The Battle Of The Strong

Chapter 23

With what seemed an unnecessary boldness Detricand slept that night at

the inn, "The Golden Crown," in the town of Bercy: a Royalist of the

Vendee exposing himself to deadly peril in a town sworn to alliance with

the Revolutionary Government. He knew that the town, even the inn, might

be full of spies; but one other thing he also knew: the innkeeper of "The

Golden Crown" would not betray him, unless he had greatly changed since

fifteen years ago. Then they had been friends, for his uncle of

Vaufontaine had had a small estate in Bercy itself, in ironical proximity

to the castle.

He walked boldly into the inn parlour. There were but four men in the

room--the landlord, two stout burghers, and Frange Pergot, the porter of

the castle, who had lost no time carrying his news: not to be