"Oh, Colonel Damas," muttered the King, "if you will only strike in before we are put within this accursed house!"
The Queen said nothing for she had to stifle her sobs as she thought of Charny, and restrained her tears.
Damas? he had managed to break out of Clermont with three officers and twice as many troopers but the rest had fraternized with the people.
Sausse was a grocer as well as attorney, and his grocery had a parlor behind the store where he meant to lodge the visitors.
His wife, half-dressed, came from upstairs as the Queen crossed the sill, with the King next, Lady Elizabeth and Lady Tourzel following.
More than a hundred persons guarded the coach, and stopped before the store which was in a little square.
"If the lady has found the pass yet," observed Sausse, who had shown the way in, "I will take it to the Town Council and see if it is correct."
As the passport which Charny had got from Baron Zannone, and given to the Queen, was in order, the King made a sign that Lady Tourzel was to hand it over. She drew the precious paper from her pocket and let Sausse have it. He charged his wife to do the honor of his house while he went to the town-house.
It was a lively meeting, for Drouet was there to fan the flames. The silence of curiosity fell as the attorney entered with the document. All knew that he harbored the party. The mayor pronounced the pass perfectly good.