fun and devilment which I
could not account for at such a moment, as he asked, in a voice of much
humility--

'Does Monsieur the Commissaire require me to come down?'

'Instantly,' roared the Frenchman, whose passion was now boiling over.

'In that case, gentlemen, take charge of the team.' So saying, he handed
the reins to the passive gendarmes, who took them, without well knowing
why. 'I have only a piece of advice,' continued Phil, as he slowly
descended the side--'keep a steady hand on the near-side leader, and
don't let the bar strike her; and now, good-bye.'

He flourished his four-in-hand whip as he spoke, and with one tremendous
cut came down on the team, from leader to wheeler, accompanying the
stroke with a yell there was no mistaking. The heavy carriage bounded
from the earth as the infuriated cattle broke away at full gallop. A
narrow street and a sharp angle lay straight in front; but few of those
on the drag waited for the turn, as at every step some bearskin shako
shot into the air, followed by a tall figure, whose heavy boots seemed
ill-adapted for flying in. The corporal himself had abandoned the reins,
and held on manfully by the rail of the box. On every side they fell,
in every attitude of distress. But already the leaders had reached the
corner; round went the swingle-bars, the wheelers followed, the coach
rocked to one side, sprang clean off the pavement, came down with a
crash, and then fell right over, while the maddened horses, breaking
away, dashed through the town, the harness in fragments behind them, and
the pavement flying at every step.

The immediate consequences of this affair were some severe bruises,
and no small discouragement to the gendarmerie of St. Omer; the
remoter ones, an appeal from the municipal authorities to the
Commander-in-chief, by whom the matter was referred for examination
to the Adjutant-General. O'Grady was accordingly summoned to Paris
to explain, if he could, his conduct in the matter. The order for his
appearance there came down at once, and I, having nothing to detain me
at St. Omer, resolved to accompany my friend for a few days at least,
before I returned to England. Our arrangements were easily made; and the
same night we received the Adjutant-General's letter we started by post
for Paris.

CHAPTER LVI. ST. DENIS

We were both suddenly awakened from a sound sleep in the _caleche_ by
the loud cracking of the postillion's whip, the sounds of stre