“What is it you require, citizen?” asked the voice after a moment in a milder tone. “Some water boiling hot and cloth for a bandage.” “And for these you will give a gold louis?” “I promise it.” “Very well, I will open the door.” “You will make a light first,” I said; and placing my burden carefully on the ground in the shadow of the hedge I drew my pistol and assured myself that it was ready. “Come, make haste,” I added. In a moment a light sprang up within and the door slowly opened. I crossed the threshold with a bound, to find myself face to face with as villainous a wretch as I had ever encountered. A great shock of yellow hair hung over a face so grimed and crusted with filth that the features were almost indecipherable. The head hung forward, and the great hands dangling below the knees showed that the man was deformed. “Quick! stir up the fire,” I commanded, “and heat the water.” “And the gold louis?” he asked, eyeing my dress. I drew it forth and placed it on a rude table which stood in one corner. “There it is,” I said; “but it is not yours yet.” His eyes gleamed as he looked at it and he licked his lips as a dog might have done at sight of a savory bone; then he turned to the hearth, stirred the smoldering embers, threw some pieces of wood upon them, filled an earthenware pot from another vessel which stood on the hearth, and placed it in the midst of the flames. “Your water will be ready in three winks, citizen,” he said. “Good!” and I moved before the fire a bench which served as a chair. “Now I will bring in my companion.” “Your companion?” he repeated, looking about with a snarl. “Yes--and if you touch the gold-piece I will kill you. Sit down in yonder corner.” He backed into the corner indicated and sat down, staring vacantly. In an instant I was outside, and lifting my comrade tenderly in my arms, bore her back into the cottage and closed and barred the door. “Sit here, my love,” I said, and placed her on the bench. “Now, let us see the ankle.” I knelt before her and with fingers which trembled so that I could scarcely guide them removed the shoe and cut away the stocking. The ankle,--which should have been so slim, so graceful,--was cruelly swollen. “It will be better in a moment,” I said, and dipping the remnant of the stocking into the steaming water, held it close against the hurt. “Oh, that is heavenly!” she murmured, and breathed a deep sigh of relief. I bathed the ankle thoroughly, immersing it in water almost scalding, and every instant I joyed to see the lines of pain in her face soften and disappear. “And now,” I said at last, “we will bandage it tightly and it will not pain you--only of course you cannot use it for some days.” “For some days!” she echoed in dismay. “But we cannot stay here so long a time.” “No,” I agreed, “certainly not--but first let us bandage the ankle.” But my face fell as I glanced about the room. “What do you require for a bandage?” she asked, following my eyes.