The room, with
its low roof and earthen floor, and foul clothes flung
here and there, reeked of stale meals and garlic and
vile cooking. I thought of the parlour at Cocheforet,
and the dainty table, and the stillness, and the scented
pot-herbs; and though I was too old a soldier to eat the
worse because my spoon lacked washing, I felt the
change, and laid it savagely at Mademoiselle's door.
The landlord, watching me stealthily from his place by
the hearth, read my thoughts and chuckled aloud.
'Palace fare, palace manners!' he muttered scornfully.
'Set a beggar on horseback, and he will ride--back to
the inn!'
'Keep a civil tongue, will you!' I answered, scowling
at him.
'Have you finished?' he retorted.
I rose, without deigning to reply, and, going to the
fire, drew off my boots, which were wet through. He, on
the instant, swept off the wine and loaf to the
cupboard, and then, coming back for the platter I had
used, took it, opened the back door, and went out,
leaving the door ajar. The draught which came in beat
the flame of the lamp this way and that, and gave the
dingy, gloomy room an air still more miserable.
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