Then Gregoire can follow on his wheel; he is thirteen, and
will do as a page, bringing up the rear of my personal escort. All the
rest of the Court will have to pack itself into the chariot--I mean the
big family wagon, in which there is room for eight. You, as Queen Mother,
may keep your last little prince, Nicolas, on your knees. Papa will only
have to carry himself proudly, as befits the head of a dynasty. And my
brother Gervais, that young Hercules of seventeen, shall drive, with
Claire, who at fifteen is so remarkable for common sense, beside him on
the box-seat. As for the illustrious twins, those high and mighty lords,
Denis and Blaise, we will call for them at Janville, since they are
waiting for us there, at Madame Desvignes'."
Thus did Rose rattle on, exulting over the scheme she had devised. She
danced, sang, clapped her hands, and finally exclaimed: "Ah! for a pretty
cortege this will be fine indeed."
She was animated by such joyous haste that she made the party start much
sooner than was necessary, and they reached Janville at half-past nine.
It was true, however, that they had to call for the others there. The
house in which Madame Desvignes had taken refuge after her husband's
death, and which she had now occupied for some twelve years, living there
in a very quiet retired way on the scanty income she had managed to save,
was the first in the village, on the high road.
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