He burst out laughing; 'Oh! M. de Sancy has a government and five thousand livres a year to maintain his company, and being a pious soul has enlisted all the saints, and keeps them as far as possible from the temptations of Paris.' 'Enlisted the saints!' 'Yes--this Armagnac is excellent--yes, the saints. Our gentlemen are all from heaven--there is St. Andre, St. Vincent, St. Martin, St. Blaise, St. Loy, St. Pol, and half the calendar besides!' 'Ha! ha! the heavenly host.' 'Oh! I am proud, I assure you. I command the company from Paradise.' 'Or the gendarmes of the Kyrielle.' '_Noel_! _Noel!_' he called out gaily, and as he did so we heard a clatter of hoofs in the courtyard, and a few moments afterwards the landlord ushered in two gentlemen. It took me but a glance to recognise in one the Italian Zamet, and in the other the Chevalier Lafin. It cost me an effort to compose myself, so much was I startled; but I comforted myself with the assurance that I was unknown to them, and that an arrest would be no easy matter with Sancy's company at hand. Beyond bowing to us, however, as they passed, they took no further notice of me for the present, and contented themselves with ordering some wine, and conversing in low tones at the table at which they sat. Nevertheless, it was a piece of ill luck. These men were evidently back on their way to Paris, and by coming through Rouvres had stumbled upon me in such a manner as to hold me at serious disadvantage. My one consolation was that Zamet did not look like a fighting man, and as for the other, there was an equal chance for each of us; but I had no idea what their force might be outside. It turned out that it was very small, and it was owing to this that the incident I am about to describe ended so peacefully. A look or two in our direction appeared to indicate that the new arrivals were discussing us, and my doubts were soon set at rest by a lackey entering and holding a brief whispered talk with Zamet. He dismissed the man quietly, and then bending forward said something to Lafin, and both, rising, approached us. 'Monsieur will pardon me,' said Zamet, addressing me with his lisping Italian accent, 'but I understand that you entered Rouvres late last night.' 'Yes,' I answered, whilst d'Aubusson raised his eyebrows and leaned back in his chair, twirling his moustache. 'Then would you be so kind as to inform me, if you came by the road from Anet, whether you met a wounded horseman riding this way?' 'Before I answer any questions, will you be good enough to tell me who you are, gentlemen?' 'I am Zamet, Comptroller of the King's household,' replied the Italian. 'And I the Chevalier de Lafin, nephew and heir to the Vidame de Chartres.' 'I see no reason to reply to your question, messieurs, even if you are the persons you name.' Zamet smiled slightly, with a meaning look towards Lafin, who burst out: 'Have a care, monsieur, remember I follow the Marshal duc de Biron.'