about noon
Let us leave the two friends entering the Corne d'Abondance , and return to the litter of M. Monsoreau and to Bussy , who set out with the intention of following them . Not only is it not difficult for a cavalier well mounted to overtake foot travelers , but it is difficult not to pass them . This happened to Bussy . It was the end of May , the heat was great , and about noon M. de Monsoreau wished to make a halt in a little wood , which was near the road , and as they had a horse laden with provisions , they remained there until the great heat of the day had gone by . During this time Bussy passed them , but he had not traveled , as we may imagine , without inquiring if a party on horseback , and a litter carried by peasants , had been seen . Until he had passed the village of Durtal , he had obtained the most satisfactory information , and , convinced that they were before him , had ridden on quickly . But he could see nothing of them , and suddenly all traces of them vanished , and on arriving at La Flèche he felt certain he must have passed them on the road .