In fact the rider had not skirted Bourg, but had boldly entered the town.

There, it seemed to Roland that the man had hesitated, unless this hesitation were a last ruse to hide his tracks.

But after ten minutes spent in following his devious tracks Roland was sure of his facts; it was not trickery but hesitation.
The print of a man's steps came from a side street; the traveller and the pedestrian had conferred together for a moment, and then the former had evidently employed the latter as a guide.

From that point on, the footsteps of a man went side by side with those of the horse.

Both came to an end at the hotel de la Belle-Alliance.