'Let us go,' I said, and we descended
towards a vast meadow.
"Some shrubs and trees stood round its border. Our car advanced
majestically in a long inclined plane. On arriving near the
trees, I feared that their branches might damage the car, so I
threw over two pounds of ballast, and we rose again. We ran
along more than 120 feet, at a distance of one or two feet from
the ground, and had the appearance of travelling in a sledge.
The peasants ran after us without being able to catch us, like
children pursuing a butterfly in the fields.
"Finally, we stopped, and were instantly surrounded. Nothing
could equal the simple and tender regard of the country people,
their admiration, and their lively emotion.
"I called at once for the cures and the magistrates. They came
round me on all sides: there was quite a fete on the spot. I
prepared a short report, which the cures and the syndics signed.
Then arrived a company of horsemen at a gallop. These were the
Duke of Chartres, the Duke of Fitzjames, and M. Farrer. By a
very singular chance, we had come down close by the hunting-lodge
of the latter. He leaped from his horse and threw himself into
my arms, crying, 'Monsieur Charles, I was first!'
"Charles adds that they were covered with the caresses of the
prince, who embraced both of them.
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