“Get rid of the three scoundrels!” said one of the young gentlemen on the box, “and let us drive the carriage ourselves.” “Gentlemen!” cried the Queen, who saw that there was going to be bloodshed. Then to the postilions—“Gentlemen,” she said, in her softest voice, “I do not order, I entreat. Fifty louis to each one of you, if you drive us safely to the ‘Grand Monarque.’” Frightened of the swords of the gentlemen, and melted by the entreaty of the Queen, the postilions set off at a gallop. But they had lost ten minutes, and these ten minutes M. Drouet had turned to profit. They dashed on, but were obliged to avoid the arch, for fear of breaking their heads, so they turned round the church, and began to descend the Rue Basse Cour. But before they could execute that manœuvre, their course was suddenly arrested. The cabriolet, as we have said, preceded the chaise; but scarcely had it turned out of the Place, when the bridles of the horses were seized by two men. These were the elder Leblanc, and M. Thevenin, of Islettes. That first carriage contained but two maids of honor to the Queen—Mesdames Brunier and De Neuville. “Messieurs! messieurs!” cried they; “what is your will?” At this moment, a man advanced towards the cabriolet. He was the Procureur de la Commune, M. Sauce, who, awakened from his sleep had sallied out, determined to do his duty. “Excuse me, ladies,” said he, “but, without doubt, you have passports?” “They are with the people in the other carriage,” replied Madame de Neuville. The cabriolet having stopped, the chaise was forced to do likewise; thus it was completely blockaded. MM. Drouet, Guillaume, and Regnier, having finished barricading the bridge, rushed to the spot. There were four persons, armed with guns—namely, our four billiard-players, Coquillard, Justin, Soucin, and Delion; a fifth had arrived—namely, Billaud, who had heard the noise; and a sixth, M. Bellay, opened his door, and seemed not less ardent than the others. All at once, I felt my arm grasped by a trembling hand, and the voice of Sophie whispered in my ear “For the love of me, Réné, do not meddle in this matter!” If M. Drouet had required my assistance, I am afraid that he would have triumphed over Sophie; but he did not, as he was incurring no present danger; so I stood silent, motionless at the corner of the street, with Sophie on my arm. M. Gerbaut’s window opened, and we heard him ask what was the matter. All the windows and doors in the street opened one after the other, the cries of “Fire! fire!” having alarmed all, and made them anxious to see what was the matter. During this time, M. Sauce had been approaching the chaise; and as if he knew not who the travellers were—“Who are you?” “I am the Baroness de Korff,” replied Madame de Tourzel, governess of the Dauphin. “Where are you going?” “To Frankfort, with my two children, my two sisters, my steward, and my two female attendants. The latter are in the first carriage.”