"Yes, count. And you? what is your direction?"
"To Coblentz, to the royal princes," replied Count St. Prix. "Only I suspect that we shall not both of us reach the end of our journeys."
"At any rate not with the children that we shall take with us," whispered the other, as they entered the house of the cabinet-maker.
They found Simon and Toulan in the large workshop busily engaged in bargaining with the cabinet-maker, who had shown them six tolerably large hobby-horses, and was descanting on their beauties.
"It seems tome they all look very much alike," said Simon. "Tell me, commissioner, which of these race-horses pleases you best."
"This with the red flanks," said Toulan, laying his hand upon the largest one.
"It is an immense creature," said Simon, with a laugh. "Still, the red flanks are pretty, and if we can agree about the price I will buy the animal."
They did agree, and after Simon had gravely paid the twenty francs, he and Toulan took the horse on their shoulders and marched down the street.
"Do all those people know about our secret?" asked Simon, as they strode forward.
"No, only the cabinet-maker knows about it, and he will leave Paris to-morrow and carry the prince to a place of safety."