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Magnan； my opposite neighbor seized the decanter； poured out a glass
of water； and emptied it at a draught。 This movement having attracted
my attention； I thought I noticed a slight trembling of the hand and a
moisture on the brow of the capitalist。
〃What is that man's name？〃 I asked my neighbor。
〃Taillefer；〃 she replied。
〃Do you feel ill？〃 I said to him； observing that this strange
personage was turning pale。
〃Not at all；〃 he said with a polite gesture of thanks。 〃I am
listening；〃 he added； with a nod to the guests； who were all
simultaneously looking at him。
〃I have forgotten；〃 said Monsieur Hermann； 〃the name of the other
young man。 But the confidences which Prosper Magnan subsequently made
to me enabled me to know that his companion was dark； rather thin； and
jovial。 I will； if you please； call him Wilhelm； to give greater
clearness to the tale I am about to tell you。〃
The worthy German resumed his narrative after having； without the
smallest regard for romanticism and local color； baptized the young
French surgeon with a Teutonic name。＇
By the time the two young men reached Andernach the night was dark。
Presuming that they would lose much time in looking for their chiefs
and obtaining from them a military billet in a town already full of
soldiers； they resolved to spend their last night of freedom at an inn
standing some two or three hundred feet from Andernach； the rich color
of which； embellished by the fires of the setting sun； they had
greatly admired from the summit of the hill above the town。 Painted
entirely red； this inn produced a most piquant effect in the
landscape； whether by detaching itself from the general background of
the town； or by contrasting its scarlet sides with the verdure of the
surrounding foliage； and the gray…blue tints of the water。 This house
owed its name； the Red Inn； to this external decoration； imposed upon
it； no doubt from time immemorial by the caprice of its founder。 A
mercantile superstition； natural enough to the different possessors of
the building； far…famed among the sailors of the Rhine； had made them
scrupulous to preserve the title。
Hearing the sound of horses' hoofs； the master of the Red Inn came out
upon the threshold of his door。
〃By heavens！ gentlemen；〃 he cried； 〃a little later and you'd have had
to sleep beneath the stars； like a good many more of your compatriots
who are bivouacking on the other side of Andernach。 Here every room is
occupied。 If you want to sleep in a good bed I have only my own room
to offer you。 As for your horses I can litter them down in a corner of
the courtyard。 The stable is full of people。 Do these gentlemen come
from France？〃 he added after a slight pause。
〃From Bonn；〃 cried Prosper； 〃and we have eaten nothing since morning。〃
〃Oh！ as to provisions；〃 said the innkeeper； nodding his head； 〃people
come to the Red Inn for their wedding feast from thirty miles round。
You shall have a princely meal； a Rhine fish！ More； I need not say。〃
After confiding their weary steeds to the care of the landlord； who
vainly called to his hostler； the two young men entered the public
room of the inn。 Thick white clouds exhaled by a numerous company of
smokers prevented them from at first recognizing the persons with whom
they were thrown； but after sitting awhile near the table； with the
patience practised by philosophical travellers who know the inutility
of making a fuss； they distinguished through the vapors of tobacco the
inevitable accessories of a German inn： the stove； the clock； the pots
of beer； the long pipes； and here and there the eccentric
physiognomies of Jews； or Germans； and the weather…beaten faces of
mariners。 The epaulets of several French officers were glittering
through the mist； and the clank of spurs and sabres echoed incessantly
from the brick floor。 Some were playing cards； others argued； or held
their tongues and ate； drank； or walked about。 One stout little woman；
wearing a black velvet cap； blue and silver stomacher； pincushion；
bunch of keys； silver buckles； braided hair；all distinctive signs of
the mistress of a German inn （a costume which has been so often
depicted in colored prints that it is too common to describe here）；
well； this wife of the innkeeper kept the two friends alternately
patient and impatient with remarkable ability。
Little by little the noise decreased； the various travellers retired
to their rooms； the clouds of smoke dispersed。 When places were set
for the two young men； and the classic carp of the Rhine appeared upon
the table； eleven o'clock was striking and the room was empty。 The
silence of night enabled the young surgeons to hear vaguely the noise
their horses made in eating their provender； and the murmur of the
waters of the Rhine； together with those indefinable sounds which
always enliven an inn when filled with persons preparing to go to bed。
Doors and windows are opened and shut； voices murmur vague words； and
a few interpellations echo along the passages。
At this moment of silence and tumult the two Frenchmen and their
landlord； who was boasting of Andernach； his inn； his cookery； the
Rhine wines； the Republican army； and his wife； were all three
listening with a sort of interest to the hoarse cries of sailors in a
boat which appeared to be coming to the wharf。 The innkeeper； familiar
no doubt with the guttural shouts of the boatmen； went out hastily；
but presently returned conducting a short stout man； behind whom
walked two sailors carrying a heavy valise and several packages。 When
these were deposited in the room； the short man took the valise and
placed it beside him as he seated himself without ceremony at the same
table as the surgeons。
〃Go and sleep in your boat；〃 he said to the boatmen； 〃as the inn is
full。 Considering all things； that is best。〃
〃Monsieur；〃 said the landlord to the new…comer； 〃these are all the
provisions I have left；〃 pointing to the supper served to the two
Frenchmen； 〃I haven't so much as another crust of bread nor a bone。〃
〃No sauer…kraut？〃
〃Not enough to put in my wife's thimble！ As I had the honor to tell
you just now； you can have no bed but the chair on which you are
sitting； and no other chamber than this public room。〃
At these words the little man cast upon the landlord； the room； and
the two Frenchmen a look in which caution and alarm were equally
expressed。
＇〃Here；〃 said Monsieur Hermann； interrupting himself； 〃I ought to tell
you that we have never known the real name nor the history of this
man； his papers showed that he came from Aix…la…Chapelle； he called
himself Wahlenfer and said that he owned a rather extensive pin
manufactory in the suburbs of Neuwied。 Like all the manufacturers of
that region； he wore a surtout coat of common cloth； waistcoat and
breeches of dark green velveteen； stout boots； and a broad leather
belt。 His face was round； his manners frank and cord