noon
Two hours later my poor brother 's coffin was conveyed from the clockmaker 's house to the city hall , the great council chamber of which had been converted into an impromptu _ chapelle ardente _ . A guard was placed upon it , while additional sentries were posted at the outer doors . At the council meeting that evening , it had been arranged that the remains should be conveyed to Pannonia on the day following , and that I should accompany them to the capital . Accordingly , at noon , amidst the thunder of artillery and the respectful homage of the army , we set out , escorted by a regiment of cavalry , of which Max , as a boy , had been colonel-in-chief . Bertram , who was now a recognised member of my suite , accompanied me . My story has taken so long to tell that I have no time or space left me in which to do more than briefly summarise that mournful journey . Let it suffice , therefore , that every hamlet and town through which we passed received us with tokens of respect and sorrow .