And presently, his eyes alight, his pulses riotous, his foot dancing, he walked down the Corraterie--with scarce a look at the house which had held his thoughts all day--and passed into the town.

As he passed through the gateway he hung an instant and cast an inquisitive eye into the guard-room of the Tertasse.

It was nearly empty.

Two men sat drowsing before the fire, their boot-heels among the embers, a black jack between them.
The fact weighed something in the balance of probabilities: and in growing excitement, Claude hurried on, sought the cookshop at which he had broken his fast--a humble place, licensed for the scholars--and ate his supper, not knowing what he ate, nor with whom he ate it.

It was only by chance that his ear caught, at a certain moment, a new tone in the goodwife's voice; and that he looked up, and saw her greet her husband.
"Ay!" the man said, putting off his bandoleer, and answering the exclamation of surprise which his entrance had evoked.