"I see yonder a kind of country inn, to judge from the horse-shed near it," said Dick, indicating a low building a short distance ahead on their road.
He started towards it afoot, followed by the two who were mounted. When he reached the shed, he saw therein, to his amazement, two horses. A peasant was in the act of giving them grain.
"Whose animals are these, my friend?" queried Dick.
"They belong to a soldier, mein herr, who arrived last night with the black, and won the gray from another guest, at cards."
"And where is this fortunate person to be found?"
"In the house, mein herr; in the first room at the head of the stairs."
"I'll go and try to make a bargain with him," said Dick.
"No," said Gerard, "let me go. I am now better able to make bargains than you are." And he leaped off his horse and ran to the house. He desired that he, not Dick, should be at the expense of the purchase.
Dick stood waiting beside Catherine, looking now into her anxious eyes with a reassuring smile, now towards the distant troops that were steadily drawing nearer on the road.
Soon Gerard reappeared from the house, with a dejected face. "The fellow refuses to sell," he said. "He sat playing a violin, and blamed me for interrupting his music. I think we should be justified in taking one of his horses, in spite of him."