"Why, Pierre," I exclaimed laughing, "you must have laid your larder bare!"
"All the larders in the village would be laid bare for monsieur's use," replied the old man, and I believed him.
"Come Jacques," I said, "sit down and fall-to; the ride to-day must have put an edge on your appetite!" for we had eaten nothing since the early morning.
After supper I bade Pierre seat himself and tell us the news of the neighbourhood, which he did willingly, though there was but little to relate. The castle still remained closed, and when I asked about the keys he said they had been taken away by the officer, and no one knew what had become of them.
"That need not keep us out long," said Jacques, "we can easily get fresh ones made in the morning; Urie will see to that."
"Has Etienne Cordel been in the village lately?" I asked.
"He is always here, monsieur," cried the old man with an angry outburst; "he collects the money for the crown, and acts as if he were the rightful owner. He gives himself as many airs as if he were some great lord!"
"Which he may be one of these days; he has powerful friends at Court. Doesn't he talk of what he will do in the future?"
"He tells idle tales, monsieur," replied Pierre with a frown.
"What does he say?"