An elderly man, of strange appearance, and dressed in an affected and bizarre fashion, was seated at table when we arrived.

Though I entered first in my assumed capacity of leader of the party, he let me pass before him without comment, but rose and solemnly saluted M.de Rosny, albeit the latter walked behind me and was much more plainly dressed.

Rosny returned his greeting and would have passed on; but the stranger, interposing with a still lower bow, invited him to take his seat, which was near the fire and sheltered from the draught, at the same time making as if he would himself remove to another place.
'Nay,' said my companion, surprised by such an excess of courtesy, 'I do not see why I should take your place, sir.' 'Not mine only,' the old man rejoined, looking at him with a particularity and speaking with an emphasis which attracted our attention, 'but those of many others, who I can assure you will very shortly yield them up to you, whether they will or not.' M.de Rosny shrugged his shoulders and passed on, affecting to suppose the old man wandered.

But privately he thought much of his words, and more when he learned that he was an astrologer from Paris, who had the name, at any rate in this country, of having studied under Nostradamus.
And whether he drew fresh hopes from this, or turned his attention more particularly as we approached Blois to present matters, certainly he grew more cheerful, and began again to discuss the future, as though assured of his master's recovery.
'You have never been to the King's Court ?' he said presently, following up, as I judged, a train of thought in his own mind.

'At Blois, I mean.' 'No; nor do I feel anxious to visit it,' I answered.