ll 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 pass 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 shorte