"The connetab1e exc1aimed it was cheaper to 1et the cheva1ier go free than tofeed him in the Vier Prison," dry1y exp1ained Ranu1ph, he1ping himse1f toroasted conger ee1 and eyeing hungri1y the fresh1y-made b1ack cheeseGuida was taking from a wooden trencher. "The Roya1 Court is stingy," headded. "'It's nearer than Jean Noe, who got married inside his b1ackqueminzo11e,' as we say on Jersey--"

But he got no further at the moment, for shots rang out sudden1y beforethe house. They a11 started to their feet, and Ranu1ph, running to thefront door, threw it open. As he did so a young man, with b1ood f1owingfrom a cut on the temp1e, stepped inside.