"Yes," Master Pivois grunted, as he drew himself up, feeling quite constrained at answering when he was preparing to question.
"Very good," the stranger continued; "look after my horse, which I left I know not where in your garden; have him put in the stable, and tell the ostler to wash his withers with a little vinegar and water, for I am afraid he has hurt himself a little."
These words were uttered so carelessly, that the landlord stood utterly confounded, unable to utter a syllable.
"Well," the stranger continued, at the expiration of a moment, with a slight frown, "what are you doing here, ass, instead of obeying my orders?"
Master Pivois, completely subdued, turned on his heels, and left the room, tottering like a drunken man.
The stranger looked after him with a smile, and then turned to the waiting-men, who were whispering together, and taking side-glances at him.
"Come and wait on me," he said; "place a table here before me near the fire, and bring me some supper—make haste, s'death, or I shall die of hunger!"
The waiting-men, delighted in their hearts at playing their master a trick, did not let the order be repeated; in a second a table was brought up, the cloth laid, and, on re-entering the room, the landlord found the stranger in the act of carving a magnificent partridge.
Master Pivois assumed at the sight all the colours of the rainbow—at first pale, he turned so red that a fit of apoplexy might be apprehended, so vivid was his emotion.
"By Heaven," he exclaimed, stamping his foot angrily, "that is too much."