Here we ordered breakfast, and announced with pride that we were going to Paris.
Our host raised his hands.

"Now there!" he exclaimed, regret in his voice.

"And if you had arrived yesterday you could have travelled up with the Vidame de Bezers! And you a small party--saving your lordships' presence--and the roads but so-so!" "But the Vidame was riding with only half-a-dozen attendants also!" I answered, flicking my boot in a careless way.
The landlord shook his head.

"Ah, M.le Vidame knows the world!" he answered shrewdly.

"He is not to be taken off his guard, not he! One of his men whispered me that twenty staunch fellows would join him at Chateauroux.