The rumble of the wheels had—though she was awake—prevented her from hearing the rapid approach of a number of horses in the wake of the coach, until a peremptory: "Halt! in the name of the Emperor!" suddenly chased every other thought away; like her father she murmured: "My God! what is it now?"
This time there was no mystery, there would be no puzzlement as to the meaning of this fresh attack. The air was full of those sounds that denote the presence of many horses and of many men; there was, too, the clinking of metal, the champing of steel bits, the brief words of command which proclaimed the men to be soldiers.
They appeared to be all round the coach, for the noise of their presence came from everywhere at once.
Already the Comte had put his head out of the window: "What is it now?" he asked again, more peremptorily this time.
"In the name of the Emperor!" was the loud reply.
"We do not halt in the name of an usurper," said the Comte. "En avant, Pierre!"
"You urge those horses on at your peril, coachman," was the defiant retort.
A quick word of command was given, there was more clanking of metal, snorting of horses, loud curses from Pierre on the box, and the commanding voice spoke again:
"M. le Comte de Cambray!"
"That is my name!" replied the Comte. "And who is it, pray, who dares impede peaceful travellers on their way?"