CHAPTER XXXV.

How Chicot continued his journey, and what happened to him.

Chicot passed his morning in congratulating himself on the sang-froid and patience he had displayed through his night of trials.

“But,” thought he, “they never take an old wolf twice in the same snare; therefore, it is nearly certain that they will invent some new devilry to practice on me to-day, so I must be on my guard.”

The result of this reasoning was, that Chicot made a march that day worthy of being immortalized by Xenophon.  Every tree, rising ground, or wall, served him for a point of observation.  He also concluded on the road alliances, if not offensive, at least defensive.  Four grocers from Paris, who were going to Orleans to order preserves, and to Limoges for dried fruits, allowed Chicot, who called himself a hosier from Bordeaux, returning home, to join their company, which was rendered more formidable by four clerks, who were following their masters.  It was quite a little army, and scarcely less formidable in mind than in number, so warlike a spirit had the League introduced among the Parisian shopkeepers.  At all events, three cowards together have less fear than one brave man alone.  At last they reached Etampes, the town fixed on for supper and sleeping.  They supped, and then each went to his room.

Chicot, who had not been sparing during the repast, either of his fun, which amused his companions, or of the Muscat and Burgundy, went to bed, after having settled to travel again with the grocers on the morrow.  Chicot, therefore, thought himself guarded like a prince by the four travelers, whose rooms were in the same corridor and close to his own.  Indeed, at this epoch, the roads being far from safe, travelers were in the habit of promising each other mutual aid in case of need.  Chicot then, after bolting his door and striking the walls, which returned everywhere a satisfactory sound, went to bed and to sleep.

But there arrived, during his first sleep, an event which the Sphynx himself, the diviner par excellence, could not have foreseen; but the devil was mixing himself up with Chicot’s affairs, and he is more cunning than all the Sphynxes in the world.

About half-past nine a blow was struck on the door of the room where the clerks all slept.  One of them opened in a very bad humor, and found himself face to face with the host.

“Gentlemen,” said he, “I see with pleasure that you are sleeping all ready dressed, for I wish to render you a great service.  Your masters grew very warm over politics at supper-time, and it seems that a sheriff of the town heard them and reported it.  Now, as we are very loyal here, the mayor sent down the watch, and they have arrested your masters and carried them off.  The prison is near the Hotel de Ville; go, my lads, your mules are ready for you, your masters will join you on the road.”