their　tongues　and　ate；　drank；　or　walked　about。　One　stout　little　woman；
  wearing　a　black　velvet　cap；　blue　and　silver　stomacher；　pincushion；
  bunch　of　keys；　silver　buckles；　braided　hair；all　distinctive　signs　of
  the　mistress　of　a　German　inn　（a　costume　which　has　been　so　often
  depicted　in　colored　prints　that　it　is　too　common　to　describe　here）；
  well；　this　wife　of　the　innkeeper　kept　the　two　friends　alternately
  patient　and　impatient　with　remarkable　ability。
  Little　by　little　the　noise　decreased；　the　various　travellers　retired
  to　their　rooms；　the　clouds　of　smoke　dispersed。　When　places　were　set
  for　the　two　young　men；　and　the　classic　carp　of　the　Rhine　appeared　upon
  the　table；　eleven　o'clock　was　striking　and　the　room　was　empty。　The
  silence　of　night　enabled　the　young　surgeons　to　hear　vaguely　the　noise
  their　horses　made　in　eating　their　provender；　and　the　murmur　of　the
  waters　of　the　Rhine；　together　with　those　indefinable　sounds　which
  always　enliven　an　inn　when　filled　with　persons　preparing　to　go　to　bed。
  Doors　and　windows　are　opened　and　shut；　voices　murmur　vague　words；　and
  a　few　interpellations　echo　along　the　passages。
  At　this　moment　of　silence　and　tumult　the　two　Frenchmen　and　their
  landlord；　who　was　boasting　of　Andernach；　his　inn；　his　cookery；　the
  Rhine　wines；　the　Republican　army；　and　his　wife；　were　all　three
  listening　with　a　sort　of　interest　to　the　hoarse　cries　of　sailors　in　a
  boat　which　appeared　to　be　coming　to　the　wharf。　The　innkeeper；　familiar
  no　doubt　with　the　guttural　shouts　of　the　boatmen；　went　out　hastily；
  but　presently　returned　conducting　a　short　stout　man；　behind　whom
  walked　two　sailors　carrying　a　heavy　valise　and　several　packages。　When
  these　were　deposited　in　the　room；　the　short　man　took　the　valise　and
  placed　it　beside　him　as　he　seated　himself　without　ceremony　at　the　same
  table　as　the　surgeons。
  〃Go　and　sleep　in　your　boat；〃　he　said　to　the　boatmen；　〃as　the　inn　is
  full。　Considering　all　things；　that　is　best。〃
  〃Monsieur；〃　said　the　landlord　to　the　new…comer；　〃these　are　all　the
  provisions　I　have　left；〃　pointing　to　the　supper　served　to　the　two
  Frenchmen；　〃I　haven't　so　much　as　another　crust　of　bread　nor　a　bone。〃
  〃No　sauer…kraut？〃
  〃Not　enough　to　put　in　my　wife's　thimble！　As　I　had　the　honor　to　tell
  you　just　now；　you　can　have　no　bed　but　the　chair　on　which　you　are
  sitting；　and　no　other　chamber　than　this　public　room。〃
  At　these　words　the　little　man　cast　upon　the　landlord；　the　room；　and
  the　two　Frenchmen　a　look　in　which　caution　and　alarm　were　equally
  expressed。
  ＇〃Here；〃　said　Monsieur　Hermann；　interrupting　himself；　〃I　ought　to　tell
  you　that　we　have　never　known　the　real　name　nor　the　history　of　this
  man；　his　papers　showed　that　he　came　from　Aix…la…Chapelle；　he　called
  himself　Wahlenfer　and　said　that　he　owned　a　rather　extensive　pin
  manufactory　in　the　suburbs　of　Neuwied。　Like　all　the　manufacturers　of
  that　region；　he　wore　a　surtout　coat　of　common　cloth；　waistcoat　and
  breeches　of　dark　green　velveteen；　stout　boots；　and　a　broad　leather
  belt。　His　face　was　round；　his　manners　frank　and　cordial；　but　during
  the　evening　he　seemed　unable　to　disguise　altogether　some　secret
  apprehension　or；　possibly；　some　anxious　care。　The　innkeeper's　opinion
  has　always　been　that　this　German　merchant　was　fleeing　his　country。
  Later　I　heard　that　his　manufactory　had　been　burned　by　one　of　those
  unfortunate　chances　so　frequent　in　times　of　war。　In　spite　of　its
  anxious　expression　the　man's　face　showed　great　kindliness。　His
  features　were　handsome；　and　the　whiteness　of　his　stout　throat　was　well
  set　off　by　a　black　cravat；　a　fact　which　Wilhelm　showed　jestingly　to
  Prosper。〃
  Here　Monsieur　Taillefer　drank　another　glass　of　water。＇
  Prosper　courteously　proposed　that　the　merchant　should　share　their
  supper；　and　Wahlenfer　accepted　the　offer　without　ceremony；　like　a　man
  who　feels　himself　able　to　return　a　civility。　He　placed　his　valise　on
  the　floor　and　put　his　feet　on　it；　took　off　his　hat　and　gloves　and
  removed　a　pair　of　pistols　from　his　belt；　the　landlord　having　by　this
  time　set　a　knife　and　fork　for　him；　the　three　guests　began　to　satisfy
  their　appetites　in　silence。　The　atmosphere　of　this　room　was　hot　and
  the　flies　were　so　numerous　that　Prosper　requested　the　landlord　to　open
  the　window　looking　toward　the　outer　gate；　so　as　to　change　the　air。
  This　window　was　barricaded　by　an　iron　bar；　the　two　ends　of　which　were
  inserted　into　holes　made　in　the　window　casings。　For　greater　security；
  two　bolts　were　screwed　to　each　shutter。　Prosper　accidentally　noticed
  the　manner　in　which　the　landlord　managed　these　obstacles　and　opened
  the　window。
  As　I　am　now　speaking　of　localities；　this　is　the　place　to　describe　to
  you　the　interior　arrangements　of　the　inn；　for；　on　an　accurate
  knowledge　of　the　premises　depends　an　understanding　of　my　tale。　The
  public　room　in　which　the　three　persons　I　have　named　to　you　were
  sitting；　had　two　outer　doors。　One　opened　on　the　main　road　to
  Andernach；　which　skirts　the　Rhine。　In　front　of　the　inn　was　a　little
  wharf；　to　which　the　boat　hired　by　the　merchant　for　his　journey　was
  moored。　The　other　door　opened　upon　the　courtyard　of　the　inn。　This
  courtyard　was　surrounded　by　very　high　walls　and　was　full；　for　the　time
  being；　of　cattle　and　horses；　the　stables　being　occupied　by　human
  beings。　The　great　gate　leading　into　this　courtyard　had　been　so
  carefully　barricaded　that　to　save　time　the　landlord　had　brought　the
  merchant　and　sailors　into　the　public　room　through　the　door　opening　on
  the　roadway。　After　having　opened　the　window；　as　requested　by　Prosper
  Magnan；　he　closed　this　door；　slipped　the　iron　bars　into　their　places
  and　ran　the　bolts。　The　landlord's　room；　where　the　two　young　surgeons
  were　to　sleep；　adjoined　the　public　room；　and　was　separated　by　a
  somewhat　thin　partition　from　the　kitchen；　where　the　landlord　and　his
  wife　intended；　probably；　to　pass　the　night。　The　servant…woman　had　left
  the　premises　to　find　a　lodging　in　some　crib　or　hayloft。　It　is
  therefore　easy　to　see　that　the　kitchen；　the　landlord's　chamber；　and
  the　public　room　were；　to　some　extent；　isolated　from　the　rest　of　the
  house。　In　the　courtyard　were　two　large　dogs；　whose　deep…toned　barking
  showed　vigilant　and　easily　roused　guardians。
  〃What　silence！　and　what　a　beautiful　night！〃　said　Wilhelm；　looking　at
  the　sky　through　the　window；　as　the　landlord　was　fastening　the　door。
  The　lapping　of　the　river　against　the　wharf　was　the　only　sound　to　be
  heard。
  〃Messieurs；〃　said　the　merchant；　〃permit　me　to　offer　you　a　few　bottles
  of　wine　to　wash　down　the　carp。　We'll　ease　the　fatigues　of　the　day　by
  drinking。　From　your　manner　and　the　state　of　your　clothes；　I　judge　that
  you　have　made；　like　me；　a　good　bit　of　a　journey　to…day。〃
  The　two　friends　accepted；　and　the　landlord　went　out　by　a　door　through
  the　kitchen　to　his　cellar；　situated；　no　doubt；　under　this　portion　of
  the　building。　When　five　venerable　bottles　which　he　presently　brought
  back　with　him　appeared　on　the　table；　the　wife　brought　in　the　rest　of
  the　supper。　She　gave　to　the　dishes　and　to　the　room　generally　the
  glance　of　a　mistress；　and　then；　sure　of　having　attended　to　all　the
  wants　of　the　travellers；　she　returned　to　the　kitchen。
  The　four　men；　for　the　landlord　was　invited　to　drink；　did　not　hear　her
  go　to　bed；　but　later；　during　the　intervals　of　silence　which　came　into
  their　talk；　certain　strongly　accentuated　snores；　made　the　more
  sonorous　by　the　thin　planks　of　the　loft　in　which　she　had　ensconced
  herself；　made　the　guests　laugh　and　also　the　husband。　Towards　midnight；
  when　nothing　remained　on　the　table　but　biscuits；　cheese；　dried　fruit；
  and　good　wine；　the　guests；　chiefly　the　young　Frenchmen；　became
  communicative。　The　latter　talked　of　their　homes；　their　studies；　and　of
  the　war。　The　conversation　grew　lively。　Prosper　Magnan　brought　a　few
  tears　to　the　merchant's　eyes；　when　with　the　frankness　and　naivete　of　a
  good　and　tender　nature；　he　talked　of　what　his　mother　must　be　doing　at
  that　hour；　while　he　was　sitting　drinking　on　the　banks　of　the　Rhine。
  〃I　can　see　her；〃　he　said；　〃reading　her　prayers　before　she　goes　to　bed。
  She　won't　forget　me；　she　is　certain　to　say　to　herself；　'My　poor
  Prosper；　I　wonder　where　he　is　now！'　If　she　has　won　a　few　sous　from　her
  neighborsyour　mother；　perhaps；〃　he　added；　nudging　Wilhelm's　elbow
  〃she'll　go　and　put　them　in　the　great　red　earthenware　pot；　where　she　is
  accumulating　a　sum　sufficient　to　buy　the　thirty　acres　adjoining　her
  little　estate　at　Lescheville。　Those　thirty　acres　are　worth　at　least
  sixty　thousand　francs。　Such　fine　fields！　Ah！　if　I　had　them　I'd　live
  all　my　days　at　Lescheville；　without　other　ambition！　How　my　father　used
  to　long　for　those　thirty　acres　and　the　pretty　brook　which　winds
  through　the　meadows！　But　he　died　without　ever　being　able　to　buy　them。
  Many's　the　time　I've　played　there！〃
  〃Monsieur　Wahlenfer；　haven't　you　also　your　'hoc　erat　in　votis'？〃　asked
  Wilhelm。
  〃Yes；　monsieur；　but　it　came　to　pass；　and　now〃
  The　good　man　was　silent；　and