essential points, but trusting for the best, I sat down to breakfast with my agents, and when we had sufficiently fortified our stomachs, we set out in search of the hardened accomplice of Court and Raoul. These latter had pointed out to me a lone auberge as the favourite haunt of Pons. This house was the rendezvous of a nest of smugglers, and the woman who kept it, considering Pons as one of her best customers, felt great interest in all that concerned him. So well had this auberge been described to me, that I required no further directions to find it; I therefore repaired thither with my two companions, and entering, seated myself without any ceremony, assuming the tone and manner of one well used to the ways of the house.
"Good day to you, Mother Bardou, how goes all with you?"
"The same to you, my good friends, and many of them. You are welcome to my poor place; thank God, we are all pretty comfortable, thanks for your inquiry. What would you please to have, gentlemen?"
"Dinner, dinner! my good soul; we are starving with hunger."
"You shall have it directly, sirs;—please to step into the next room, where you will find a good fire."
Whilst she was employed in laying the cloth, I drew her into the following conversation:—
"I begin to fancy, my good hostess, that you have forgotten my features."
"Wait a little till I have time to look well at you."
"Why what a memory you must have to forget how I used to come with Pons to your house last winter, many a time have we paid you a moonshine visit.
"Bless me! now I begin to recollect,"
"To be sure you do, look again."
"Oh! now I remember you perfectly."
"Well, how is our jolly cove Gérard, how is he getting on? quite strong and hearty, eh?"
"I faith is he, he was here only this morning, and
