"That is just our case, and you will understand that in times like
these, as you say, no one cares to answer questions on the part
of strangers. But we have no particular cause of concealment. We
have both been in the army, and, as you see, have left it, and have
our reasons for wishing to travel at night, when there is no chance
of falling in with troops whose officers might ask inconvenient
questions. As, thanks to our host and you, we are nearly wet through,
we will thank him to get ready as quick as may be two flagons of
hot beer, and if he has got a couple of eggs to beat up in each
of them, so much the better."

The landlord left the room, and a minute or two later the man who
had spoken to Hector got up and went out.

"These men are up to no good," Hector whispered to Paolo as they
sat down on a bench at a table some little distance from that at
which the other men were seated. "I am sorry now that I asked for
the liquor, it was necessary to order something. I should not be
surprised if they drug it. Do you put yours to your lips, and
then groan as if it hurt you too much to try to swallow, and leave
it standing in front of you. I will pretend to drink mine, and
will manage to pour it away on the floor. Presently do you lean
forward on to the table and appear to fall asleep. As I am in
the corner, I will lean back and seem to go off also. Unless I am
greatly mistaken this is a regular thieves' den. Keep one hand on
the butt of a pistol. We will both keep awake for a time, and if
nothing comes of it we will then watch by turns. It is clear that
they suspect that we are not what we seem."

The men at the other table were talking together in low voices,