The windows were shut, the doors were barred, and the village had become a street of living tombs.
"What means this ?" said the Lord James; "the people are surely afraid of us." "'Tis doubtless but their wonted welcome to their lord, the Sieur de Retz.

He seems to be popular wherever he goes," said Malise, grimly; "but let us dismount and see if we can get stabling for our beasts.
Did they not tell us there was not another house for miles betwixt here and Machecoul ?" So without waiting for dissent or counter opinion, the master armourer went directly up to the door of the most respectable-appearing house in the village, one which stood a little back from the road and was surrounded by a wall.

Here he dismounted and knocked loudly with his sword-hilt upon the outer gate.

The noise reverberated up and down the street, and was tossed back in undiminished volume from the green wall of pines which hemmed in the village.
But there was no answer, and Malise grew rapidly weary of his own clamour.
"Hold my bridle," he said curtly to Sholto, and with a single push of his shoulders he broke the wooden bar, and the two halves of the outer gate fell apart before him.

A great, smooth-haired yellow dog of the country rushed furiously at the intruders, but Malise, who was as dexterous as he was powerful, received him with so sound a buffet on the head that he paused bewildered, shaking his ears, whereat Malise picked him up, tucked him under his arm, and with thumbs about his windpipe effectually choked his barking.