The blind man, however, took me at my word, so far as to beg for a few pieces of silver, which he immediately put into his purse, almost exhausted by the previous demand for drink-money. Henceforth our conversation grew more intimate, and on arriving at the last stage, I said as he alighted, “We will not part here, my friend;” and accordingly I took the same path, a measure which seemed to distress him much, though I could not guess the reason. I thought perhaps it might be some feeling of shame at his poor dress, and in truth the contrast had something strange in it; but however this might be, on our reaching the junction of two roads he suddenly exclaimed, “Here our ways separate; you are probably going to the next stage, whereas my road is through this wood to Rudendorf.”
“To Rudendorf?” I exclaimed.
“Yes, indeed; yonder it lies.”
“Then, troth, I can go a little farther with you. The owner of the estate is my intimate friend, and my best way of getting home again
