“Are you quite sure?” he asked the porter.
“I tell you that I saw him with my own eyes!” replied the latter.
“Then I can give the news to our friends as a positive fact?”
“You can. Only hurry.”
“Have they been notified at Servas?”
“Yes; you will find a horse ready between Servas and Sue.”
The postilion came up; the young man exchanged a last glance with the porter, who walked away as if charged with a letter of the utmost importance.
“What road, citizen?” asked the postilion.
“To Bourg. I must reach Servas by nine this evening; I pay thirty sous fees.”
“Forty-two miles in five hours! That’s tough. Well, after all, it can be done.”