"And the men have an idea--"
"Well?" I said, seeing that he hesitated.
"That this is a one-eyed house."
Parabere laughed loudly. "Of course it is!" he said. "That
strolling rogue saw the gate as well as the woman, and made his
profit of them."
"Pardon, sir!" Boisrueil answered bluntly, "That is just what he
did not do!"
"Well," I said, silencing him by a gesture, "is that all?"
"No," he replied; "I have tasted the men's wine."
"And it is drugged?"
"No," he said. "On the contrary, it is a great deal too good for
the price--or the house. And you ordered a litre apiece. Some
have had two, and not asked twice for it!"
"Ho, ho!" I said, staring at him. "Are you sure of that?"
"Quite!" he said.
I was genuinely startled at last; but Parabere still made light
of it. "What!" he said. "Are we a pack of nervous women, or
one poor traveller in a solitary inn, that we see shadows and
shake at them?"
"The inn is solitary enough," Boisrueil grumbled.
"But we are twenty swords!" Parabere retorted, opening his eyes
wide.
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