Springing into his saddle, he was the first to jump the ditch, reach the river, and there unhesitatingly took the ford which the pretended courier had pointed out on Cassini’s map. When he reached the opposite bank, followed by the other young men, d’Assas said to him: “Say, didn’t your mask falloff?” “Yes; but no one saw my face but Madame de Montrevel.” “Hum!” muttered d’Assas. “Better no one had seen it.” Putting their horses to a gallop, all four disappeared across the fields in the direction of Chacource. CHAPTER XXX. CITIZEN FOUCHÉ’S REPORT On arriving the next day, toward eleven in the morning, at the Hôtel des Ambassadeurs, Madame de Montrevel was astonished to find, instead of Roland, a stranger awaiting her. The stranger approached her. “Are you the widow of General de Montrevel, madame?” he asked. “Yes, monsieur,” replied Madame de Montrevel, not a little astonished. “And you are looking for your son?” “Yes; and I do not understand, after the letter he wrote me--” “Man proposes, the First Consul disposes,” replied the stranger, laughing. “The First Consul has disposed of your son for a few days, and has sent me to receive you in his stead.” Madame de Montrevel bowed. “To whom have I the honor of speaking?” she asked. “To citizen Fauvelet de Bourrienne, his first secretary,” replied the stranger. “Will you thank the First Consul for me,” replied Madame de Montrevel, “and have the kindness to express to him the profound regret I feel at not being able to do so myself?” “But nothing can be more easy, madame.” “How so?” “The First Consul has ordered me to bring you to the Luxembourg.” “Me?” “You and your son.” “Oh! I am going to see General Bonaparte; I am going to see General Bonaparte!” cried the child, jumping for joy and clapping his hands. “What happiness!” “Edouard, Edouard!” exclaimed Madame de Montrevel. Then, turning to Bourrienne, “You must excuse him, sir; he is a little savage from the Jura Mountains.” Bourrienne held out his hand to the boy. “I am a friend of your brother’s,” said he. “Will you kiss me?” “Oh! willingly, sir,” replied Edouard. “You are not a thief, I know.” “Why, no; I trust not,” replied the secretary, laughing. “You must excuse him once again, sir. Our diligence was stopped on the way.” “Stopped?” “Yes.” “By robbers?” “Not exactly.” “Monsieur,” asked Edouard, “when people take other people’s money, are they not thieves?” “That is what they are generally called, my dear child.” “There, you see, mamma.” “Come, Edouard, be quiet, I beg of you.” Bourrienne glanced at Madame de Montrevel, and saw clearly from the expression of her face that the subject was disagreeable to her; he therefore dropped it. “Madame,” said he, “may I remind you that I have I orders to take you to the Luxembourg, and to add that Madame Bonaparte is expecting you?” “Pray give me time to change my gown and to dress Edouard, sir.” “How long will that take, madame?”