From his window the yard of the house and the street were visible. A sharp, harsh noise, which made him drop his eyes, resounded from the earth. Below him he perceived two red stars, whose rays lengthened and shortened in a singular manner through the darkness. As his thoughts were still half immersed in the mists of sleep, “Hold!” said he, “there are no stars in the sky. They are on earth now.” But this confusion vanished; a second sound similar to the first roused him thoroughly; he looked and recognized the fact that these two stars were the lanterns of a carriage. By the light which they cast he was able to distinguish the form of this vehicle. It was a tilbury harnessed to a small white horse. The noise which he had heard was the trampling of the horse’s hoofs on the pavement. “What vehicle is this?” he said to himself. “Who is coming here so early in the morning?” At that moment there came a light tap on the door of his chamber. He shuddered from head to foot, and cried in a terrible voice:— “Who is there?” Some one said:— “I, Monsieur le Maire.” He recognized the voice of the old woman who was his portress. “Well!” he replied, “what is it?” “Monsieur le Maire, it is just five o’clock in the morning.” “What is that to me?” “The cabriolet is here, Monsieur le Maire.” “What cabriolet?” “The tilbury.” “What tilbury?” “Did not Monsieur le Maire order a tilbury?” “No,” said he. “The coachman says that he has come for Monsieur le Maire.” “What coachman?” “M. Scaufflaire’s coachman.” “M. Scaufflaire?” That name sent a shudder over him, as though a flash of lightning had passed in front of his face. “Ah! yes,” he resumed; “M. Scaufflaire!” If the old woman could have seen him at that moment, she would have been frightened. A tolerably long silence ensued. He examined the flame of the candle with a stupid air, and from around the wick he took some of the burning wax, which he rolled between his fingers. The old woman waited for him. She even ventured to uplift her voice once more:— “What am I to say, Monsieur le Maire?” “Say that it is well, and that I am coming down.” CHAPTER V—HINDRANCES The posting service from Arras to M. sur M. was still operated at this period by small mail-wagons of the time of the Empire. These mail-wagons were two-wheeled cabriolets, upholstered inside with fawn-colored leather, hung on springs, and having but two seats, one for the postboy, the other for the traveller. The wheels were armed with those long, offensive axles which keep other vehicles at a distance, and which may still be seen on the road in Germany. The despatch box, an immense oblong coffer, was placed behind the vehicle and formed a part of it. This coffer was painted black, and the cabriolet yellow.