Part 32 (1/2)

So saying, he shook them warmly by the hand; and they hurried off to the train.

Chapter 15: The Expedition.

A special telegram had been sent forward from Tours to station master at Orleans, to request him to order the two horses, sent forward in the train, to be got out of their boxes without any loss of time; and to do anything else which the owners of the horses required. Accordingly, as the train was waiting outside the station, the guard came round and asked at each carriage for the owners of the horses. He appeared a little surprised, when two Jews answered the inquiry; as he had expected that they were officers of high rank, and importance.

”The compliments of the stationmaster,” he said, ”and is there anything he can do with the horses?”

”Yes,” Ralph said. ”Give my compliments to the station master; and say that I shall be much obliged if he will get them out of the horse boxes, without loss of time, and send them on at once to the headquarters of General Aurelles. We will go on at once, in a vehicle.”

Five minutes afterwards the train drew up at the platform, and the guard ran up.

”This way, gentlemen. A carriage is engaged.”

Upon arriving at headquarters they found that--owing to the forethought of Colonel Tempe--they were expected for, upon sending in their names, they were at once admitted; although several officers, of all grades, were waiting in the anteroom.

The colonel of the staff gave a movement of surprise.

”There is some mistake here,” he said, to the orderly who had shown them in; ”I ordered the Lieutenants Barclay to be admitted.”

”These are the gentlemen who gave me the card, colonel,” the orderly answered.

”It is so,” Ralph said. ”If you will favor us with a moment alone, we will explain the matter to you.”

The colonel led the way into a small cabinet, adjoining.

”We are bearers of dispatches, for General Trochu,” Ralph said; ”and have disguised ourselves, to endeavor to pa.s.s through the German lines.”

”Oh, is that it?” the colonel said. ”I must really apologize; but no one,” he said, smiling, ”could recognize you, in that disguise, to be French officers. Before we speak further, I must ask you for some proof that you are what you state yourselves to be; for at present I have only your cards.”

”Here is our letter from Monsieur Gambetta to General Aurelles,”

Ralph said. ”It is directed to be opened by you, should he be absent.”

”That is all right,” the colonel said, when he had read it. ”My surprise at your appearance was natural, for the telegram we received this morning only said:

”'The two Lieutenants Barclay will arrive, by six o'clock train.

Their business is most important. Have a well-mounted officer of staff ready to accompany them through lines.'

”I thought, of course, that you had orders to report on position of troops; and felt, I admit, rather angry that Gambetta should wish to send subaltern officers to inspect matters concerning which he has full reports.

”You wish, of course, to go on at once?”

”Our horses will be here in five minutes,” Ralph said, ”and we wish to get as far as possible, tonight. We mean to cross the Loing at Montargis, and get as far as we can, tonight; so as to arrive either at Meaux, or Melun, tomorrow evening. We should, of course, prefer Melun, as being much the shortest route towards Versailles.

We shall, of necessity, be guided by the position of the Germans.”

”You have not breakfasted, of course?” the colonel said. ”I was just going to sit down, when you came in; for I go out to the front at ten, and it is half-past nine, now. You will have no chance of getting anything, before you arrive at Montargis.

”I can introduce you to the officer who will accompany you.”