"Leave whatever you like," was his reply.
We gazed down the road as far as we could see, but nothing was yet in sight.
"We shall have time," I said to the posting-master, "to rig up a tricolour flag."
"What for?" he asked.
"To put on your trap.... It will indicate our opinions, and will prevent our being arrested for fugitives."
"Oh! oh!" he said, laughing, "on the contrary, they are more likely to stop you, because ... you look like something quite different."
"Never mind, I shall be delighted to sail under the three colours."
"Ah! as far as that goes, that's easy enough!"
He crossed the street, went into a draper's shop, bought half a yard each of white, blue and red merino, got the people to sew the three half yards together, and nailed them to a broom handle. The flag was ready in ten minutes, and it cost twelve francs, broom stick included. We fastened it with two cords to the hood of the trap. As we were accomplishing this task we caught sight of Bard, who arrived on my horse at full gallop. I signed to him to hurry yet more if it were possible, but he could not go faster. At last he joined us.