But, mercifully, the future was not known to them. They parted full of hope.
M. de Valory borrowed a post-horse, and galloped on in advance, to command the relays.
M. de Malden and De Moustier took their seats on the box of the berlin, which set off at the full speed of which six vigorous horses were capable.
The cabriolet came on in the rear.
M. de Fersen followed with his eyes the carriage, rapidly disappearing in the distance; and when it had entirely disappeared, he got into his own carriage, and returned to Paris.
He had on his costume as coachman; and much did it astonish the driver of the cabriolet to see a coachman kissing the hands of the King, disguised as a domestic.
It is true that M. de Fersen had only kissed the King’s hands in order to be able to go through the same ceremony with regard to the Queen.
That was another imprudence added to those which we have already mentioned.
All went well as far as Montmirail, where the traces of the royal carriage snapped asunder.