We found a farmer just up, and made him give us sustenance for ourselves and our horses.

I, feigning a toothache, muffled my face closely.

Then ahead again, till Strelsau lay before us.

It was eight o'clock or nearing nine, and the gates were all open, as they always were save when the duke's caprice or intrigues shut them.

We rode in by the same way as we had come out the evening before, all four of us--the men and the horses--wearied and jaded.