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In gathering up my cloak and doublet and other effects to bear them off to the kitchen, the host would have possessed hih I took it fro

As weaboveof a door The host heard it also, for he stood suddenly still, his glance very questioning

"What was that?" said he

"The wind, I should say," I answered idly; and my answer seemed to reassure him, for with a "Ah, yes--the wind," he went on

Now, for all that I a a man of tremors or unwarranted fears, to tell the truth the hostelry of the "Star" was beginning to fret my nerves I could scarce have told you why had you asked me, as I sat upon the bed after hts to it It was none of the trivial incidents that had ; but it was, I think, the combination of them all First there was the host's desire to separatethat they should sleep in the hayloft Clearly unnecessary, when he was not averse to turning his common room into a dormitory There was his very evident relief when, after announcing that I would have thee by ht below; there was the presence of those two very ill-looking cut-throats; there was the attempt to carry offdoor and the host's note of alarm

What was that?

I stood up suddenly Hadupon that very incident, tricked ain? I listened, but a silence followed, broken only by a drone of voices ascending from the common room As I had assured the host upon the stairs, so I now assured nboard of the inn, perhaps, swaying in the storm

And then, when I had almost dismissedclothes, I saw so at which I thanked Heaven that I had not allowed the landlord to carry off azed, I beheld the slow raising of the latch It was no delusion; my ere keen and s that were not Softly I stepped to the bed-rail where I had hung my sword by the baldrick, and as softly I unsheathed it The door was pushed open, and I caught the advance of a stealthy step A naked foot shot past the edge of the door into round with , then a half-dressed body surmounted by a face--the face of Rodenard!