About the other table--there were but two within the room--stood the dragoons in a whispered consultation, of which it had been well had I taken heed, for it concerned me more closely than I could have dreamt.
"He answers the description," said the sergeant, and though I heard the words I took no thought that it was of me they spoke.
"Padrieu," swore one of his companions, "I'll wager it is our man." And then, just as I was noticing that Master Abdon, who had also overheard the conversation, was eyeing me curiously, the sergeant stepped up to me, and-- "What is your name, monsieur ?" quoth he.
I vouchsafed him a stare of surprise before asking in my turn "How may that concern you ?" "Your pardon, my master, but we are on the King's business." I remembered then that he had said I answered some description.

With that it flashed through my mind that they had been sent after me by His Majesty to enforce my obedience to his wishes and to hinder me from reaching Lavedan.

At once came the dominant desire to conceal my identity that I might go unhindered.

The first name that occurred to me was that of the poor wretch I had left in the barn half an hour ago, and so-- "I am," said I, "Monsieur de Lesperon, at your service." Too late I saw the mistake that I had made.

I own it was a blunder that no man of ordinary intelligence should have permitted himself to have committed.