'Very well,' I said. 'But I go with you. A merciful man is
merciful to his beast, and wherever I go I see my horse fed.'

'It will be fed,' he said shortly. And then he waited for me to
go into the house. 'The wife is in there,' he continued, looking
at me stubbornly.

'IMPRIMIS--if you understand Latin, my friend,' I answered. 'the
horse in the stall.'

He saw that it was no good, turned the sorrel slowly round, and
began to lead it across the village street. There was a shed
behind the inn, which I had already marked, and taken for the
stable, I was surprised when I found that he was not going there,
but I made no remark, and in a few minutes saw the horse made
comfortable in a hovel which seemed to belong to a neighbour.

This done, the man led the way back to the inn, carrying my
valise.

'You have no other guests?' I said, with a casual air. I knew
that he was watching me closely.

'No,' he answered.

'This is not much in the way to anywhere, I suppose?'

'No.'

That was so evident, that I never saw a more retired place. The