In the meanwhile, the landlord, who had slightly recovered from the emotion and surprise he had experienced at what he almost regarded as a violation of his domicile, advanced a few steps toward the stranger, and while bowing lower than he had intended, and doffing his cotton nightcap before the flashing glance the other bent on him, he stammered, in anything but a steady voice-- "My lord--" But the latter interrupted him without ceremony. "Are you the landlord?" he asked, sharply. "Yes," Master Pivois grunted, as he drew himself up, feeling quite constrained at answering when he was preparing to question. "Very good," the stranger continued; "look after my horse, which I left I know not where in your garden; have him put in the stable, and tell the ostler to wash his withers with a little vinegar and water, for I am afraid he has hurt himself a little." These words were uttered so carelessly, that the landlord stood utterly confounded, unable to utter a syllable. "Well," the stranger continued, at the expiration of a moment, with a slight frown, "what are you doing here, ass, instead of obeying my orders?" Master Pivois, completely subdued, turned on his heels, and left the room, tottering like a drunken man. The stranger looked after him with a smile, and then turned to the waiting-men, who were whispering together, and taking side-glances at him. "Come and wait on me," he said; "place a table here before me near the fire, and bring me some supper--make haste, s'death, or I shall die of hunger!" The waiting-men, delighted in their hearts at playing their master a trick, did not let the order be repeated; in a second a table was brought up, the cloth laid, and, on re-entering the room, the landlord found the stranger in the act of carving a magnificent partridge. Master Pivois assumed at the sight all the colours of the rainbow--at first pale, he turned so red that a fit of apoplexy might be apprehended, so vivid was his emotion. "By Heaven," he exclaimed, stamping his foot angrily, "that is too much." "What?" the stranger asked, as he raised his head and wiped his moustache; "What is the matter with you, my good man?" "Matter, indeed!" mine host growled. "By the way, is my horse in the stable?" "Your horse, your horse," the other grumbled, "as if that is troubling me." "What is it then, if you please, master mine?" the stranger asked, as he poured out a bumper which he conscientiously drained to the last drop. "Ah," he said, "it is Jurançon; I recognise it." This indifference and this coolness raised the landlord's anger to the highest pitch, and caused him to forget all prudence. "Cogswounds," he said, boldly seizing the bottle, "it is a strange piece of impudence thus to enter an honest house without the owner's permission; decamp at once, my fine gentleman, unless you wish harm to befall you, and seek a lodging elsewhere, for, as far as I am concerned, I cannot and will not give you one."