The Inn at the Red Oak | Page 6

Tom answered. "I wish I had. You come from Paris, sir?"
"Mais oui."
For some time they chatted in such fashion, the Marquis answering
Tom's many questions with characteristic French politeness, but turning
ever and anon a pathetic glance toward the door through which Dan

and Nancy had disappeared. It was with undisguised satisfaction that he
greeted young Frost when he returned to announce that supper was
ready.
"I famish!" the old gentleman exclaimed. "I have dined to-day on a
biscuit and a glass of water."
They found the kitchen table amply spread with food,--cold meats, hot
eggs and coffee, and a bottle of port. Monsieur de Boisdhyver ate
heartily and drank his wine with relish, gracefully toasting Nancy as he
did so. When his meal was finished, he begged with many excuses to
be shown to his bedroom; and indeed his fatigue was evident. Dan saw
him to the great south chamber, carrying a pair of lighted candles
before. He made sure that all had been done that sulky sleepy maids
could be induced to do, and then left him to make ready for the night.
Lights were extinguished in the parlour and the bar, the fires were
banked, and the two young men went up to Dan's own room. There on
either side of the warm hearth, had been drawn two great four-posted
beds, and it took the lads but a moment to tumble into them.
"It's queer," said Dan, as he pulled the comfort snugly about his
shoulders, calling to Tom across the way; "it's queer--the old chap
evidently means to stay awhile. What does a French marquis want in a
deserted hole like this, I'd like to know? But if he pays, why the longer
he stays the better."
"I hope he does," said Tom sleepily. "He has a reason, I fancy, for he
asked questions enough while you were out seeing to his supper. He
seems to know the place almost as well as if he had been here before,
though he said he hadn't. But, by gad, I wish you and I were snug in a
little hotel on the banks of the Seine to-night and not bothering our
heads about a doddering old marquis who hadn't sense enough to stay
there."
"Wish we were," Dan replied. "Good-night," he called, realizing that
his friend was too sleepy to lie awake and discuss any longer their
unexpected guest.

"Good-night," murmured Tom, and promptly drifted away into dreams
of the wonderful land he had never seen. As for Dan he lay awake a
long time, wondering what could possibly have brought the old
Marquis to the deserted inn at such a time of the year and on such a
night.
CHAPTER II
THE LIONS EYE
Toward daylight the storm blew itself out, the wind swung round to the
northwest, and the morning dawned clear and cold, with a sharp breeze
blowing and a bright sun shining upon a snow-clad, ice-crusted world
and a sparkling sapphire sea.
Dan had risen early and had set Jesse to clear a way across the court
and down the avenue to the road. The maids, astir by dawn, were no
longer sulky but bustled about at the preparation of an unusually good
breakfast in honour of the new guest.
Mrs. Frost, who habitually lay till nine or ten o'clock behind the
crimson curtains of her great bed, had caught wind of something out of
the ordinary, demanded Nancy's early assistance, and announced her
intention of breakfasting with the household.
She was fretful during the complicated process of her toilette and so
hurt the feelings of her foster-daughter, that when Dan came to take her
into the breakfast room, Nancy found an excuse for not accompanying
them.
The Marquis was awaiting their appearance. He stood with his back-to
the fire, a spruce and carefully-dressed little figure, passing remarks
upon the weather with young Pembroke, who leaned his graceful length
against the mantelpiece.
The noble traveller was presented with due ceremony to Mrs. Frost,
who greeted him with old-world courtesy. She had had, indeed,
considerably more association with distinguished personages than had

most of the dames of the neighbouring farms who considered
themselves her social superiors. She welcomed Monsieur de
Boisdhyver graciously, enquiring with interest of his journey and with
solicitude as to his rest during the night. She received with satisfaction
his rapturous compliments on the comforts that had been provided him,
on the beauty of the surrounding country upon which he had looked
from the windows of his chamber, and on her own condescension in
vouchsafing to breakfast with them. She was delighted that he should
find the Inn at the Red Oak so much to his taste that he proposed to stay
with them indefinitely.
They were soon seated at the breakfast-table and