The goodwife was not visible.

The fire was not lighted.

No provision, not so much as a stirrup-cup or bowl of porridge cheered the heart.
I looked round, sniffing the stale smell of last night's lamp, and grunted.
'Are you going to send me out fasting ?' I said, affecting a worse humour than I felt.
The landlord was standing by the window, stooping over a great pair of frayed and furrowed thigh-boots which he was labouring to soften with copious grease.
'Mademoiselle ordered no breakfast,' he answered, with a malicious grin.
'Well it does not much matter,' I replied grandly.

'I shall be at Auch by noon.' 'That is as may be,' he answered with another grin.
I did not understand him, but I had something else to think about, and I opened the door and stepped out, intending to go to the stable.

Then in a second I comprehended.