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breeches of dark green velveteen； stout boots； and a broad leather
belt。 His face was round； his manners frank and cordial； but during
the evening he seemed unable to disguise altogether some secret
apprehension or； possibly； some anxious care。 The innkeeper's opinion
has always been that this German merchant was fleeing his country。
Later I heard that his manufactory had been burned by one of those
unfortunate chances so frequent in times of war。 In spite of its
anxious expression the man's face showed great kindliness。 His
features were handsome； and the whiteness of his stout throat was well
set off by a black cravat； a fact which Wilhelm showed jestingly to
Prosper。〃
Here Monsieur Taillefer drank another glass of water。＇
Prosper courteously proposed that the merchant should share their
supper； and Wahlenfer accepted the offer without ceremony； like a man
who feels himself able to return a civility。 He placed his valise on
the floor and put his feet on it； took off his hat and gloves and
removed a pair of pistols from his belt； the landlord having by this
time set a knife and fork for him； the three guests began to satisfy
their appetites in silence。 The atmosphere of this room was hot and
the flies were so numerous that Prosper requested the landlord to open
the window looking toward the outer gate； so as to change the air。
This window was barricaded by an iron bar； the two ends of which were
inserted into holes made in the window casings。 For greater security；
two bolts were screwed to each shutter。 Prosper accidentally noticed
the manner in which the landlord managed these obstacles and opened
the window。
As I am now speaking of localities； this is the place to describe to
you the interior arrangements of the inn； for； on an accurate
knowledge of the premises depends an understanding of my tale。 The
public room in which the three persons I have named to you were
sitting； had two outer doors。 One opened on the main road to
Andernach； which skirts the Rhine。 In front of the inn was a little
wharf； to which the boat hired by the merchant for his journey was
moored。 The other door opened upon the courtyard of the inn。 This
courtyard was surrounded by very high walls and was full； for the time
being； of cattle and horses； the stables being occupied by human
beings。 The great gate leading into this courtyard had been so
carefully barricaded that to save time the landlord had brought the
merchant and sailors into the public room through the door opening on
the roadway。 After having opened the window； as requested by Prosper
Magnan； he closed this door； slipped the iron bars into their places
and ran the bolts。 The landlord's room； where the two young surgeons
were to sleep； adjoined the public room； and was separated by a
somewhat thin partition from the kitchen； where the landlord and his
wife intended； probably； to pass the night。 The servant…woman had left
the premises to find a lodging in some crib or hayloft。 It is
therefore easy to see that the kitchen； the landlord's chamber； and
the public room were； to some extent； isolated from the rest of the
house。 In the courtyard were two large dogs； whose deep…toned barking
showed vigilant and easily roused guardians。
〃What silence！ and what a beautiful night！〃 said Wilhelm； looking at
the sky through the window； as the landlord was fastening the door。
The lapping of the river against the wharf was the only sound to be
heard。
〃Messieurs；〃 said the merchant； 〃permit me to offer you a few bottles
of wine to wash down the carp。 We'll ease the fatigues of the day by
drinking。 From your manner and the state of your clothes； I judge that
you have made； like me； a good bit of a journey to…day。〃
The two friends accepted； and the landlord went out by a door through
the kitchen to his cellar； situated； no doubt； under this portion of
the building。 When five venerable bottles which he presently brought
back with him appeared on the table； the wife brought in the rest of
the supper。 She gave to the dishes and to the room generally the
glance of a mistress； and then； sure of having attended to all the
wants of the travellers； she returned to the kitchen。
The four men； for the landlord was invited to drink； did not hear her
go to bed； but later； during the intervals of silence which came into
their talk； certain strongly accentuated snores； made the more
sonorous by the thin planks of the loft in which she had ensconced
herself； made the guests laugh and also the husband。 Towards midnight；
when nothing remained on the table but biscuits； cheese； dried fruit；
and good wine； the guests； chiefly the young Frenchmen； became
communicative。 The latter talked of their homes； their studies； and of
the war。 The conversation grew lively。 Prosper Magnan brought a few
tears to the merchant's eyes； when with the frankness and naivete of a
good and tender nature； he talked of what his mother must be doing at
that hour； while he was sitting drinking on the banks of the Rhine。
〃I can see her；〃 he said； 〃reading her prayers before she goes to bed。
She won't forget me； she is certain to say to herself； 'My poor
Prosper； I wonder where he is now！' If she has won a few sous from her
neighborsyour mother； perhaps；〃 he added； nudging Wilhelm's elbow
〃she'll go and put them in the great red earthenware pot； where she is
accumulating a sum sufficient to buy the thirty acres adjoining her
little estate at Lescheville。 Those thirty acres are worth at least
sixty thousand francs。 Such fine fields！ Ah！ if I had them I'd live
all my days at Lescheville； without other ambition！ How my father used
to long for those thirty acres and the pretty brook which winds
through the meadows！ But he died without ever being able to buy them。
Many's the time I've played there！〃
〃Monsieur Wahlenfer； haven't you also your 'hoc erat in votis'？〃 asked
Wilhelm。
〃Yes； monsieur； but it came to pass； and now〃
The good man was silent； and did not finish his sentence。
〃As for me；〃 said the landlord； whose face was rather flushed； 〃I
bought a field last spring； which I had been wanting for ten years。〃
They talked thus like men whose tongues are loosened by wine； and they
each took that friendly liking to the others of which we are never
stingy on a journey； so that when the time came to separate for the
night； Wilhelm offered his bed to the merchant。
〃You can accept it without hesitation；〃 he said； 〃for I can sleep with
Prosper。 It won't be the first； nor the last time either。 You are our
elder； and we ought to honor age！〃
〃Bah！〃 said the landlord； 〃my wife's bed has several mattresses； take
one off and put it on the floor。〃
So saying； he went and shut the window； making all the noise that
prudent operation demanded。
〃I accept；〃 said the merchant； 〃in fact I will admit；〃 he added；
lowering his voice and looking at the two Frenchmen； 〃that I desired
it。 My boatme