Today all Grave was in commotion and excitement. The strangers had
arrived at the post-house, and after partaking of an excellent
dinner, engaged three seats in the stage. The good people of Grave
hoped to see three strange faces looking out of the stage window;
many were the surmises of their destiny and their possible motives
for travelling. They commenced these investigations while the
strangers were still with them.

A man had seen them enter the city, dusty and exhausted, and he
declared that the glance which the two men in brown coats had cast
at his young wife, who had come to the window at his call, was very
bold--yes, even suspicious, and it seemed very remarkable to him
that such plain, ordinary looking wanderers should have a servant,
for, doubtless, the man walking behind them, carrying the very small
carpet-bag, was their servant; but, truly, he appeared to be a proud
person, and had the haughty bearing of a general or a field-marshal,
he would not even return the friendly greetings of the people he
passed. His masters could not be distinguished or rich, for both of
them carried a case under their arms. What could be in those long
cases, what secret was hidden there? Perhaps they held pistols, and
the good people of Grave would have to deal with robbers or
murderers. The appearance of the strangers was wild and bold enough
to allow of the worst suspicions.

The whole town, as before mentioned, was in commotion, and all were
anxious to see the three strangers, about whom there was certainly
something mysterious. They had the manners and bearing of noblemen,
but were dressed like common men.

A crowd of idlers had assembled before the post-house, whispering