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〃Well； so much the worse；〃 said the stout man。 〃I should have liked to
clink glasses with you。 Good…night； my brave trooper！Good…nightfor
it grows late； and mine host of the Falcon will soon turn us out of
doors。〃
〃Good…night； gentlemen；〃 replied Dagobert； as he directed his steps
towards the stable； to give his horse a second allowance of provender。
Morok approached him； and said in a voice even more humble than before：
〃I have acknowledged my error； and asked your pardon。 You have not
answered me； do you still bear malice？〃
〃If ever I meet you；〃 said the veteran； in a suppressed and hollow tone；
〃when my children have no longer need of me； I will just say two words to
you； and they will not be long ones。〃
Then he turned his back abruptly on the Prophet； who walked slowly out of
the yard。
The inn of the White Falcon formed a parallelogram。 At one end rose the
principal dwelling； at the other was a range of buildings； which
contained sundry chambers； let at a low price to the poorer sort of
travellers； a vaulted passage opened a way through this latter into the
country； finally； on either side of the court…yard were sheds and
stables； with lofts and garrets erected over them。
Dagobert； entering one of these stables； took from off a chest the
portion of oats destined for his horse； and； pouring it into a winnowing…
basket； shook it as he approached Jovial。
To his great astonishment； his old travelling companion did not respond
with a joyous neigh to the rustle of the oats rattling on the wicker…
work。 Alarmed； he called Jovial with a friendly voice； but the animal；
instead of turning towards his master a look of intelligence； and
impatiently striking the ground with his fore…feet； remained perfectly
motionless。
More and more surprised； the soldier went up to him。 By the dubious
light of a stable…lantern； he saw the poor animal in an attitude which
implied terrorhis legs half bent； his head stretched forward； his ears
down； his nostrils quivering； he had drawn tight his halter； as if he
wished to break it； in order to get away from the partition that
supported his rack and manger； abundant cold…sweat had speckled his hide
with bluish stains； and his coat altogether looked dull and bristling；
instead of standing out sleek and glossy from the dark background of the
stable； lastly； from time to time； his body shook with convulsive starts。
〃Why； old Jovial！〃 said the soldier； as he put down the basket； in order
to soothe his horse with more freedom； 〃you are like thy masterafraid！
Yes；〃 he added with bitterness； as he thought of the offence he had
himself endured； 〃you are afraidthough no coward in general。〃
Notwithstanding the caresses and the voice of his master； the horse
continued to give signs of terror； he pulled somewhat less violently at
his halter； and approaching his nostrils to the hand of Dagobert； sniffed
audibly； as if he doubted it were he。
〃You don't know me！〃 cried Dagobert。 〃Something extraordinary must be
passing here。〃
The soldier looked around him with uneasiness。 It was a large stable；
faintly lighted by the lantern suspended from the roof； which was covered
with innumerable cobwebs； at the further end； separated from Jovial by
some stalls with bars between； were the three strong； black； horses of
the brute…tameras tranquil as Jovial was frightened。
Dagobert； struck with this singular contrast； of which he was soon to
have the explanation； again caressed his horse； and the animal； gradually
reassured by his master's presence； licked his hands； rubbed his head
against him； uttered a low neigh； and gave him his usual tokens of
affection。
〃Come； come； this is how I like to see my old Jovial！〃 said Dagobert； as
he took up the winnowing…basket； and poured its contents into the manger。
〃Now eat with a good appetite； for we have a long day's march tomorrow；
and； above all； no more of these foolish fears about nothing！ If thy
comrade； Spoil…sport； was here； he would keep you in heart； but he is
along with the children； and takes care of them in my absence。 Come；
eat！ Instead of staring at me in that way。〃
But the horse； having just touched the oats with his mouth； as if in
obedience to his master； returned to them no more； and began to nibble at
the sleeve of Dagobert's coat。
〃Come； come； my poor Jovial！ there is something the matter with you。 You
have generally such a good appetite； and now you leave your corn。 'Tis
the first time this has happened since our departure；〃 said the soldier；
who was now growing seriously uneasy； for the issue of his journey
greatly depended on the health and vigor of his horse。
Just then a frightful roaring； so near that it seemed to come from the
stable in which they were； gave so violent a shock to Jovial； that with
one effort he broke his halter； leaped over the bar that marked his
place； and rushing at the open door； escaped into the court…yard。
Dagobert had himself started at the suddenness of this wild and fearful
sound； which at once explained to him the cause of his horse's terror。
The adjoining stable was occupied by the itinerant menagerie of the
brute…tamer； and was only separated by the partition； which supported the
mangers。 The three horses of the Prophet； accustomed to these howlings；
had remained perfectly quiet。
〃Good！〃 said the soldier； recovering himself； 〃I understand it now。
Jovial has heard another such roar before； and he can scent the animals
of that insolent scoundrel。 It is enough to frighten him；〃 added he； as
he carefully collected the oats from the manger； 〃once in another stable；
and there must be others in this place； he will no longer leave his peck；
and we shall be able to start early to…morrow morning！〃
The terrified horse； after running and galloping about the yard； returned
at the voice of the soldier； who easily caught him by the broken halter；
and a hostler； whom Dagobert asked if there was another vacant stable；
having pointed out one that was only intended for a single animal； Jovial
was comfortably installed there。
When delivered from his ferocious neighbors； the horse became tranquil as
before； and even amused himself much at the expense of Dagobert's top…
coat； which； thanks to his tricks； might have afforded immediate
occupation for his master's needle； if the latter had not been fully
engaged in admiring the eagerness with which Jovial dispatched his
provender。 Completely reassured on his account； the soldier shut the
door of the stable； and proceeded to get his supper as quickly as
possible； in order to rejoin the orphans； whom he reproached himself with
having left so long。
CHAPTER V。
ROSE AND BLANCHE。
The orphans occupied a dilapidated chamber in one of the most remote
wings of the inn； with a single window opening upon the country。 A bed
without curtains； a table； and two chairs； composed the more than modest
furniture of this retreat； which was now lighted by a lamp。 On the
table； which stood near the window； was deposited the knapsack of the
soldier。
The great Siberian dog； who was lying close to the door； had already
twice uttered a deep growl； and turned h