"I understand, governor," said the postillion.
"You know the pistols aren't loaded," Bard said.
"All right! we will load them at Villers-Cotterets."
By a quarter to six we were at Mesnil: we had covered nearly four leagues in the hour.
Luckily there were fresh horses at the post. Our postillion here got another postboy to take up the running, and, in order that we might make even better speed, they put in three horses this time instead of two. I wanted to pay for the stage we had just done, but the posting-master had given his orders and the postillion refused to take the money. I gave him ten francs for himself; he commended us to the fresh postboy and we set off at top speed. Fortunately, the trap was well-seasoned, and in an hour we were at Dammartin. Our tricolour flag produced the desired sensation. The people came out all along our route and made the liveliest signs of enthusiasm; and, by the time we reached our relay at Dammartin, half the town had collected round us.
"This is capital!" exclaimed Bard; "but to make things more lively still, we ought to shout something."
"Right you are, my friend, shout away; and, while you shout, I will take a little nap."
We came out of Dammartin amidst shouts of "_Vive la République!_"
Between Dammartin and Nanteuil we saw a post-carriage, which, when it caught sight of our tricolour flag, stopped, and its occupants stepped down.
"What news?" a man of about fifty asked us.
"The Louvre is taken and the Bourbons have fled; there is a Provisional Government composed of La Fayette, Gérard, etc. _Vive la République!_"
The gentleman of fifty scratched his ear and got into his carriage again. It was M. Cunin-Gridaine. We resumed our journey, and by twenty to eight we were at Nanteuil. We had only three hours and twenty minutes left and still had twelve leagues to go. It was not likely we could manage it, but my principle always is not to despair so long as there is any vestige of hope left; even then! ... At Nanteuil we again changed horses, and the tricoloured flag had its usual effect. Nothing was known of Paris doings, so we brought the first really definite news. They gave us an old postillion, to whom I shouted--
"Four leagues an hour, and three francs as tip."