Philip had arranged his cloak behind his saddle, for Claire to sit upon; and led the horse to the place where she was awaiting them.
"All has passed off well," he said.

"No one in the farmhouse seems to have heard a sound." He leapt into the saddle.

Claire placed her foot on his, and he swung her up behind him; and they then started at a brisk trot.
Avoiding all large towns, and stopping only at village inns, they made their way south; making long journeys each day.

In the villages there was little of the religious rancour that animated the people in the towns and, after the first two days, Philip found that the news of what had occurred at Paris had not, as yet, spread.

Eager questions were asked Pierre as to the grand wedding festivities at Paris; and there was, everywhere, a feeling of satisfaction at a union that seemed to promise to give peace to France.
Claire was generally supposed to be Philip's sister; and the hostesses always did their best to make the girl, with her pale sad face, as comfortable as possible.
Fearing that a watch might have been set at the bridges, they avoided these, crossing either by ferry boats or at fords.