“Yes, madame;” and a slight touch to the horse soon produced the desired effect of dispersing the nearest part of the crowd, and throwing down those who held by his reins.
“Your arm, sir!” again said the lady to the officer; “come on, petite,” turning to Andrée.
“Let us go then, courageous woman,” said the young man, giving his arm, with real admiration, to her who asked for it.
In a few minutes he had conducted them to a cab-stand, but the men were all asleep on their seats.
CHAPTER V.
THE ROAD TO VERSAILLES.
The ladies were free from the crowd for the present, but there was some danger that they might be followed and recognized, when the same tumult would doubtless be renewed and escape a second time be more difficult. The young officer knew this, and therefore hastened to awaken one of the half-frozen and sleepy men. So stupefied, however, did they seem, that he had great difficulty in rousing one of them. At last he took him by the collar and shook him roughly.
“Gently, gently!” cried the man, sitting up.
“Where do you wish to go, ladies?” asked the officer.
“To Versailles,” said the elder lady, still speaking German.
“Oh, to Versailles!” repeated the coachman; “four miles and a half over this ice. No, I would rather not.”