feet on the road to Vincennes. When this occurred, Mayneville and the
duchess vainly tried to see what was going on. At last Mayneville became
so anxious that he sent off a man on horseback, telling him to inquire
of the first body of cavaliers he met. The messenger did not return, so
the duchess sent another, but neither reappeared.

"Our officer," said the duchess, always hopeful, "must have been afraid
of not having sufficient force, and must have kept our men to help him;
it is prudent, but it makes one anxious."

"Yes, very anxious," said Mayneville, whose eyes never quitted the
horizon.

"Mayneville, what can have happened?"

"I will go myself, madame, and find out."

"Oh, no! I forbid that. Who would stay with me, who would know our
friends, when the time comes? No, no, stay, Mayneville; one is
naturally apprehensive when a secret of this importance is concerned,
but, really, the plan was too well combined, and, above all, too secret,
not to succeed."

"Nine o'clock!" replied Mayneville, rather to himself than to the
duchess. "Well! here are the Jacobins coming-out of their convent, and
ranging themselves along the walls."

"Listen!" cried the duchess. They began to hear from afar a noise like
thunder.

"It is cavalry!" cried the duchess; "they are bringing him, we have him
at last;" and she clapped her hands in the wildest joy.

"Yes," said Mayneville, "I hear a carriage and the gallop of horses."

And he cried out loudly, "Outside the walls, my brothers, outside!"

Immediately the gates of the priory opened, and a hundred armed monks
marched out, with Borromee at their head, and they heard Gorenflot's
voice crying, "Wait for me, wait for me; I must be at the head to
receive his majesty."

"Go to the balcony, prior," cried Borromee, "and overlook us all."

"Ah! true; I forgot that I had chosen that place, but luckily you are
here to remind me."

Borromee dispatched four monks to stand behind the prior, on the
pretense of doing him honor.

Soon the road was illumined by a number of torches, thanks to which the
duchess and Mayneville could see cuirasses and swords shining. Incapable
of moderation, she cried--"Go down, Mayneville, and bring him to me."

"Yes, madame, but one thing disquiets me."

"What is it?"

"I do not hear the signal agreed on."

"What use is the signal, since they have him?"

"But they were to arrest him only here, before the priory."

"They must have found a good o