Without making any objection, with the passive obedience of a soldier—perhaps with the warm devotion of a Royalist,—he darted off in pursuit of Drouet. Scarcely had he started, when, as you have already been told, the council commanded M. de Damas to withdraw his men into barracks. But instead of obeying, like M. Dandoins, M. de Damas drew his sword, struck his spurs into the belly of his horse, dashed into the midst of the crowd, and cried, “All who love me, follow!” Three men alone replied to this appeal, and dashed after M. Damas, at a gallop, down the hill of Clermont. Drouet was three-quarters of a league in advance of them, but he was pursued by a brave, determined, and well-mounted man. Only on leaving Clermont the road splits—one part going to Verdun, the other to Varennes. It was not probable that the King would go to Varennes, where he had no relays; if that route had been indicated, it was simply to throw pursuers off the scent. Anyhow, Guillaume would be at Varennes; and as he was a native of that place, he would have plenty of influence. Drouet galloped, therefore, along the road to Verdun. Scarcely had he gone two hundred yards, when he met a postilion, who was leading some horses. “Have you seen a large berlin and a cabriolet going past, one with six horses and the other with three?” “No, M. Drouet,” replied the postilion. The King had therefore gone to Varennes. Drouet got on the road to Varennes by cutting across the country, after having leapt a ditch. This error, in all probability, saved him. The dragoon, Lagache—who knew that the King had gone to Varennes, and not to Verdun, and who saw Drouet take the road to Verdun,—did not think it worth while to pursue him much longer; and when he saw him change his route, it was too late—he was a good half-hour in advance of him. In the midst of all this, the King, continuing his route, had left M. Dandoins and his dragoons behind him, at St. Menehould, and M. de Damas and his at Clermont. The one and the other ought to be pushing on behind him; and in all probability there was nothing to fear in the localities through which he was now travelling. This reflection brought tranquillity to the travellers, who, between Neuvilly and Varennes, find oblivion in sleep. We have seen how M. Valory, not finding relays at his post, had thought fit to await the illustrious travellers, in order to consult with them. We have seen the Queen descend from the berlin, take the arm of M. Valory, and interrogate M. Préfontaine. We have seen M. Préfontaine advance, trembling, to the door of the King’s carriage, answer his interrogatories, return to his house, shut his door, and afterwards open his window. We have seen M. Drouet appear like a phantom from the midst of the shadow, forbidding the postilions to proceed, and rushing through the Rue des Réligieuses on to the Place de Latry.