By means of spies, Montaut ascertained that Jean Plessis had contrived to rescue the duchess, a rescue he could not achieve. He traced her to Toulon, but was not able to discover for some days where she was concealed; but, having done so, he laid his plans for securing her person, and her daughter’s also. Having succeeded, as regarded the former, in the manner already related, the duchess was carried, quite unconscious who was her abductor, to his château near Lyons, on the banks of the Rhone. Monsieur de Montaut was a perfect stranger to the Duchess de Coulancourt. She thought herself in the power of Collet d’Herbois, and, in the midst of her cruel grief at being torn from her daughter, she yet congratulated herself that she had saved her child, and the casket of valuable jewels, together with many most important papers. The château of Monsieur Gamel Maria de Montaut was some fourteen leagues from Lyons, seated on a slight eminence above the Rhone, and surrounded by dense woods. Jean Plessis, with incredible energy and perseverance, had contrived to track the duchess to her place of confinement. Satisfied that her person and life were safe, though in the power of a revolutionary chief, he returned to Toulon, with the intention of disposing of two or three houses, and then devote himself to the liberation of madame. The English fleet was still before Toulon, and, ascertaining that Mabel was on board the Robust with Madame Volney, he wrote the letter our hero received, and paid two fishermen to deliver it on board the Babet. Then, having disposed of his houses to a notary, and received the purchase-money, he contrived, by disguising himself, and becoming for the time a furious partisan of the Republic, to set about his schemes for the delivery of the duchess from the power of Monsieur de Montaut, who was then one of the Republican commissioners in Lyons. This would not have been difficult in the fearfully disorganised state of France; but, unfortunately, Jean Plessis became suspected, was suddenly arrested and thrown into prison, and was condemned to death; but at that critical moment Robespierre and the Reign of Terror ceased to exist, and Montaut himself was dragged, with his colleagues, to the guillotine, and, amidst the shouts and rejoicings of the people, beheaded. Madame de Coulancourt was conveyed to Paris, and remained some time confined in the Abbey. Finally, as things settled into tranquillity under the Directory, she was brought to trial. Nothing whatever appearing to criminate her, she was released, and left in full possession of her estates, but strictly prohibited, under pain of forfeiture of her property and imprisonment, either to leave the country, or in any way, by letter or message, to communicate with England.