I am overjoyed--I am proud--I am ready, I, Pierre Lapierre." The churlish official had gone back to the natural state of an excitable habitant, ready to give away his heart or lose his head at an instant's notice, the temptation being sufficient.

Madelinette was frightened.
She knew well why Havel had ridden on ahead without her permission, and shaking hands with the landlord and getting into the coach, she said hastily to her new coachman: "Lose not an instant.

Drive hard." They reached the next change by noon, and here they found four horses awaiting them.

Tardif, and Havel also, had come and gone.

An hour's rest, and they were away again upon the last stage of the journey.