I wrote a few lines to M. de Sérigny, telling him that an affair of the greatest importance had called me to Havre, and I left orders with my people to forward my letters to that town. Two hours later I was on the road. We were approaching the last relay before reaching Havre, when I heard the hurried tramp of horses galloping behind us, the sharp cracking of a whip, and a voice not unknown to me crying out, "Stop! Stop!" My postilions looked at me inquiringly. I made them a sign to stop, and, suddenly, I saw at the door of my carriage Madame de Fersen's courier, whose horse was covered with foam and torn by spurs. This man was so breathless from his rapid race that he could only utter these words in handing me a letter: [ILLUSTRATION] "M. le comte, this is a letter from the princess. I have gained four hours upon M. le comte. I could do no more." The letter just contained these words: "My daughter is dying--is dying--and my sole hope is in you." "You must turn back," I cried to the postilions, "return to the stage. And you," I said to the courier, "can you gallop all the way back to Paris, and have horses ready for me at the stages?" "Certainly, M. le comte." "Then mount, and be off." The good fellow turned back at full speed on the road to Paris. "But, monsieur," said my man of business, in dismay, "you cannot go back to Paris; here we are just at Havre." I looked at him in astonishment. "Why not?" "But this failure, monsieur," he exclaimed; "an hour may lose all, and fifty thousand dollars are at stake!" I had entirely forgotten the purport of my journey. "You are right," said I. "You are not more than a mile from Havre; oblige me by walking that distance, and arrange matters as best you can." I had the carriage door opened. "But, monsieur, once more, it is impossible," resumed the astounded man; "without you I can do nothing. I do not even have your power of attorney. Without you my presence is utterly useless. Come at least as far as Havre; we shall go to a notary, you will give me a power of attorney, and then--" I was boiling with impatience. "Monsieur," said I, hastily, "you will go on to Havre without me, or you will return to Paris with me. The door is open; you can get down, or remain." "But, monsieur--" "Close the door, and off for Paris!" I exclaimed. The agent at once left the carriage, saying to me, with an air of despair, "As you please, monsieur. I shall have nothing to reproach myself with. You may as well look upon these fifty thousand dollars as lost. Send me, at least, your power of attorney, registered, etc." I did not hear the rest. The horses had started at full speed. In my whole life, I had never travelled with such velocity. At Versailles, I gave orders to stop in Paris a little way, before reaching Madame de Fersen's door. When I arrived, I saw the street was strewn with straw.