“I am sorry for you; but it is no use expecting relays at Varennes, for we do not possess a post-house.” “I know that, monsieur.” “Why did you ask me, then?” A woman’s voice was heard. “Come to bed, Martin,” said she. “You ought to see that he is only making fun of you.” “You hear—my wife calls me!” He tried to close the door, but the unknown stopped him by placing his arm in the aperture. “Ha, monsieur!” said the tradesman; “what does this mean? Do you wish to do me an injury?” “Do not be frightened; I only wish to ask you a question.” “You have asked me ten already.” “I know that I am at Varennes, thanks to you; I know that there is no post-house, but I knew that before. Having been so kind as to answer those questions, perhaps you will not object to one more?” “How? Did not you tell me that you were preceding a carriage to Varennes?” “No doubt; but you have not allowed me to continue. A relay ought to be ready opposite the first houses of Neuvilly; I wished to ask—have you seen that relay?” “Oh, that is another thing; you should have begun to speak in that manner!” “Have you seen them?” “The relay?” “Yes, the relay.” “No, monsieur, I have not.” “You must tell me all that you know, at once,” cried the impatient courier. “I have told you about the relay, but you did not ask me till just now.” The same woman’s voice was again heard, crying out afresh. “Make him go, husband,” she said; “he is only making a fool of you—he is doing it for a wager.” “You hear, sir,” said the man; “my wife says you are doing it for a wager.” “Nothing of the kind, I assure you, monsieur. Thank you for your information; you can now shut your door, and reseek your wife.” The tradesman slammed his door in a rage. “Shall I wait here?” soliloquised the unknown. He was not long kept waiting. During the dialogue on the door-step, the carriage was rapidly drawing nigh; not only did he hear the wheels, but the neighing of the horses. The courier, placing himself in the midst of the road, awaited its arrival. CHAPTER XXV. THE TRAGEDY OF ROYALTY BEGINS. Scarcely five minutes had passed, when I began to distinguish a black phantom; and soon after I saw the sparks flying from under the horses’ hoofs. As the mass approached, I saw that it was composed of two carriages. The first was an ordinary cabriolet; the second, an immense travelling carriage. On seeing the road blocked by one man, on foot, holding a horse by the bridle, the postilion cracked his whip, and shouted to the horses to go on. But the unknown, in an imperative voice, cried out “Stop!” lifting his hand at the same time. “I wish to speak to the travellers in the second carriage!” “Oh, Valory!” cried a voice from the first; “is anything wrong?” “No, madame; only a slight mistake.” Then approaching the second carriage, “Pardon,” said he; “we have arrived at Varennes, and there is no relay.” “How!—no relay? What is the reason of it?” replied a female voice.