The coach was already in motion. Rodolph answered:
"True; I did not think of that. But with my cigar I shall smoke you like herrings; let us have a window open."
And, joining the action to the words, Rodolph, with much dexterity, let fall outside the window the morsel of paper, folded very small, on which he had hastily written a few words in pencil under his blouse. The Schoolmaster's glance was so quick, that, in spite of the calmness of Rodolph's features, the ruffian detected some expression of triumph, for, putting his head out of the window, he called out to the driver:
"Whip behind! whip behind! there is some one getting up at the back of the coach!"
The coach stopped, and the driver, standing on his seat, looked back, and said:
"No, master, there is no one there."
"Parbleu! I will look myself," replied the Schoolmaster, jumping out into the street.
Not seeing any person or anything (for since Rodolph had dropped the paper the coach had gone on several yards), the Schoolmaster thought he was mistaken.
"You will laugh at me," he said, as he resumed his seat, "but I don't know why I thought some one was following us."
The coach at this moment turned round a corner, and Murphy, who had not lost sight of it with his eyes, and had seen Rodolph's manœuvre, ran and picked up the little note, which had fallen into a crevice between two of the paving-stones.