Part 22 (1/2)

The boy looked doubtful for a moment

”Is that truth?”

”I like your caution,” Stefan returned ”You'll succeed, whether you deal without all your ive this paper to you”

The soldier opened it and read it, not without soave you this?”

”A man, I know no more of him”

”Good Which way lies your hoain Get you home quickly, and look you, my lad, should any ask what errand you have been on this ood, it's like enough sos of yours Hast ever heard a h him?”

”No, sir”

”I have,” Stefan answered ”It's a fearsoh water I'd be sorry to hear it from you Off with you”

Stefan watched the boy out of the street, then he went in, and striking a ments on the hearth

”Here's news that's an excuse for wine,” he said, pouring out a liberal draught into the tankard ”A rease the action somewhat”

”It's early hours for such refreshment,” said a voice at the door

Stefan winked one eye over the rim of the tankard at the intruder, but did not pause in his drinking until three parts of the liquid was gone

Then he drew the back of his hand across his beard and hed with satisfaction ”Never too early to drink thanks for good tidings, Monsieur Francois”

The Frenchlance round the room, stepped in, a smile upon his lips He had told his master more than once that this servant of Captain Ellerey's was a drunkard and a fool, and that little was to be got out of hi was ever trusted to his,” he asked

”You'll be laughing at me, because you don't understand my disease, Monsieur Francois I hate women”

”Hate them! _Ma foi_! Then is your disease very lamentable”

”Well, there it is--I hate them,” said Stefan, ”but there was one woman ould not hate me, do what I would She was a bonny wench, so far as I airth than most you meet, and with an arm of muscle to appeal to a soldier like me At the street corner she'd wait awhile to see me pass, and she'd remark on the cut of s of ainst a trifle of that kind She'd 'make a husband of me so

There's a vein of superstition inher to keep her word When a woman's set upon a matter, where's the hole a man may find safety in? Tell ed his shoulders, thinking what a fool his co up and down the street to find me, and he says to me, 'Where lives Stefan, he who is servant to that Captain Ellerey we hear sothe value of caution in such times as these At last I admit that I am, and he says, 'There's a fat woman'--that's what he called her, Monsieur Francois--'There's a fat wo tothe time had come Then says he: 'You needn't be afraid any more She was married yesterday to a tih like you s, Monsieur Francois, believeand pity the woodcutter Why, the muscles in her arm wouldn't blush to be seen by the side of mine, and a woodcutter would have to cut deep into the forest before h Stefan bared his brawny arms for the Frenchman's inspection

”Very beautiful,” said Francois

”I believe you Too good to waste in fondling a wos you so early to the Western Gate?”