noon
he cried more than once , `` and if M. le Comte persists in his plan , may reach Vrillac by late sunset . By way of Challans ! '' And always Carlat answered , `` Ay , by Challans , Monsieur , so be it ! '' He proved , too , so far right in his prediction that noon saw them drag , a weary train , into the hamlet of Lege , where the road from Nantes to Olonne runs southward over the level of Poitou . An hour later Count Hannibal rode in with six of his eight men , and , after a few minutes ' parley with Badelon , who was scanning the horses , he called Carlat to him . The old man came . `` Can we reach Vrillac to-night ? ''