properly fed--while I gave instructions to the landlord concerning our
supper. He was an old man, almost as old as Pierre, and he had such a
peculiar trick of jerking his head in answer to my remarks that I almost
feared it would come right off.

"I am sorry, monsieur, I will do my best; but the larder is empty. I
will kill a fowl; there is one left; but monsieur will be under the
disagreeable necessity of waiting."

"We are sharp set," I said. "Is there no cold meat in the house?"

"Monsieur, the troopers have devoured everything."

"Whose troopers?" I asked sharply.

"Whose but Monseigneur's!" replied the old man; "but they did not remain
long; they were busy hunting down the heretics."

After asking a few more questions, I sent him away to catch and cook our
supper, and then discussed his information with Jacques. From the old
man's story we gathered that the Duke of Montpensier was marching south
with a division of the royal army in pursuit of our comrades.

"Between Montpensier and Anjou we are in an awkward situation," I said.
"We have overshot the mark."

"That is true, monsieur; we must turn back, if we wish to join the
Admiral; but our animals are tired."

"We will give them a few hours' rest, and start early in the morning."