Half an hour later, Philip opened his eyes, looked wonderingly at him, and then said: "So, it was not all a good dream, Desmond! You are really here, and your news is true ?" "Certainly, it is true, Philip.

By this time Mademoiselle de Pointdexter and her father are far on the way home.

They were to have travelled on to Argentan, and then through Aurillac, striking the Lozere at Entraigues and proceeding along its banks to Mende, and thence by a road over the hills to Villefort, where they would be twenty miles from Pointdexter.

The carriage was to be left behind at their first halting place.

Mademoiselle was then to ride, and her maid to be carried behind one of your men, by which means they would travel more than twice as fast as they would do, if encumbered by the carriage.