The Ride to Louvres
Andrea and the cab driver travel rapidly through the Faubourg Saint-Denis, Faubourg Saint-Martin, and across the Paris barrier into the Villette district. Andrea repeatedly asks passersby and late-open inns along the road about a green cabriolet with a bay horse he claims his friend is driving, but never locates the fictitious companion. When the horse is too exhausted to continue, they arrive at Louvres, where Andrea pays the driver 30 francs, claims he will stay at the Cheval Rouge hotel, and slips away on foot once the cab is out of sight.
The Phantom Friend
Throughout the cab ride to Louvres, Andrea repeatedly inquires after the fictional green cabriolet and bay horse belonging to his supposed friend, using the ruse to justify his urgent travel direction. At one point his cab passes a calash carrying Mademoiselle Danglars and Mademoiselle d’Armilly, and Andrea laments that he would trade anything for the fast post-horses and valid passport that would let him travel as freely and quickly as the two women.
Arrival at Louvres
The exhausted cab arrives at Louvres after a long, fast ride. Andrea decides to abandon the cab there, judging that continuing would kill the overworked horse and draw unwanted attention, and pays the driver the promised 30 francs. He tells the driver he will stay at the Cheval Rouge hotel and take the first coach out in the morning, then feigns heading to the inn before slipping away on foot as soon as the cab departs.
The Horse Rental
After walking two leagues from Louvres, Andrea stops near Chapelle-en-Serval to rest and solidify his escape plan, as he knows he cannot use public coaches or post-horses without a passport, and remaining in the heavily guarded Oise department is far too risky. He visits the local inn, claiming he fell off his horse while travelling from Mortefontaine to Senlis and needs to hire a horse to reach Compiègne that night to avoid worrying his family. The innkeeper saddles his horse Le Blanc, and sends his 7-year-old son to ride ahead and return the horse after dropping Andrea off. Andrea pays 20 francs and accidentally drops a visiting card belonging to a friend at the Café de Paris, leading the innkeeper to believe he rented the horse to the Count of Mauléon of 25 Rue Saint-Dominique.
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