The two young men set off as fast as their horses could go. They reached the Hôtel de Ville of Versailles consumed with thirst. Somebody had conceived the notion of breaking open a dozen barrels of beer in the courtyard, in the full sunshine: they attempted to drink it, but found it like poison. A man in civilian dress was there, representing the mayor, sweating like an ox: for that matter, everybody, mayor, deputies, municipal councillors, were all melting with the heat. "Look quick!" said Charras; "come, we want spies, horses and a carriage!" "Excuse me?" asked the perspiring citizen. "Are you deaf? I ask you for spies, horses and a carriage!" "Where do you suppose I can find them?" replied the citizen, perspiring more and more. "That is no concern of mine.... Find them--I must have them. That is all I have to say to you." "But, all the same, monsieur, who may you be?" "I am M. Charras, first aide-de-camp to General Pajol, who is commander-in-chief of the Expeditionary Army of the West." Charras had invented this phrase on the spur of the moment, and, thinking it sufficiently high-sounding, had adopted it to impress the country town's folk. "All I can do," he said, "is to give you the names of carriage proprietors." "Give them me.... We shall discover the other things, for you do not seem to me to be very much up to matters yourself." The man gave the addresses of two or three cab proprietors. They left the mansion-house, which was on the left as you enter the town, about three hundred yards before you come to the château, and they returned in the direction of Paris. A magnificent signboard was grilling in the noonday sun: it represented a coach drawn by four horses, with two saddle-horses held by grooms. This set Charras's mouth watering. "Hullo there! Where is the proprietor?" he shouted. "Here I am!" said an individual in a somewhat bad-tempered tone. "I want a carriage with a couple of horses immediately." "What for?" "For the persons whom I shall put inside it." "Who are they?" "I don't know yet." "I haven't any carriages." "What! no carriages?" "No." "What about those in the yard?" "They are engaged." "Ah! very well." Charras looked about him: there were over a hundred people already gathered round, and amongst these spectators were a dozen or so soldiers of the National Guard together with a sergeant. "Sergeant," said Charras, "do me the kindness to lay hold of that gentleman." Now a Frenchman is by nature prone to laying hands on people, especially if he wears the uniform of the National Guard. Sergeant Mercier, who refused to seize Manuel, was an exception to this rule and that was why such honours were paid him. The sergeant moved towards the carriage proprietor and seized him by the collar. "Good!" said Charras; "presently we will see what is to be done with him." "Really, monsieur," said the proprietor, "who are you?"