After trotting alongside for a few seconds he ordered the driver to halt, and, turning abruptly to us, demanded our passports.

Now our passports were, at that precise moment, peaceably reposing in the side pocket of Mrs.Bingham's carriage; I therefore explained to the gen-d'arme how we were circumstanced, and added, that on arriving at Amiens the passport should be produced.

To this he replied that all might be perfectly true, but he did not believe a word of it--that he had received an order for the apprehension of two English persons travelling that road--and that he should accordingly request our company back to Chantraine, the commissionaire of which place was his officer.
"But why not take us to Amiens," said I; "particularly when I tell you that we can then show our passports ?" "I belong to the Chantraine district," was the laconic answer; and like the gentleman who could not weep at the sermon because he belonged to another parish, this specimen of a French Dogberry would not hear reason except in his own "commune." No arguments which I could think of had any effect upon him, and amid a volley of entreaty and imprecation, both equally vain, we saw ourselves turn back upon the road to Amiens, and set out at a round trot to Chantraine, on the road to Calais.
Poor Isabella, I really pitied her; hitherto her courage had been principally sustained by the prospect of soon reaching Amiens; now there was no seeing where our adventure was to end.

Besides that, actual fatigue from the wretched conveyance began to distress her, and she was scarcely able to support herself, though assisted by my arm.

What a perilous position mine, whispering consolation and comfort to a pretty girl on a lonely road, the only person near being one who comprehended nothing of the language we spoke in.