M.de Fontelles would have admired the fluency with which I discoursed with his servants, they telling me of travelling in their country, I describing the incidents of the road in England.
"There are rogues enough on the way in both countries, I'll warrant," I laughed.

"But perhaps you carry nothing of great value and laugh at robbers ?" "Our spoil would make a robber a poor meal, sir; but our master is in a different plight." "Ah! He carries treasure ?" "Not in money, sir," answered one.

The other nudged him, as though to bid him hold his tongue.
"Come, fill your glasses," I cried, and they obeyed very readily.
"Well, men have met their death between here and London often enough before now," I pursued meditatively, twisting my glass of wine in my fingers.

"But with you for his guard, M.de Fontelles should be safe enough." "We're charged to guard him with our lives, and not leave him till he comes to the Ambassador's house." "But these rogues hunt sometimes in threes and fours," said I."You might well lose one of your number." "We're cheap, sir," laughed one.

"The King of France has many of us." "But if your master were the one ?" "Even then provision is made." "What?
Could you carry his message--for if his treasure isn't money, I must set it down as tidings--to the Ambassador." They looked at one another rather doubtfully.