224 WOLF-HUNTING. 



said to be, they but rarely find their way to the uncommercial 

 and remote little town of Carhaix ; and when they do, the hotel, 

 with its ready restaurant and appliances, is usually preferred 

 to the pennyworth-of-pepper style of housekeeping entailed by 

 private lodgings. The intention of making Carhaix his residence 

 for a lengthened period was at once supposed by Marseillier to 

 be the ground for Mr. Johnson's exceptional choice ; and as, in 

 that case, in all probability he would still become a daily demt- 

 pensionnaire at the hotel, and [a compagnon de chasse for himself, 

 the wily host lost no time in persuading St. Prix to send him a 

 polite invitation to join the wolf-hunt fixed for Locrist on the 

 following Tuesday. 



Some hours elapsed ere an answer was returned by Johnson, 

 but at length it came, written fluently in Jersey-French, and 

 expressing his gratitude in terms so extra-deferential, that St. Prix 

 could not forbear shrugging his shoulders as he read it ; as if 

 there was something beyond his comprehension, something very 

 unlike the independent manner of an English gentleman in the 

 whole style of the note. A suspicion, like an electric spark, then 

 flashed across the Louvetier's mind that it was not all above-board 

 with this new comer, and that he himself had acted somewhat 

 incautiously in adopting the course recommended by Marseillier. 

 However, the thing was done ; and if the stranger, thus invited, 

 had proved to be a convict escaped from the galleys, St. Prix 

 would not have revoked his invitation for that day's hunt. 



" Whoever he may be," said Keryfan, perusing the note with 

 the shrewdness of an expert, " if there is anything wrong about 

 the man, he is already half-trapped by entering that house. 

 Masson, the proprietor, is well known to be a Government spy; 

 and, depend upon it, from mere habit, every movement of his 

 guest, nay, every letter he writes or receives, will be subjected 

 to the closest surveillance." 



" Then I think," said St. Prix, " if he is in such good hands, 



