They had calculated that, if they went at a moderate rate, they would be at Châlons in twelve or fourteen hours. They approached the door, and listened. All was silent. Let us see with what difficulties they encompassed themselves. Firstly, against M. de Bouillé’s advice, who proposed two English diligences, the Queen had had made two enormous berlins, in which she might put her trunks, boxes and bags. Then, in place of having a courier in simple livery, there were three gardes du corps, in the livery of the Prince de Condé. Then, in place of choosing three men who knew the route, they chose three who had never travelled that way before. Then, in place of hiding the King, who was supposed to be Madame de Korff’s steward, in the other carriage, he was placed face to face and knee to knee, with his pretended mistress, in the principal conveyance. Then, in place of having the carriages drawn by two, or even four, horses, they must needs have six, not remembering that the King alone is allowed to have that number. Then, in place of arming the gardes du corps to the teeth, they give them small hunting-knives for use, and locked up the pistols and other implements of warfare in the trunk, covered with red, bordered with gold, the same as the King used at Cherbourg. Then, in place of taking M. d’Agout, that resolute man who knew the route, and whom M. de Bouillé had recommended, they take Madame Tourzel, the children’s governess, who claimed the place by etiquette that D’Agout would have won by devotion. Taking all in all, every precaution was taken. _Quos vult perdere Jupiter prius dementat._ CHAPTER XXVIII. THE ROAD. In a moment, the clock struck eleven. Every stroke penetrated the hearts of the fugitives, and caused them to tremble. They went out, one by one. But how were they able to make a passage to the court, you will ask? This is how it was. Madame de Rochereul, whose duties had finished on the 12th, occupied a little chamber which opened into another, which had not been used for six months. The empty apartment was M. Villequier’s, first gentleman of the bed-chamber. It was empty because M. Villequier had emigrated. That apartment, situate on the ground floor, had a door opening into the Cour des Princes. On one side, the chamber of Madame de Rochereul opened both into one belonging to M. Villequier and Madame Royale. On the 11th, the moment that Madame Rochereul quitted the château, the King and Queen visited her apartment. Under the pretext of enlarging Madame Royale’s suite of rooms, the Queen kept these apartments, and said that the _femme-de-chambre_ of the Dauphin could share those of Madame de Chinnai, maid of honor. When in the apartment of M. Villequier, the King demanded the key of M. Renard, inspector of buildings. It was sent to him on the 13th of June.