This he felt was the beginning of the end, but just as he was thinking that there was nothing for it but to turn and make the best fight for it he could, he sighted a roadside inn—a rural auberge.
And for this he flew with renewed energy.
Dashing into the house, he pushed to the door and startled the aubergiste by gasping out in the best French he could command—
"Un assassin me poursuit. Cachez-moi, ou donnez-moi de quoi me défendre!"[3] ]
[3] "I am pursued by an assassin. Hide me, or give me something to defend myself with."
The landlord took Murray—and not unnaturally—for a madman.
He did not like the society of madmen.
To give a weapon to a furious maniac was out of all question.
And the landlord had nothing handy of a more deadly nature than a knife and fork.