The mail coach doors were on their hinges, the lining was replaced, the ironwork was as good as new, the paint was restored, the lamps were alight; cushions and greatcoats were on every coach-box, porters were thrusting parcels into every boot, guards were stowing away letter-bags, hostlers were dashing pails of water against the renovated wheels; numbers of men were pushing about, fixing poles into every coach; passengers arrived, portmanteaus were handed up, horses were put to; in short, it was perfectly clear that every mail there, was to be off directly.
A kocsiajtók megint ott voltak a helyükön, a bélés hibátlan, a vasalás olyan lett, mint új korában, a mázolás megint friss volt, a lámpák égtek, minden bakon párnák és nagy köpönyegek; a hordárok csomagokat raktak minden rekeszbe, a kalauzok elhelyezték a levél­zsákokat, az istállófiúk nagy vödör vizekkel öntözték meg az újjávarázslódott kerekeket; tömérdek kocsis rohant elő, és minden postakocsinak berakta a rúdját; utasok érkeztek, málhákat raktak fel, lovakat fogtak be, szóval világosan látszott, hogy mindegyik kocsi indulni készül.