"They might, landlord, but facts are stubborn things. They did not, evidently."
"I understand that now, sir, but I had my fears, and that's what brought me round for one thing."
"An expression you have used once before, landlord. 'For one thing.' I infer there must be another thing in your mind."
"There is, sir. You haven't heard then?"
"As yet I have heard nothing but a number of very enigmatical observations from you with respect to those men. Ah, yes, I remember; you had your doubts of them when I visited you on my road home?"
"I had sir; I told you I didn't like the looks of them, and that I was not easy in my mind about my own family, and the bit of money I had in my place to pay my rent with, and one or two other accounts."
"That is so; you are bringing the whole affair back to me. I saw the men after I left the Three Black Crows."
"You did, sir! When? Where?"
"To tell you would be to interrupt what you have come here to say. No more roundabouts, landlord. Say what you have to say right on."
"Well, sir, this is the way of it. I suspected them from the first, and you will bear witness of it before the magistrate. They were strangers in Nerac, but that is no reason why I should have refused to sell them a bottle of red wine when they asked for it. It's my trade to supply customers, and the wine was the worst I had, consequently the cheapest. I had no right to ask their business, and if they chose to answer me uncivilly, it was their affair. I wouldn't tell everybody mine on the asking. They paid for the wine, and there was an end of it. They called for another bottle, and when I brought it I did not draw the cork till I had the money for it, and as they wouldn't pay the price--not having it about 'em--the cork wasn't drawn, and the bottle went back. I had trouble to get rid of them, but they stumbled out at last, and I saw no more of them. Now, sir, you will remember that when we were speaking of them Doctor Louis's house was mentioned as a likely house for rogues to break into and rob."