His first wife was taken away from him in the Reign of
Terror by the guillotine.'
" 'Who is he going to marry?' I inquire, still breathless.
" 'The daughter of General Berthelin--an ex-aristocrat by family,
like the old lady; but by principle as good a republican as ever
lived--a hard-drinking, loud-swearing, big-whiskered old soldier,
who snaps his fingers at his ancestors and says we are all
descended from Adam, the first genuine sans-culotte in the
world.'
"In this way the citoyenne Ciairfait gossips on all dinner-time,
but says nothing more of any importance. I, with my old
police-office habits, set to the next day, and try to make some
discoveries for myself. The sum of what I find out is this:
Danville's mother is staying with General Berthelin's sister and
daughter at Chalons, and Danville himself is expected to arrive
every day to escort them all three to Paris, where the
marriage-contract is to be signed at the general's house.
Discovering this, and seeing that prompt action is now of the
most vital importance, I undertake, as I told you, my employer's
commission for Paris, depart with all speed, and stop here on my
way. Wait! I have not done yet. All the haste I can make is not
haste enough to give me a good start of the wedding party. On my
road here, the diligence by which I travel is passed by a
carriage, posting along at full speed.
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