“We cried, ‘Vive le Roi!’ and the people responded. We heard, very distinctly--‘My good friends, have you no fear? Are you not sick? How beautiful it is! Heaven preserve you! Adieu, my friends.’ “I was touched to tears by this tender and true interest which our appearance had called forth. “We continued to wave our flags without cessation, and we perceived that these signals greatly increased the cheerfulness and calmed the solicitude of the people below. Often we descended sufficiently low to hear what they shouted to us. They asked us where we came from, and at what hour we had started. “We threw over successively frock-coats, muffs, and habits. Sailing on above the Ile d’Adam, after having admired the splendid view, we made signals with our flags, and demanded news of the Prince of Conti. One cried up to us, in a very powerful voice, that he was at Paris, and that he was ill. We regretted missing such an opportunity of paying our respects, for we could have descended into the prince’s gardens, if we had wished, but we preferred to pursue our course, and we re-ascended. Finally, we arrived at the plain of Nesles. “We saw from the distance groups of peasants, who ran on before us across the fields. ‘Let us go,’ I said, and we descended towards a vast meadow. “Some shrubs and trees stood round its border. Our car advanced majestically in a long inclined plane. On arriving near the trees, I feared that their branches might damage the car, so I threw over two pounds of ballast, and we rose again. We ran along more than 120 feet, at a distance of one or two feet from the ground, and had the appearance of travelling in a sledge. The peasants ran after us without being able to catch us, like children pursuing a butterfly in the fields. “Finally, we stopped, and were instantly surrounded. Nothing could equal the simple and tender regard of the country people, their admiration, and their lively emotion. “I called at once for the cures and the magistrates. They came round me on all sides: there was quite a fete on the spot. I prepared a short report, which the cures and the syndics signed. Then arrived a company of horsemen at a gallop. These were the Duke of Chartres, the Duke of Fitzjames, and M. Farrer. By a very singular chance, we had come down close by the hunting-lodge of the latter. He leaped from his horse and threw himself into my arms, crying, ‘Monsieur Charles, I was first!’ “Charles adds that they were covered with the caresses of the prince, who embraced both of them. He briefly narrated to the Duke of Chartres some incidents of the voyage. “‘But this is not all, monseigneur. I am going away again,’ added Charles. “‘What! Going away!’ exclaimed the duke. “‘Monseigneur, you will see. When do you wish me to come back again?’ I said. “‘In half an hour.’ “‘Very well: be it so. In half an hour I shall be with you again.’ “M. Robert descended from the car, and I was alone in the balloon.