It was therefore no more than natural that I should communicate to him my fears touching what might come of the machinations of St.Auban, Vilmorin, and even, perchance, of that little firebrand, Malpertuis.
Night fell while we talked, and at last the lights of Etampes, where we proposed to lie, peeped at us from a distance, and food and warmth.
It was eight o'clock when we reached the town, and a few moments later we rattled into the courtyard of the Hotel de l'Epee.
Andrea was out of temper to learn that Mesdemoiselles de Canaples had reached the place two hours earlier, taken fresh horses, and proceeded on their journey, intending to reach Monnerville that night.

He was even mad enough to propose that we should follow their example, but my sober arguments prevailed, and at Etampes we stayed till morning.
Andrea withdrew early.

But I, having chanced upon a certain M.de la Vrilliere, a courtier of Vilmorin's stamp, with whom I had some slight acquaintance, and his purse being heavier than his wits, I spent a passing profitable evening in his company.

This pretty gentleman hailed my advent with a delight that amazed me, and suggested that we should throw a main together to kill time.

The dice were found, and so clumsily did he use them that in half an hour, playing for beggarly crowns, he had lost twenty pistoles.