Five minutes after, the farm was being completely stripped of everything; they were loading the sleigh with hams, smoked meats, bread; leading the cattle from the stables, harnessing the horses to the great waggon; and in a short time the convoy set out on its march, with Robin at the head, and the volunteers behind, pushing at the wheels. When it had disappeared in the woods, and silence suddenly succeeded to all this noise, Catherine, as she turned round, saw Hullin behind her as pale as death. "Well, Catherine," said he, "all is settled." Frantz, Kasper, and those who formed the escort, all stood ready armed and waiting in the kitchen. "Duchêne," said the brave woman, "do you go down to the village; we must not have the enemy ill-treating you on my account." The old servant then, shaking his white head, and with his eyes full of tears, replied: "So that I but die here, Madame Lefévre. It is fifty years since I first came to the farm. Do not force me to go away from it; it would be my death." "As you will, my poor Duchêne," replied Catherine, greatly moved at this proof of her old servant's fidelity. "Here are the keys of the house." And the poor old man went and sat down on a stool beside the hearth, with his eyes fixed, and his mouth half open, like one lost in a sad and bewildering dream. They set out on their way to the Falkenstein. Marc Divès on horseback, his long rapier in his hand, formed the rear-guard. Frantz and Hullin were on the left overlooking the mountain side; Kasper and Jerôme on the right of the valley; Materne and the men of the escort surrounded the women. Strange to say, in front of the cottages of the village of Charmes, on the doorsteps of the houses, at the casements, at the windows, appeared faces young and old, watching with curious eyes this flight of Dame Lefévre, and evil tongues did not spare her. "Ah! she's come to ruin at last," said they. "This comes of meddling with what does not concern you!" Others made the reflection aloud that Catherine had been rich quite long enough, and that it was now her turn to come down in the world. As for the industry, the wisdom, the goodness of heart, and all the other virtues of the good old farm-mistress, the patriotism of Jean-Claude, the courage of Jerôme, and Materne and his two sons, the disinterestedness of Doctor Lorquin, the devotion of Marc Divès, no one said anything about them--they were conquered! [Illustration] CHAPTER XXIV.