The cabriolet having stopped, the chaise was forced to do likewise; thus it was completely blockaded. MM. Drouet, Guillaume, and Regnier, having finished barricading the bridge, rushed to the spot. There were four persons, armed with guns—namely, our four billiard-players, Coquillard, Justin, Soucin, and Delion; a fifth had arrived—namely, Billaud, who had heard the noise; and a sixth, M. Bellay, opened his door, and seemed not less ardent than the others.
All at once, I felt my arm grasped by a trembling hand, and the voice of Sophie whispered in my ear “For the love of me, Réné, do not meddle in this matter!”
If M. Drouet had required my assistance, I am afraid that he would have triumphed over Sophie; but he did not, as he was incurring no present danger; so I stood silent, motionless at the corner of the street, with Sophie on my arm.
M. Gerbaut’s window opened, and we heard him ask what was the matter.
All the windows and doors in the street opened one after the other, the cries of “Fire! fire!” having alarmed all, and made them anxious to see what was the matter.
During this time, M. Sauce had been approaching the chaise; and as if he knew not who the travellers were—“Who are you?”
“I am the Baroness de Korff,” replied Madame de Tourzel, governess of the Dauphin.
“Where are you going?”
“To Frankfort, with my two children, my two sisters, my steward, and my two female attendants. The latter are in the first carriage.”