"What is the news?" asked M. de Vouillé.
"The news is," exclaimed the prefect, "that Madame de la Myre was right in what she said about her Royal Highness. Her Royal Highness has not left France; her Royal Highness is on her way to La Vendée, through Toulouse, Libourne, and Poitiers."
So saying, the prefect rose.
"Where are you going, Monsieur le préfet?" asked the duchess.
"To do my duty, madame, painful as it is, and give orders that her Royal Highness be arrested if, as this despatch warns me, she is imprudent enough to pass through my department."
"Do so, Monsieur le préfet; do so," said the duchess. "I can only applaud your zeal and assure you that I shall remember it when occasion offers."
She held out her hand to the prefect, who kissed it gallantly, after having, with a look, asked Monsieur de la Myre's permission to do so.
[XIV.]
PETIT-PIERRE.
Let us now return to the cottage of the goodman Tinguy, which we left for a time to make that excursion to the château de Vouillé.