"The colonel and the troop are here. We could not stop the King without a riot which might turn out ill for us. What cannot be done here can be done at Clermont. Keep back the dragoons, that is all I ask."
And away galloped he on the track of the King.
Hence the shouting that the King and the Queen had gone through, as Charny heard. Those shouts set the mayor and councilmen afoot; the mayor ordered the soldiers into the barracks as eight o'clock was striking and it was the hour when soldiers had no business to be about in arms.
"Horses!" cried Charny as Dandoins joined him.
"They are coming."
"Have you pistols in the holsters?"
"I loaded them myself."
"Good! Now, all hangs on the goodness of your horse. I must catch up with a man who has a quarter-hour's start, and kill him."
"You must kill him——"
"Or, all is lost!"