“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.