vintage - Heaven fortify those that must be content with his worst!
--I passed on to make inquiries touching my whereabouts and the way
to Lavedan. This I learnt was but some three or four miles distant.
About the other table - there were but two within the room - stood
the dragoons in a whispered consultation, of which it had been well
had I taken heed, for it concerned me more closely than I could have
dreamt.

"He answers the description," said the sergeant, and though I heard
the words I took no thought that it was of me they spoke.

"Padrieu," swore one of his companions, "I'll wager it is our man."

And then, just as I was noticing that Master Abdon, who had also
overheard the conversation, was eyeing me curiously, the sergeant
stepped up to me, and--

"What is your name, monsieur?" quoth he.

I vouchsafed him a stare of surprise before asking in my turn "How
may that concern you?"

"Your pardon, my master, but we are on the King's business."

I remembered then that he had said I answered some description.
With that it flashed through my mind that they had been sent after
me by His Majesty to enforce my obedience to his wishes and to
hinder me from reaching Lavedan. At once came the dominant desire
to conceal my identity that I might go unhindered. The first
name that occurred to me was that of the poor wretch I had left