As they thus talked, they arrived at the door of the inn, where the landlord met them, with the request that the two gentlemen who had arrived by extra-post, and who could not find horses to proceed on their journey, might be permitted to share the one sitting-room the house contained, and which was at present occupied by the L'Estranges.
"Let us sup in your room, George," whispered Julia, and passed on into the house. L'Estrange gave orders to send the supper to his room, and told the landlord that the salon was at his guests' disposal.
About two hours later, as the curate and his sister sat at the open window, silently enjoying the delicious softness of a starry night, they were startled by the loud talking of persons so near as to seem almost in the room with them.
"English--I'll be sworn they are!" said one. "That instinctive dread of a stranger pertains only to our people. How could it have interfered with their comfort, that we sat and ate our meal in this corner?"
"The landlord says they are young, and the woman pretty. That may explain something. Your countrymen, Philip, are the most jealous race in Europe."
L'Estrange coughed here three or four times, to apprise his neighbors that they were within earshot of others.
"Listen to that cough," cried the first speaker. "That was palpably feigned. It was meant to say, 'Don't talk so loud.'"
"I always grow more indiscreet under such provocation," said the other, whose words were slightly tinged with a foreign accent.
A merry laugh burst from Julia at this speech, which the others joined in by very impulse.
"I suspect," said the first speaker, "we might as well have occupied the same room, seeing in what close proximity we stand to each other."
"I think it would be as well to go to your room, Julia," said George, in a low voice. "It is getting late, besides."
"I believe you are right, George. I will say good-night."
The last words appeared to have caught the ears of the strangers, who exclaimed together, "Good-night, goodnight;" and he with the foreign accent began to hum, in a very sweet tenor voice, "Buona sera, buona notte, buona sera;" which Julia would fain have listened to, but George hurried her away, and closed the door.