“Where am I to go?” said Laurence to Marthe, whose look and language bore the unmistakable signs of sincerity. “Through the breach,” she replied; “my noble husband is there. You shall learn the value of a ‘Judas’!” Catherine went quickly into the salon, picked up the hat, veil, whip, and gloves of her mistress, and disappeared. This sudden apparition and action were so striking a commentary on the mayor’s inquiry that Madame d’Hauteserre and the abbe exchanged glances which contained the melancholy thought: “Farewell to all our peace! Laurence is conspiring; she will be the death of her cousins.” “But what do you really mean?” said Monsieur d’Hauteserre to the mayor. “The chateau is surrounded. You are about to receive a domiciliary visit. If your sons are here tell them to escape, and the Simeuse brothers too, if they are with them.” “My sons!” exclaimed Madame d’Hauteserre, stupefied. “We have seen no one,” said Monsieur d’Hauteserre. “So much the better,” said Goulard; “but I care too much for the Cinq-Cygne and Simeuse families to let any harm come to them. Listen to me. If you have any compromising papers--” “Papers!” repeated the old gentleman. “Yes, if you have any, burn them at once,” said the mayor. “I’ll go and amuse the police agents.” Goulard, whose object was to run with the royalist hare and hold with the republican hounds, left the room; at that moment the dogs barked violently. “There is no longer time,” said the abbe, “here they come! But who is to warn the countess? Where is she?” “Catherine didn’t come for her hat and whip to make relics of them,” remarked Mademoiselle Goujet. Goulard tried to detain the two agents for a few moments, assuring them of the perfect ignorance of the family at Cinq-Cygne. “You don’t know these people!” said Peyrade, laughing at him. The two agents, insinuatingly dangerous, entered the house at once, followed by the corporal from Arcis and one gendarme. The sight of them paralyzed the peaceful card-players, who kept their seats at the table, terrified by such a display of force. The noise produced by a dozen gendarmes whose horses were stamping on the terrace, was heard without. “I do not see Mademoiselle de Cinq-Cygne,” said Corentin. “She is probably asleep in her bedroom,” said Monsieur d’Hauteserre. “Come with me, ladies,” said Corentin, turning to pass through the ante-chamber and up the staircase, followed by Mademoiselle Goujet and Madame d’Hauteserre. “Rely upon me,” he whispered to the old lady. “I am in your interests. I sent the mayor to warn you. Distrust my colleague and look to me. I can save every one of you.” “But what is it all about?” said Mademoiselle Goujet. “A matter of life and death; you must know that,” replied Corentin.