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He sat down by the side of the moat, buried his face in his hands and reflected Ten minutes after he raised his head; his resolution was made He threw some dust over the topcoat, which he had found time to unhook fro to Chapelle-en-Serval he knocked loudly at the door of the only inn in the place The host opened "My friend," said Andrea, "I was co from Montefontaine to Senlis, when my horse, which is a troublesone to-night, or I shall cause deep anxiety to my family Could you let me hire a horse of you?"

An inn-keeper has always a horse to let, whether it be good or bad The host called the stable-boy, and ordered him to saddle "Whitey," then he awoke his son, a child of seven years, who back the horse Andrea gave the inn-keeper twenty francs, and in taking theed to one of his friends at the Cafe de Paris, so that the innkeeper, picking it up after Andrea had left, was convinced that he had let his horse to the Count of Mauleon, 25 Rue Saint-Do the name and address on the card "Whitey" was not a fast animal, but he kept up an easy, steady pace; in three hours and a half Andrea had traversed the nine leagues which separated hine, and four o'clock struck as he reached the place where the coaches stop There is an excellent tavern at Cone, well remembered by those who have ever been there Andrea, who had often stayed there in his rides about Paris, recollected the Bell and Bottle inn; he turned around, saw the sign by the light of a reflected la hi at the door, very reasonably concluding that having now three or four hours before hiues of the ood supper A waiter opened the door

"My friend," said Andrea, "I have been dining at Saint-Jean-au-Bois, and expected to catch the coach which passes by at ht, but like a fool I have lostfor the last four hours in the forest Show me into one of those pretty little roo me a cold fowl and a bottle of Bordeaux" The waiter had no suspicions; Andrea spoke with perfect coar in his mouth, and his hands in the pocket of his top coat; his clothes were fashionably made, his chin smooth, his boots irreproachable; he looked merely as if he had stayed out very late, that was all While the waiter was preparing his roo smile, and asked if he could have No 3, which he had occupied on his last stay at Cowith his sister Andrea appeared in despair, but consoled himself when the hostess assured him that No 7, prepared for hi his feet and chatting about the last races at Chantilly, he waited until they announced his room to be ready