Well, the ring had hardly been given, when, with a great smacking of a whip, a travelling carriage drove into the village, up to the inn, and, as a consequence, right into the heart of the contract-signing party.
From this carriage alighted a fine-looking gentleman.
“How weary the road is,” said the stranger to his postillion; “how many miles to the castle?”
“So please you three, monsieur, and a dreadful road;—have a delightful inn, monsieur—my inn—if monsieur would do me the honor to walk in.”
“True,” said the handsome gentleman, smiling; “seeing your face, I recollect you and also the inn.”
Alesso heard this admission, and immediately began to puzzle his brains to find out who this new arrival was, and for that purpose he went peering amongst the boxes and portmanteaux.
“And pray, good people, do you ever think of this new lord, whom you have not seen since he was a boy?”
The villagers immediately began talking about this lord with great force; would he come? why had he not come before? pray did the good monsieur know him? &c., &c.
The stranger laughingly said they would ask questions till the evening was night; but this assertion Alesso doubted; for he could assure monsieur that they would not stop to question even the new lord himself when the night came.