“Let the carriages pass without making any remark,” replied the King, “and follow with your dragoons.”
During this time, incredible as it may appear, a discussion arose between the person charged with the payment of the postilion and the postmaster.
It is a double post from St. Menehould to Varennes. They did not wish to pay more than single. Ten minutes were lost in this squabble, which estranged the people, who were helping.
At last, the carriages set off.
They could have been half a league distant when Drouet arrived.
Above Islettes, he and Guillaume separated, Guillaume took the short cut by the wood, and thus gained a league; while Drouet followed the road, striving to arrive at Clermont before the King or, if he could not succeed in that, at any rate to catch him up at Varennes.
On the other hand, thanks to the advantage which the short cut gave him, Guillaume was sure to arrive at Varennes before the King.
If the King took the Châlons route, Drouet would arrive at Verdun before him.
Drouet arrived at Châlons, not in time to arrest the King, but in time to prevent the dragoons from following him.
M. de Damas’s dragoons were on horseback. M. de Damas ordered them to march four deep, with their swords drawn in their hand; but they stood motionless, thrusting their swords into their scabbards.