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〃And in this innsince it is the only one in the village；〃 said Morok；
with a pensive air。
〃And night drawing on；〃 added Karl。
〃Did you get the old man to talk？〃
〃Him！you don't suppose it！〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Go； and try yourself。〃
〃And for what reason？〃
〃Impossible。〃
〃Impossiblewhy？〃
〃You shall know all about it。 Yesterday； as if I had fallen in with
them by chance； I followed them to the place where they stopped for the
night。 I spoke in German to the tall old man； accosting him； as is usual
with wayfarers； 'Good…day； and a pleasant journey； comrade！' But； for
an answer； he looked askant at me； and pointed with； the end of his
stick to the other side of the road。〃
〃He is a Frenchman； and； perhaps； does not understand German。〃
〃He speaks it； at least as well as you； for at the inn I heard him ask
the host for whatever he and the young girls wanted。〃
〃And did you not again attempt to engage him in conversation？〃
〃Once only； but I met with such a rough reception； that for fear of
making mischief； I did not try again。 Besides； between ourselves； I can
tell you this man has a devilish ugly look； believe me； in spite of his
gray moustache； he looks so vigorous and resolute； though with no more
flesh on him than a carcass； that I don't know whether he or my mate
Giant Goliath； would have the best of it in a struggle。 〃I know not
your plans： only take care； mastertake care！〃
〃My black panther of Java was also very vigorous and very vicious；〃 said
Morok； with a grim； disdainful； smile。
〃What； Death？ Yes； in truth； and she is vigorous and vicious as ever。
Only to you she is almost mild。〃
〃And thus I will break this tall old man； notwithstanding his strength
and surliness。〃
〃Humph！ humph！ be on your guard； master。 You are clever； you are as
brave as any one； but； believe me； you will never make a lamb out of the
old wolf that will be here presently。〃
〃Does not my lion； Caindoes not my tiger； Judas； crouch in terror
before me？〃
〃Yes； I believe you therebecause you have means〃
〃Because I have faith： that is alland it is all；〃 said Morok；
imperiously interrupting Karl； and accompanying these words with such a
look； that the other hung his head and was silent。
〃Why should not he whom the Lord upholds in his struggle with wild
beasts； be also upheld in his struggle with men； when those men are
perverse and impious？〃 added the Prophet； with a triumphant； inspired
air。
Whether from belief in his master's conviction； or from inability to
engage in a controversy with him on so delicate a subject； Karl answered
the Prophet； humbly： 〃you are wiser than I am； master； what you do must
be well done。〃
〃Did you follow this old man and these two young girls all day long？〃
resumed the Prophet； after a moment's silence。
〃Yes； but at a distance。 As I know the country well； I sometimes cut
across a valley； sometimes over a hill； keeping my eye upon the road；
where they were always to be seen。 The last time I saw them； I was hid
behind the water…mill by the potteries。 As they were on the highway for
this place； and night was drawing on； I quickened my pace to get here
before them； and be the bearer of what you call good news。〃
〃Very goodyes …very good： and you shall be rewarded； for if these
people had escaped me〃
The Prophet started； and did not conclude the sentence。 The expression
of his face； and the tones of his voice； indicated the importance of the
intelligence which had just been brought him。
〃In truth；〃 rejoined Karl； 〃it may be worth attending to； for that
Russian courier； all plastered with lace； who came； without slacking
bridle； from St。 Petersburg to Leipsic； only to see you； rode so fast；
perhaps； for the purpose〃
Morok abruptly interrupted Karl； and said：
〃Who told you that the arrival of the courier had anything to do with
these travellers？ You are mistaken； you should only know what I choose
to tell you。〃
〃Well； master； forgive me； and let's say no more about it。 So！ I will
get rid of my game…bag； and go help Goliath to feed the brutes； for
their supper time draws near； if it is not already past。 Does our big
giant grow lazy； master？〃
〃Goliath is gone out； he must not know that you are returned； above all；
the tall old man and the maidens must not see you here …it would make
them suspect something。〃
〃Where do you wish me to go； then？〃
〃Into the loft； at the end of the stable； and wait my orders； you may
this night have to set out for Leipsic。〃
〃As you please； I have some provisions left in my pouch； and can sup in
the loft whilst I rest myself。〃
〃Go。〃
〃Master； remember what I told you。 Beware of that old fellow with the
gray moustache； I think he's devilish tough； I'm up to these things
he's an ugly customerbe on your guard！〃
〃Be quite easy！ I am always on my guard；〃 said Morok。
〃Then good luck to you； master！〃and Karl； having reached the ladder；
suddenly disappeared。
After making a friendly farewell gesture to his servant； the Prophet
walked up and down for some time； with an air of deep meditation； then；
approaching the box which contained the papers； he took out a pretty
long letter； and read it over and over with profound attention。 From
time to time he rose and went to the closed window； which looked upon
the inner court of the inn； and appealed to listen anxiously； for he
waited with impatience the arrival of the three persons whose approach
had just been announced to him。
CHAPTER II。
THE TRAVELLERS。
While the above scene was passing in the White Falcon at Mockern； the
three persons whose arrival Morok was so anxiously expecting； travelled
on leisurely in the midst of smiling meadows； bounded on one side by a
river； the current of which turned a mill； and on the other by the
highway leading to the village； which was situated on an eminence； at
about a league's distance。
The sky was beautifully serene； the bubbling of the river； beaten by the
mill…wheel and sparkling with foam； alone broke upon the silence of an
evening profoundly calm。 Thick willows； bending over the river； covered
it with their green transparent shadow； whilst； further on； the stream
reflected so splendidly the blue heavens and the glowing tints of the
west； that； but for the hills which rose between it and the sky； the gold
and azure of the water would have mingled in one dazzling sheet with the
gold and azure of the firmament。 The tall reeds on the bank bent their
black velvet heads beneath the light breath of the breeze that rises at
the close of dayfor the sun was gradually sinking behind a broad streak
of purple clouds； fringed with fire。 The tinkling bells of a flock of
sheep sounded from afar in the clear and sonorous air。
Along a path trodden in the grass of the meadow； two girls； almost
childrenfor they had but just completed their fifteenth yearwere
riding on a white horse of medium size； seated upon a large saddle with a
back to it； which easily took them both in； for their figures were slight
and delicate。
A man of tall stature； with a sun…burnt face； and long gray moustache；
was leading the horse by the bridle； and ever and ano