At last he came to
the Portchaisengasse, which was quiet enough in the twilight, though
he could hear the tramp of soldiers along the Langgasse and the
rumble of the guns.
There were only two lamps in the Portchaisengasse, swinging on
wrought-iron gibbets at each end of the street. These were not yet
alight, though the day was fading fast, and the western light could
scarcely find its way between the high gables which hung over the
road and seemed to lean confidentially towards each other.
Sebastian was going towards the door of the Weissen Ross'l when some
one came out of the hostelry, as if he had been awaiting him within
the porch.
The new-comer, who was a fat man with baggy cheeks and odd, light
blue eyes--the eyes of an enthusiast, one would say--passed
Sebastian, making a little gesture which at once recommended
silence, and bade him turn and follow. At the entrance to a little
alley leading down towards the Marienkirche the fat man awaited
Sebastian, whose pace had not quickened, nor had his walk lost any
of its dignity.
"Not there to-night," said the man, holding up a thick forefinger
and shaking it sideways.
"Then where?"
"Nowhere to-night," was the answer. "He has come--you know that?"
"Yes," answered Sebastian slowly, "for I saw him."
"He is at supper now with Rapp and the others. The town is full of
his people. His spies are everywhere. There are two in the Weissen
Ross'l who pretend to be Bavarians.
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