AssoonaswewereoutsidethetownIfellback,permittingFanchettetotakemyplace.Foranotherleague,alonganddrearyone,weploddedoninsilence,horsesandmenalikejadedandsullen,andthewomenscarcelyabletokeeptheirsaddlesforfatigue.Atlast,muchtomyrelief,seeingthatIbegantofearIhadtaxedmademoiselle\'sstrengthtoofar,thelonglowbuildingsoftheinnatwhichIproposedtostaycameinsight,atthecrossingoftheroadandriver.Theplacelookedblankandcheerless,fortheduskwasthickening;butaswetrailedonebyoneintothecourtyardastreamoffirelightburstonusfromdoorsandwindows,andadozensoundsoflifeandcomfortgreetedourears.
Noticingthatmademoisellewasbenumbedandcrampedwithlongsitting,Iwouldhavehelpedhertodismount;butshefiercelyrejectedmyaid,andIhadtocontentmyselfwithrequestingthelandlordtoassignthebestaccommodationhehadtotheladyandherattendant,andsecureasmuchprivacyforthemaspossible.
Themanassentedverycivillyandsaidallshouldbedone;butI
noticedthathiseyeswanderedwhileItalked,andthatheseemedtohavesomethingonhismind.Whenhereturned,afterdisposingofthem,itcameout.
\'Didyoueverhappentoseehim,sir?\'heaskedwithasigh;yetwasthereasmugairofpleasuremingledwithhismelancholy.