Signal-lights gleamed upon every side. Montaignac seemed surrounded by a
circle of flame.

"These are the signals," murmured Chupin. "The rebels will be here
before two o'clock in the morning."

The duke made no response, but hastened to consult M. de Courtornieu.

He was striding toward his friend's house when, on hastily turning
a corner, he saw two men talking in a doorway, and on seeing the
glittering of the duke's epaulets, both of them took flight.

The duke instinctively started in pursuit, overtook one man, and seizing
him by the collar, he asked, sternly:

"Who are you? What is your name?"

The man was silent, and his captor shook him so roughly that two
pistols, which had been hidden under his long coat, fell to the ground.

"Ah, brigand!" exclaimed M. de Sairmeuse, "so you are one of the
conspirators against the King!"

Then, without another word, he dragged the man to the citadel, gave
him in charge of the astonished soldiers, and again started for M. de
Courtornieu's house.

He expected the marquis would be terrified; not in the least; he seemed
delighted.

"At last there comes an opportunity for us to display our devotion and
our zeal--and without danger! We have good walls, strong gates, and
three thousand soldiers at our command. These peasants are fools! But
be grateful for their folly, my dear duke, and run and order out the
Montaignac chasseurs----"

But suddenly a cloud overspread his face; he knit his brows, and added:

"The devil! I am expecting Blanche this evening. She was to leave
Courtornieu after dinner. Heaven grant that she may meet with no
misfortune on the way!"

CHAPTER XXI

The Duc de Sairmeuse and the Marquis de Courtornieu had more time before
them than they supposed.

The rebels were advancing, but not so rapidly as Chupin had said.

Two circumstances, which it was impossible to foresee, disarranged
Lacheneur's plans.

Standing beside his burning house, Lacheneur counted the signal fires
that blazed out in answer to his own.

Their number corresponded to his expectations; he uttered a cry of joy.

"All our friends keep their word!" he exclaimed. "They are ready; they
are even now on their way to the rendezvous. Let us start at once, for
we must be there first!"

They brought him his horse, and his foot was already in the stirrup,
when two men sprang from the neighboring grove and darted toward him.
One of them seized the horse by the bridle.

"Abbe M