"In ten minutes they are done, Monsieur," said he, a new servility struggling with his old surliness. "We have no other room except sleeping rooms."
"Which would not do. Bring wine and take away that candle," he went on, seating himself at the further end of the room in such a position that he faced the door. His companion, obedient to a gesture, also seated himself, but with a yard or two of space between. "Give it to these--ah--gentlemen yonder; they are almost in darkness."
"They've light enough to see to their mouths," he answered insolently, "and so I'll leave it."
"And I too much to see your face in," was the pat and no less insolent reply, "therefore you'll take it away."
It was the right method to deal with the fellow, for he at once bowed with a cringe.
"I'll fetch the wine, Monsieur; good, I suppose?"
"If you've got it!" and he went, taking the candle with him.
At the arbitrary limitation put upon us, Martin would have flared out had I not restrained him, and though he laughed at the stranger's bitter retort over the disputed light, he whispered, "It is not the landlord's face he loves the darkness for, but his own; see how he hides it."
"Let him," I answered; "a thing may be honest enough, and yet better hidden; look at our rags."
Though both were plainly dressed, I could soon tell they were not on a par. Only one spoke, and when the wine came, though he poured some into his glass, he drank none, but pushed the bottle impatiently on to his neighbour as if deeper things to think of gave him a contempt for such toys. As to the man nearest us, he took both the wine and the touch of arrogance as a matter of course, and swallowed each with a relish as men do both gifts and slights of the great.
Thus we sat till the ten minutes were up and we had finished our meal but not our wine. Then, as the host came bustling up to rout us out I bade Martin softly leave him to me.
"Now that you've eaten," said he, "perhaps the other room will be nice enough for your lordships' nobility."
"This is nice enough for want of better," I answered; "but it is dull; bring us the dice."
The man in the cloak settled the dispute.
"Let them stay," he cried out. "Messieurs, an end of the room for you, and an end for us. Will that content you?"