garrets, are so prone to sing; and always gave the most unromantic
preference to comfortable lodgings and a good roof; so, persevering in
his search after the pathway, while any prospect of success remained, he
circled about until equally hopeless and fatigued; then, remounted his
steed, and throwing the bridle upon his neck, with something of the
indifference of despair, he plied his spurs, suffering the animal to
adopt his own course, which we shall see was nevertheless interrupted by
the appearance of another party upon the scene, whose introduction we
reserve for another chapter.




CHAPTER II.

THE ENCOUNTER--THE CHEVALIER D'INDUSTRIE.


Thus left to himself, the good steed of our traveller set off, without
hesitation, and with a free step, that promised, at least, to overcome
space hurriedly, if it attained not the desired destination. The rider
did not suffer any of his own doubts to mar a progress so confidently
begun; and a few minutes carried the twain, horse and man, deeply, as it
were, into the very bowels of the forest. The path taken by the steed
grew every moment more and more intricate and difficult of access, and,
but for the interruption already referred to, it is not impossible that
a continued course in the same direction, would have brought the rider
to a full stop from the sheer inaccessibleness of the forest.

The route thus taken lay in a valley which was necessarily more fertile,