His main idea was to get there quickly at all risks.

The name of the King of Navarre's physician was constantly on his lips.

'Dortoman is a good man.

If anyone call save him, Dortoman will,' was his perpetual cry.

And whenever he met anyone who had the least appearance of bearing news, he would have me stop and interrogate him, and by no means let the traveller go until he had given us the last rumour from Blois--the channel through which all the news from the South reached us.
An incident which occurred at the inn that evening cheered him somewhat; the most powerful minds being prone, I have observed, to snatch at omens in times of uncertainty.