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The beasts my men bestrode were in little better condition, and so, with infinite chagrin, I was forced to acknowledge defeat and to deternac we should lie for the reht After all, itwould bring us to Toulouse, and ould start betimes

I bade Gilles diss--and follow us afoot, bringing nac, where he would await him Then I mounted his jaded beast, and, acconac, and pulled up at the sign of the "Star"

With my whip I smote the door, and I had need to smite hard if I would be heard above the wind that shrieked and howled under the eaves of that narrow street Yet it almost see ceased when the door was opened, and the landlord stood there, shading a taper with his hand For a ht on his rosy, white-bearded face, then a gust of wind extinguished it

"Diable!" he swore, "an ugly night for travelling"; adding as an afterthought, "You ride late, monsieur"

"You are a man of supreme discernment, Monsieur l'Hote," said I testily, as I pushed hie "Will you keep ht whilst you perpend how late I ride? Is your ostler abed? See to those beasts yourself, then Afterwards get me food--for me and for my man and beds for both of us"

"I have but one room, monsieur," he answered respectfully "You shall have that, and your servant shall sleep in the hayloft"

"My servant sleeps in my room, if you have but one Set ato sleep in a hayloft? I have another servant following He will be here in a few e outside my door, if no other accoan in a tone of protest, which I set down to the way a landlord has ofdifficulties that he shall be the better paid for such lodging as he finds us

"See to it," I ordered pereo tend those horses"

On the wall of the passage fell a warued a fire, and this was too alluring to ader in discussion with hie de l'Etoile was not an i hostelry, nor one at which from choice I had made a halt This co tallow--from the smoky tapers--and of I know not what other noisome unsavourinesses