In a quarter of an hour the porter returned with a postboy and horses, which were harnessed, and put in the post-chaise in a minute, while the porter fastened the portmanteau on with the assistance of a cord and strap.
“Here is the passport,” said the postilion, “which way are we going, young gentleman?”
“To Fontainebleau,” replied Eugénie with an almost masculine voice.
“What do you say?” said Louise.
“I am giving them the slip,” said Eugénie; “this woman to whom we have given twenty louis may betray us for forty; we will soon alter our direction.”
And the young girl jumped into the britzka, which was admirably arranged for sleeping in, without scarcely touching the step.
“You are always right,” said the music teacher, seating herself by the side of her friend.
A quarter of an hour afterwards the postilion, having been put in the right road, passed with a crack of his whip through the gateway of the Barrière Saint-Martin.
“Ah,” said Louise, breathing freely, “here we are out of Paris.”
“Yes, my dear, the abduction is an accomplished fact,” replied Eugénie.
“Yes, and without violence,” said Louise.
“I shall bring that forward as an extenuating circumstance,” replied Eugénie.
These words were lost in the noise which the carriage made in rolling over the pavement of La Villette. M. Danglars no longer had a daughter.