"Au revoir, my friend. We are going to take a stroll around the town, and then return to Dieppe."
"If you would like to wait for the Paris diligence, it will pass through the town about eight o'clock this evening."
"Thanks, but though we are sailors, we are good walkers, and it is such a fine evening I think we won't wait for it."
CHAPTER VI.
A CUNNING SCHEME.
After leaving the inn, the two strangers took themselves off for a quarter of an hour to decide upon their plans, then strolled like a couple of inquisitive idlers toward the post-station in front of which the traveller's carriage stood, nearly ready for departure, as the postilion was already putting fresh horses to it.
Captain Russell and his companion approached the vehicle, and, seating themselves upon one of the benches in front of the post-house, pretended to be examining the animals that were being harnessed, with a knowing eye.
"You have a horse there that seems to be as willing as he is handsome," Russell remarked to the postilion, after a few minutes' scrutiny.
"And he is as good as he looks, my friend," replied the postilion, pleased by the well-deserved praise bestowed upon his steed, "so I call him the Friar, and he is worthy of his name."
"He's a fine animal, there's no doubt of that. What a broad chest he has, and what powerful withers and flanks!"
"And what a beautiful head he has!" chimed in Pietri. "It is as delicate and intelligent as that of any Arabian steed."