They went down into the courtyard, where three or four persons were waiting for them, leapt into their saddles and the general set off at a gallop, turning short round the corner of the stable-yard gate and making his horse change feet, like the perfect horseman he was. Charras was an excellent horseman himself and stood this first test victoriously. But the horse that was being ridden by another student of the École was pushed on to the footpath and fell down on the left hand. This happened outside a chemist's shop and both student and horse disappeared into the shop--breaking in the front as they fell. The accident was not thought worth wasting time over and the others went on their way without even turning their heads to look. When they reached the barrier at Passy, the general took command of the column. Our cab was one of the first, after the general's staff, which consisted of Jacqueminot, Charras, Charles Ledru, d'Higonnet, M. de Lagrange, Vernon and Bernadou. Vernon and Bernadou wore the uniform of students at the École. Charles Ledru was in the old uniform of the National Horse Guards, and wore a helmet; Higonnet wore the uniform of a pupil of the School of Cavalry at Saumur; and M. de Lagrange that of the Light Cavalry. General Exelmans appeared farther on, beyond the quai de Billy. "Here I am, Pajol!" he said, breaking through the ranks to get to him. "You are somewhat late ... but never mind," Pajol replied; "you can command the rearguard." "Good!" was Exelmans' reply. And he passed along to the rearguard, where he found the Rouennais, who had but just arrived. Pajol pulled up his horse at Point-du-Jour. "By Jove!" he exclaimed, "I bet...." "What?" they inquired. "That nobody here has a map of the department of Seine-et-Oise... Eh? Has anyone got a map of the department of Seine-et-Oise?" Nobody replied. "Shall I go and find one?" asked Charras. "Where?" "I don't know! Wherever I can!" "But if you don't know where to look?" "Oh! if one hunts, one always finds what one wants." Charras started off at a gallop--he had a notion where to look. He went to the manufactory of Sèvres: it would surely be impossible not to find a map of Seine-et-Oise there. Nor was he mistaken: they had two. They were put at his disposal by my namesake, M. Dumas, the chemist, erewhile minister and present senator. Pajol received the two maps a quarter of a league outside Sèvres. "Now, then, Jacqueminot," he said, "we must have bread, and plenty of it, too.... Go to Versailles and order ten thousand rations." Jacqueminot started off. "And we must also have spies," said Pajol. "Who will undertake to find me spies?" "I will," said Charras. "Ah! do you mean to undertake to find everything?" "Why not?" said Charras. "I must make myself useful." "Where will you find me these?" "At Versailles." "Do you know anybody there?" "Not a soul ... but don't trouble on that account." "I will go with you," said Bernadou. "Come, then."