"Count, you must take my charger, not one of my men's."
"I accept. The welfare of the Royal Family depends on the least accident. The better the steed the better the chances."
The two went through the town to the marquis' lodgings. Before departing Charny charged a quarter-master to watch young Drouet.
Unfortunately the nobleman's rooms were five hundred paces away. When the horses were saddled a quarter of an hour had gone by; for the marquis had another got ready as he was to take up the rear guard duty over the King.
Suddenly it seemed to Charny that he heard great clamor and could distinguish shouts of "The Queen, the Queen!"
He sprang from the house, begging Dandoins to have the horse brought to the square.
The town was in an uproar. Scarcely had Charny and his brother noble gone, as if Drouet had waited for it, he shouted out:
"That carriage which went by is the King's! in it are the King, the Queen, and the Royals!"
He jumped on his horse; some friends sought to detain him.
"Where are you off to? what do you intend? what is your project?"