The moon had now risen, and shone full on our road, which was completely exposed; but happily we met with no hindrance.  The motion of the cart now made me very drowsy, and I fell into deep dreamless sleep.  When I woke, feeling stiff and chilled, I wondered where I was.  The cart had stopped, I was alone, the gray light of morning was forcing its way through the chinks of my little lodging-house, but the door was locked.  I thought my position a curious one, and wondered whether La Croissette was going to give me up after all, to my enemies, but could not readily distrust a fellow apparently so kind-hearted.  I lay still and listened to the sounds about me; the clucking of hens, gobbling of turkeys, stamping of horses, and lowing of calves, told me I was in a farm-yard.  Then I heard voices, including that of La Croissette, and presently a sharp cry and then a laugh.  By-and-by, the key turned in the lock and he looked in on me.

“So ho, you are awake after a famous long nap,” said he.  “Do you want your breakfast?”

“If I do, want must be my master,” said I, returning his smile.  “We gave away our only loaf.”

“But what if I have earned another, and a good bowl of milk?” rejoined La Croissette, producing both as he spoke.  “There, sit up and eat your fill; I’ve had my share in the house.”

“Where are we?” said I, readily obeying his instructions.

“At a wayside farm-house, where the honest people have given my horse a good feed, and you and me a good breakfast.”

“How did you earn it, then?”

“By pulling out a tooth for a great lubberly boy, whose cheek had swollen enormously with toothache.  Did you not hear him cry out?  You might almost have heard him from here to Nismes.”

“Yes, I heard him cry and then laugh.”

“Because he was so glad to have got rid of it.”

“Can you draw teeth, then?”

“I never drew one before, but I went at it as if it was a regular thing with me.”

“How could you venture?”

“Psha! it is good to show confidence; and every one must have a beginning.  Which of us would let a doctor try his hand on us, if we knew it was for the first time?”

I smiled and shook my head at him, but said no more.  When I had swallowed the delicious milk, he said,

“Now I will return the bowl, and bring out my horse.  I told them I had a sick brother in the cart, recovering from a burning fever, or you would have had some visitors.  To make doubly sure, I locked you up.”

“Would not that have been enough without the other?” I said, grieved at his want of truth.

“No, I think not, and I’m not as particular as you are.”

Presently we were driving off again, and for a mile or so in silence.  Then La Croissette, looking back at me, said,

“There are certainly good people on both sides.  That poor wretch to whom we gave the loaf was undoubtedly a good Huguenot; she would rather starve and die than abjure her faith.  But here, again, are a family of Catholics, who are good, too, and believed every word I said, and liberally supplied my wants.”