"Come with me, my friend; you must help me in my search."
"Gladly, monsieur; but I will get up behind."
"No, no, come in here, with me; you understand my suffering, I can see that. You will help me to find my son, to prevent a ghastly calamity. Come quickly!"
Paul stepped into the cab and seated himself beside Monsieur Vermoncey, who said to the driver:
"Twenty francs, forty francs, as much money as you want, if we are at the Forest of Vincennes in half an hour!"
The driver urged his horses to a gallop.
XXII
THE DUEL AND ITS RESULTS.—A TOKEN OF VICTORY.—TOBIE'S REWARD
Albert and Tobie arrived at Porte Saint-Mandé as the clock struck ten. They alighted from their cab, and saw a carriage a few yards away.
"The count is ahead of me," said Albert; "but it's all right; we are in time. Yes, I see two gentlemen walking along the avenue yonder. Those are our adversaries. Come, Tobie, forward!"
"What do you say? our adversaries!" cried Pigeonnier, walking as if he had on three pairs of trousers; "I have no adversaries; I didn't come here to fight!"