Into the open cobble-stone _place_, which, at that period, was in front of the Krone--at this time the principal hostelry of Basle--rolled the great travelling carriage in which Emérance sat as the night was falling over the city. The coachman cracked his whip loudly as he approached the door, in accordance with the immemorial custom of drivers bringing travellers to any house kept for the accommodation of such persons, and the footman blew upon the bugle which he wore slung round him, partly with the object of warning pedestrians to get out of the way of the carriage, and partly to announce to the villages they passed through that some one of importance was on the road. Now, when the inn was reached, the man sprang from the box to hold the door open and the maid clambered down from the banquette, while the landlord rushed out of the door of the inn followed by two or three _faquins_ and stood bowing bareheaded before the handsomely arrayed lady who had descended. "Madame la Marquise de Villiers-Bordéville," the footman said, while madame herself entered the porch, "requires rooms for herself and following. Also accommodation for the carriage and horses. Madame la Comtesse will repose for some days in Basle." The landlord's bows and congees increased in force from the time the rank of the visitor was proclaimed until he had learnt all her requirements--which must necessarily be remunerative!--after which he said in an oily, deferential tone:-- "Madame la Marquise shall have one of the best. A suite of apartments _au premier_; all that Madame la Comtesse can desire. There is accommodation for all that madame requires." "Show me to this suite," Emérance said, speaking now; "let the luggage be taken off the coach and the animals attended to." After which she followed the still bowing host up the extremely narrow stairs, common enough in those days, to the suite of which he had spoken.