And then he waited for me to go into the house.

'The wife is in there,' he continued, looking at me stubbornly.
'IMPRIMIS--if you understand Latin, my friend,' I answered, 'the horse in the stall.' He saw that it was no good, turned the sorrel slowly round, and began to lead it across the village street.

There was a shed behind the inn, which I had already marked, and taken for the stable, I was surprised when I found that he was not going there, but I made no remark, and in a few minutes saw the horse made comfortable in a hovel which seemed to belong to a neighbour.
This done, the man led the way back to the inn, carrying my valise.
'You have no other guests ?' I said, with a casual air.

I knew that he was watching me closely.
'No,' he answered.
'This is not much in the way to anywhere, I suppose ?' 'No.' That was so evident, that I never saw a more retired place.

The hanging woods, rising steeply to a great height, so shut the valley in that I was puzzled to think how a man could leave it save by the road I had come.