She only gave one furtive glance at the handsome gentleman, and disappeared.
Cropole advanced, cap in hand, rather bent than bowing.
A gesture of the unknown interrogated him, without a word being pronounced.
"Monsieur," said Cropole, "I come to ask how--what ought I to say: your lordship, monsieur le comte, or monsieur le marquis ?" "Say monsieur, and speak quickly," replied the unknown, with that haughty accent which admits of neither discussion nor reply.
"I came, then, to inquire how monsieur had passed the night, and if monsieur intended to keep this apartment ?" "Yes." "Monsieur, something has happened upon which we could not reckon." "What ?" "His majesty Louis XIV.

will enter our city to-day and will remain here one day, perhaps two." Great astonishment was painted on the countenance of the unknown.
"The King of France coming to Blois ?" "He is on the road, monsieur." "Then there is the stronger reason for my remaining," said the unknown.
"Very well; but will monsieur keep all the apartments ?" "I do not understand you.

Why should I require less to-day than yesterday ?" "Because, monsieur, your lordship will permit me to say, yesterday I did not think proper, when you chose your lodging, to fix any price that might have made your lordship believe that I prejudged your resources; whilst to-day----" The unknown colored; the idea at once struck him that he was supposed to be poor, and was being insulted.
"Whilst to-day," replied he, coldly, "you do prejudge." "Monsieur, I am a well-meaning man, thank God! and simple hotelier as I am, there is in me the blood of a gentleman.

My father was a servant and officer of the late Marechal d'Ancre.

God rest his soul!" "I do not contest that point with you; I only wish to know, and that quickly, to what your questions tend ?" "You are too reasonable, monsieur, not to comprehend that our city is small, that the court is about to invade it, that the houses will be overflowing with inhabitants, and that lodgings will consequently obtain considerable prices." Again the unknown colored.