think ye of that？' said the clerk。 'Is that French enough？'
'Good God！' cried I； leaping up like one who should suddenly
perceive an acquaintance； 'is this you； Mr。 Dubois？ Why； who would
have dreamed of encountering you so far from home？' As I spoke； I
shook hands with the Major heartily； and turning to our tormentor；
'Oh； sir； you may be perfectly reassured！ This is a very honest
fellow； a late neighbour of mine in the city of Carlisle。'
I thought the attorney looked put out； I little knew the man！
'But he is French；' said he； 'for all that？'
'Ay； to be sure！' said I。 'A Frenchman of the emigration！ None of
your Buonaparte lot。 I will warrant his views of politics to be as
sound as your own。'
'What is a little strange；' said the clerk quietly； 'is that Mr。
Dubois should deny it。'
I got it fair in the face； and took it smiling； but the shock was
rude； and in the course of the next words I contrived to do what I
have rarely done； and make a slip in my English。 I kept my liberty
and life by my proficiency all these months； and for once that I
failed； it is not to be supposed that I would make a public
exhibition of the details。 Enough； that it was a very little
error； and one that might have passed ninety…nine times in a
hundred。 But my limb of the law was as swift to pick it up as
though he had been by trade a master of languages。
'Aha！' cries he； 'and you are French； too！ Your tongue bewrays
you。 Two Frenchmen coming into an alehouse； severally and
accidentally； not knowing each other； at ten of the clock at night；
in the middle of Bedfordshire？ No； sir； that shall not pass！ You
are all prisoners escaping； if you are nothing worse。 Consider
yourselves under arrest。 I have to trouble you for your papers。'
'Where is your warrant； if you come to that？' said I。 'My papers！
A likely thing that I would show my papers on the IPSE DIXIT of an
unknown fellow in a hedge alehouse！'
'Would you resist the law？' says he。
'Not the law； sir！' said I。 'I hope I am too good a subject for
that。 But for a nameless fellow with a bald head and a pair of
gingham small…clothes； why certainly！ 'Tis my birthright as an
Englishman。 Where's MAGNA CHARTA； else？'
'We will see about that；' says he； and then； addressing the
assistants； 'where does the consta