"But surely I can hire a saddle-horse in the village?"
"What! to go to Arras without a break?"
"Yes."
"You would want a horse such as is not to be found in these parts. In the first place, you would have to buy it, as you are a stranger, but you would not find one to buy or hire for five hundred francs,—not for a thousand."
"What is to be done?"
"The best thing is to let me mend the wheel and put off your journey till to-morrow."
"To-morrow will be too late."
"Hang it!"
"Is there not the Arras mail-cart? When does that pass?"
"Not till to-night."