When the gentlemen of the neighborhood indulged in the sport of fishing in the ponds of Thevet, they always sent in haste for Master Pignoux, who would come with his wife, set up his canteen on the water's edge, and serve them, under some lovely arbor, those marvellous _matelotes_[6]--they were then called _étuvées_--which had made his reputation. He also went about to the towns and châteaux near by, for wedding and other festivals, and, it was said, could have taught Monsieur le Prince's master cooks a thing or two. The _Geault-Rouge_ was a solidly built structure, of two high stories, covered with tiles of a brilliant red which could be seen a league away. Through the influence of the noblemen of the neighborhood, Master Pignoux had obtained permission to put a vane on his roof, a privilege of the nobility to which he declared that he was entitled, as he so often had occasion to entertain the nobility. The incessant shrill shrieking of that vane, which seemed to be the objective point of all the winds of the plain, blended with the perpetual creaking of the great iron sign representing the _Geault-Rouge_ in its glory, which swung haughtily at the end of a staff projecting from a window on the second floor. Opposite the house, on the other side of the road, was a very large thatch-covered stable, and long sheds for the accommodation of the retinues by whom the noble sportsmen were commonly attended. The inn itself was specially reserved for the nobles themselves. Everyone knows that in those days inns were distinguished as _hostelleries_, _gîtes_ and _repues_. The _gîtes_ gave special attention to providing lodging for the night, the _repues_ to furnishing dinner for travellers; the latter were wretched taverns where well-to-do people stopped only in default of some better place, and where they were sometimes fed upon crow, ass's meat, and _Sancerre eels_, that is to say, snakes. The _gîtes_, on the contrary, were often very sumptuous. Inns were also divided into those for people on foot and those for people on horseback. One could take two meals there. On the sign of the _Geault-Rouge_ were these words, in huge letters: HOSTELRY LICENSED BY THE KING and below: DINNER FOR MOUNTED TRAVELLERS, 12 SOLS; LODGING FOR THE SAME, 20 SOLS The inn-keeper's privilege was confirmed by letters-patent from the king. Pedestrians could not be entertained at an inn for the accommodation of mounted travellers, and _vice versa_. "The French laws prevent the former from spending too much, the latter from spending too little."[7] Mario, seeing that the inn was brilliantly lighted, was not surprised to hear his little horse neigh with pleasure when he was within two hundred yards. He supposed that he recognized his surroundings. But he was surprised when he suddenly turned to the left and seemed unwilling to resume the straight road.