ook his leave of Tardivet, and wrapping
his heavy cloak tightly about him he marched out into the rain, and
mounted.

A few moments later they clattered briskly out of Boisvert, the thick
grey mud flying from their horses' hoofs as they went, and took the
road to France. For a couple of miles they rode steadily along under the
unceasing rain and in the teeth of that bleak February wind. Then at a
cross-road La Boulaye unexpectedly called a halt.

"My friends," he said to his escort, "we have yet a little business to
discharge in Belgium before we cross the frontier."

With that he announced his intention of going North, and so briskly did
he cause them to ride, that by noon--a short three hours after quitting
Boisvert--they had covered a distance of twenty-five miles, and brought
up their steaming horses before the Hotel de Flandres at Leuze.

At this, the only post-house in the place, La Boulaye made inquiries
as to whether any carriage had arrived from Soignies that morning, to
receive a negative answer. This nowise surprised him, for he hardly
thought that Mademoiselle could have had time to come so far. She must,
however, be drawing nearer, and he determined to ride on to meet her.
From Leuze to Soignies is a distance of some eight or nine leagues by a
road which may roughly be said to be the basis of a triangle having its
apex at Boisvert.

After his men had hurriedly refreshed themselves, La Boulaye ordered
them to horse again, and they now cantered out, along this road, to
Soignes. But as mile after mile was covered without their coming upon
any sign of such a carriage as Mademoiselle should be travelling in, La
Boulaye almost unconsciously quickened the pace until in the end they
found themselves careering along as fast as their jaded horses would
bear them, and speculating mightily upon the Deputy's odd behaviour.

Soignies itself was reached towards four o'clock, and still they had not
met her whom La Boulaye expected. Here, in a state of some wonder and
even of some anxiety, Caron made straight for the Auberge des Postes.
Bidding his men dismount and see to themselves and their beasts, he
went in quest of the host, and having found him, bombarded him with
questions.

In reply he elicited the information that at noon that day a carriage
such as he described had reached Soignies in a very sorry condition. One
of the wheels had come off on the road, and although the Marquise's men
had contrived to replac