Then, having said these words, he went out, not giving time to the traveller he had conducted to reward him with either thanks or money. When the traveller, who followed the man with his eyes, turned his astonished gaze on the mistress of the house, she merely signed to him to sit down, and then without taking further notice of his presence, and without addressing him a single word, she went on with her household avocations. A silence of half an hour ensued, and the traveller was beginning to get impatient, when the master of the house returned home. Without showing any sign of surprise or curiosity, he bowed to his guest; but he looked at his wife, who repeated, _verbatim_, the words of the peasant: "This is the gentleman to be guided." The master of the house then gave the stranger one of those uneasy, shrewd, and rapid glances, which belong exclusively to the Vendéan peasantry. Then, almost immediately, his face resumed its habitual expression, which was one of mingled good-humor and simplicity, as he approached his guest, cap in hand. "Monsieur wishes to travel through this region?" he said. "Yes, my friend," replied Maître Marc; "I am desirous of going farther." "Monsieur has his papers, no doubt?" "Of course." "In order?" "They cannot be more so." "Under his war name, or his real name?" "Under my real name." "I am obliged, in order that I make no mistake, to ask monsieur to show me those papers." "Is it absolutely necessary?" "Yes; because until I have seen them I cannot tell monsieur whether he will be absolutely safe in travelling in these parts." The traveller drew out his passport, which bore date the 28th of February. "Here they are," he said. The peasant took the papers, cast his eyes over them to see if the description tallied with the individual before him, refolded the papers, and returned them, saying:-- "It is all right. Monsieur can go everywhere with those papers." "And will you find some one to guide me?" "Yes, monsieur." "I wish to start as soon as possible." "I will saddle the horses at once." The master of the house went out. In ten minutes he returned. "The horses are ready," he said. "And the guide?" "He is waiting." The traveller went out and found a farm-hand already in his saddle, holding another horse by the bridle. Maître Marc perceived that the led horse was intended for his riding, the farm-hand for his guide. In fact, he had scarcely put his foot in the stirrup before his new conductor started, not less silently than his predecessor. It was nine o'clock, and the night was dark. III. HOW PERSONS TRAVELLED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF THE LOWER LOIRE IN MAY, 1832.