“You have been running,” said Wogan, politely.

“Sir, running is a poor man’s overcoat for a chilly evening; besides it helps me to pay with patience the price of wine for vinegar;” and the fellow called the landlord.

Presently two other men entered, and taking a seat by the fire chatted together as though much absorbed in their private business.  These two men wore swords.

“You have a good trade,” said Wogan to the landlord.

“The mill brings me custom.”

The door opened as the landlord spoke, and a big loud-voiced man cheerily wished the company good evening.  The two companions at the fire paid no heed to the civility; the third, who had now quite recovered his breath, replied to it.  Wogan pushed his plate away and called for a pipe.  He thought it might perhaps prove well worth his while to study his landlord’s clients before he retired up those narrow stairs.  The four men gave no sign of any common agreement, nor were they at all curious as to Wogan.  If they spoke at all, they spoke as strangers speak.  But while Wogan was smoking his first pipe a fifth man entered, and he just gave one quick glance at Wogan.  Wogan behind a cloud of tobacco-smoke saw the movement of the head and detected the look.  It might signify nothing but curiosity, of course, but Wogan felt glad that the stairs were narrow.  He finished his pipe and was knocking out the ashes when it occurred to him that he had seen that fifth man before; and Wogan looked at him more carefully, and though the fellow was disguised by the growth of a beard he recognised him.  It was the servant whom Wogan had seen one day in the Countess of Berg’s livery of green and red galloping along the road to Prague.

“I know enough now,” thought Wogan.  “I can go to bed.  The staircase is a pretty place with which we shall all be more familiar in an hour or two.”  He laughed quietly to himself with a little thrill of enjoyment.  His fatigue had vanished.  He was on the point of getting up from the table when the two men by the fire looked round towards the last comer and made room for him upon their settle.  But he said, “I find the room hot, and will stay by the door.”

Wogan changed his mind at the words; he did not get up.  On the contrary, he filled his pipe a second time very thoughtfully.  He had stayed too long in the room, it seemed; the little staircase was, after all, likely to prove of no service.  He did not betray himself by any start or exclamation, he did not even look up, but bending his head over his pipe he thought over the disposition of the room.  The fireplace was on his right; the door was opposite to him; the window in the wall at his left.  The window was high from the ground and at some distance.  On the other hand, he had certain advantages.  He was in a corner, he had the five men in front of him, and between them and himself stood a solid table.  A loaded pistol was in his belt, his sword hung at his side, and his hunting knife at his waist.  Still the aspect of affairs was changed.