I had scarcely done this, and turned with the intention of exploring the street, when the door behind me creaked on its leather hinges, and in a moment the host stood at my elbow, and gave me a surly greeting.
Evidently his suspicions were again aroused, for from this time he managed to be with me, on one pretence or another until noon.

Moreover, his manner grew each moment more churlish, his hints plainer; until I could scarcely avoid noticing the one or the other.

About mid-day, having followed me for the twentieth time into the street, he came to the point by asking me rudely if I did not need my horse.
'No,' I said.

'Why do you ask ?' 'Because,' he answered, with an ugly smile, 'this is not a very healthy place for strangers.' 'Ah!' I retorted.

'But the border air suits me, you see,' It was a lucky answer, for, taken with my talk the night before, it puzzled him, by suggesting that I was on the losing side, and had my reasons for lying near Spain.