Soucin shook his head.
"I am giving up my own room. I must sleep in the kitchen—if I sleep at all; which, mon Dieu, is doubtful."
"Supposing we had arrived yesterday, would you have turned us out to-night?"
"The inquiry was made how many rooms I had, and I answered truthfully."
Madame had sunk down on a bench by the door. Monte stared up the road and down the road. There was no other house in sight.
"You could not find a bed for madame even for ten louis d'or?"
"Not for a thousand, monsieur. If there are no beds, there are no beds."
Yet there was room enough thereabouts. Behind the inn an olive orchard extended up a gentle incline to a stone wall. Over this the sun was descending in a blaze of glory. A warm breeze stirred the dark leaves of the trees. A man could sleep out of doors on such a night as this. Monte turned again to the man.
"The orchard behind the house is yours?" he asked.
"Yes, monsieur."