Nothing more was said for a long time; we rode hard side by side, Pillot leading the third horse. It was still dark and a high wind had sprung up, but the rain had ceased. Occasionally we stopped to listen, but there was no sound of galloping hoofs in the rear, and, indeed, we hardly expected that the captain and his friends would follow very far. Pillot reckoned the distance from Verdu to Mezieres at thirty miles, and with several hours' start it seemed ridiculous to think of pursuit. Presently we slackened pace, and I asked Pillot if he was sure of the road. "I think so; I have been making inquiries. By the way, monsieur must be very cold without a hat." "It is not pleasant; but better lose a hat than a head!" I replied with a laugh. Pillot proved a good guide, and Mezieres was still half asleep when we rode into the town and pulled up at the principal inn. "We can give ourselves two hours' rest," said the dwarf, "and then, in case of accidents, we had better proceed. After breakfast, monsieur can provide himself with a fresh hat and cloak." "I will send for them, which will save time. We must leave nothing to chance, Pillot. I am much mistaken if this Captain Courcy is the man to confess himself beaten." "He is beaten this time, confession or no confession," answered the dwarf, with a shrug of his shoulders. "Still, it is always well not to be too confident." While we waited for breakfast he proceeded to give a brief account of his doings. Before leaving the inn at Rheims he had slipped into my horse's feed a powder, which, after a few hours' exercise, would produce a temporary weakness. Then, directly the gates were open, he had started for Verdu on the sorry beast which the innkeeper had showed me. On the plea of being a poor man he had obtained permission to sleep in an outhouse, and then his only difficulty was to discover some one who would help him in bringing out the horses. All this he related in high glee, laughing merrily at the idea of having tricked the gallant captain. I inquired if he was sure the others were in the plot, to which he replied, "Perfectly, monsieur; they are both in Conde's pay, but just at present they will not have much to show for their wages!" and he laughed again. "Thanks to you," I said warmly. "But for your cleverness, I should have fallen into the pit." As soon as the horses were rested and I had provided myself with a new hat and cloak, we made a fresh start, riding fast till Mezieres was at least a dozen miles in our rear.