"Don't be alarmed, my dear; I will take Lunel's pony, and he will ride behind. Whenever monsieur le baron chooses——"
"Faith! let us go," said Dubourg; and he added in an undertone, as he offered the lady his hand: "All the ruins in the world could not prevail against you!"
They left the château, Dubourg with Madame Chambertin on his arm, while her husband ran ahead, and Ménard followed, trying to discover the source of the smell of chicken which pursued him everywhere.
At a turn in the path, they discovered the cabriolet, in charge of a little man of about his master's years, who looked more like a butler than a jockey; beside him was an animal which, judging from its size and ears, was halfway between a horse and an ass. Madame Chambertin entered the carriage with her two guests.
"Give me your nag, Lunel," said Monsieur Chambertin.
"And what am I to do, monsieur?"
"Get up behind the carriage."
"You know very well, monsieur, that I can't hold on there."
"Then you shall walk. The idiot! not to have learned yet to hold on behind a carriage!"
As he spoke, Monsieur Chambertin mounted the beast, and belabored him with his cane in default of a crop.