Montaignac by the other road, two men will accompany her as far as
Courtornieu."

She was obeyed. The carriage turned and rolled away, but not so quickly
that Marie-Anne failed to hear Blanche cry:

"Beware, Marie! 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 disappeared.

M. Lacheneur could have wept with rage. He called Maurice and
Chanlouineau.

"I place you in command," said he; "do all that you can to hurry these
idiots onward. I will ride as fast as I can to the Croix d'Arcy."

He started, but he was only a short distance in advance of his followers
when he saw two men running toward him at full speed. One was clad in
the attire of a well-to-do bourgeois; the other wore the old uniform of
captain in the Emperor's guard.

"What has happened?" Lacheneur cried, in alarm.

"All is discovered!"

"Great God!"

"Major Carini has been arrested."