Then, while the banian, confused and terrified by this rude shock, was trying to restore a little order in his ideas, his addresser, behaving just as if he were at home, and assisted by two customers, to whom he gave a signal, fastened the window shutters, bolted and locked the door as well as Crevel's lads could have done it.
"Now let us talk," said the newcomer, as he turned to the stupefied landlord. "Do you not recognise me?" he added, as he doffed his hat.
"Monsieur Wilhelm!" Crevel exclaimed.
"Silence!" the other remarked.
And he led the master of the posada into a retired corner of the room.
"Have you any strange lodgers here?" he asked him, in a low voice.
"No! if you know this legion of big demons who have collected in my house during the last hour—"
"Well! I am not alluding to them. I ask you whether you have any strangers lodging here. As for these gentlemen, you must know them as well as I do."
"From the cellar to the garret there is not a soul beside these gentlemen; but as I have not yet been able to see so much as the end of their noses, it was impossible for me to recognise them."
"These are all men belonging to the captain's band, you humbug!"