“Mademoiselle will turn back,” calmly rejoined Marie-Anne, disdaining to notice the insult which her former friend’s words implied. “As she can reach Montaignac by the other road, two men will accompany her as far as Courtornieu.” The order was obeyed. The carriage turned and rolled away, though not before Blanche had found time to cry: “Beware, Marie-Anne! I will make you pay dearly for your insulting patronage!” The hours were flying by. This incident had occupied ten minutes more--ten centuries--and the last trace of order had vanished. Lacheneur could have wept with rage. Suddenly calling Maurice and Chanlouineau to his side, he said: “I place you in command, do everything you can to hurry these idiots onward. I will ride as fast as possible to the Croix d’Arcy.” He started, but he was only a short distance in advance of his followers when he perceived two men running towards him at full speed. One was clad in the attire of the middle classes; the other wore the old uniform of captain in the emperor’s guard. “What has happened?” cried Lacheneur in alarm. “Everything is discovered!” “Good heavens!” “Major Carini has been arrested.” “By whom? How?” “Ah! there was a fatality about it! Just as we were perfecting our arrangements to seize the Duke de Sairmeuse, he himself surprised us. We fled, but the cursed noble pursued us, overtook Carini, caught him by the collar, and dragged him to the citadel.” Lacheneur was overwhelmed; the abbe’s gloomy prophecy again resounded in his ears. “So I warned my friends, and hastened to warn you,” continued the officer. “The affair is an utter failure!” He was only too correct; and Lacheneur knew it even better than he did. But, blinded by hatred and anger, he would not acknowledge that the disaster was irreparable. He affected a calmness which he was far from feeling. “You are easily discouraged, gentlemen,” he said, bitterly. “There is, at least, one more chance.” “The deuce! Then you have resources of which we are ignorant?” “Perhaps--that depends. You have just passed the Croix d’Arcy; did you tell any of those people what you have just told me?” “Not a word.” “How many men are assembled there?” “At least two thousand.” “And what is their mood?” “They are all eagerness to begin the fight. They are cursing your slowness, and told me to entreat you to make haste.” “In that case our cause is not lost,” said Lacheneur, with a determined gesture. “Wait here until the peasants come up, and impress upon them that you were sent to tell them to make haste. Bring them on as quickly as possible, and have confidence in me; I will be responsible for the success of the enterprise.”