his followers, and lost his way alone in the forest of Loches. At last he fell in with a charcoal-burner, who undertook to conduct him back to the castle. Geoffrey mounted his guide behind him; and as they rode along, the peasant, ignorant of his companion’s rank, and taking him for a simple knight, let himself be drawn into conversation on sundry matters, including a free criticism on the government of the reigning count, and the oppressions suffered by the people at the hands of his household officers. When they reached the gates of Loches, the burst of joy which greeted the wanderer’s return revealed to the poor man that he had been talking to the count himself. Overwhelmed with dismay, he tried to slip off the horse’s back; but Geoffrey held him fast, gave him the place of honour at the evening banquet, sent him home next day with a grant of freedom and a liberal gift of money, and profited by the information acquired from him to institute a thorough reform in the administration of his own household.[638] [628] _Hist. Gaufr. Ducis_ (Marchegay, _Comtes_), p. 233. [629] _Ib._ pp. 232, 233. [630] _Hist. Gaufr. Ducis_ (Marchegay, _Comtes_), p. 232. [631] _Ib._ p. 235. [632] _Ib._ p. 233. [633] _Ib._ p. 276. [634] See the story of the siege of Montreuil-Bellay, _Hist. Gaufr. Ducis_ (Marchegay, _Comtes_), p. 286. [635] _Hist. Gaufr. Ducis_ (Marchegay, _Comtes_), pp. 257–260. [636] _Ib._ pp. 253–256. [637] _Ib._ pp. 274–276. [638] _Hist. Gaufr. Ducis_ (Marchegay, _Comtes_), pp. 240–250.