al cause. It had been confided to him under
pledge of secrecy by his guest, the duke's _valet de chambre_.

"It is certainly an incredible story, gentlemen," he said;
"nevertheless, it is true. Two officers belonging to the Montaignac
militia, on returning from their expedition this morning at daybreak,
on passing the Croix d'Arcy, found a man, clad in the uniform of the
Emperor's body-guard, lying dead in the fosse."

Maurice shuddered.

The unfortunate man, he could not doubt, was the brave old soldier who
had spoken to Lacheneur.

"Naturally," pursued M. Laugeron, "the two officers examined the body of
the dead man. Between his lips they found a paper, which they opened and
read. It was a list of all the conspirators in the village. The brave
man, knowing he was mortally wounded, endeavored to destroy this fatal
list; but the agonies of death prevented him from swallowing it----"

But the abbe and Maurice had not time to listen to the commentaries with
which the hotel proprietor accompanied his recital.

They despatched a messenger to Mme. d'Escorval and to Marie-Anne,
in order to reassure them, and, without losing a moment, and fully
determined to brave all, they went to the house occupied by the Duc de
Sairmeuse.

A crowd had gathered about the door. At least a hundred persons were
standing there; men with anxious faces, women in tears, soliciting,
imploring an audience.

They were the friends and relatives of the unfortunate men who had been
arrested.

Two footmen, in gorgeous livery and pompous in bearing, had all they
could do to keep back the struggling throng.

The abbe, hoping that his priestly dress would win him a hearing,
approached and gave his name. But he was repulsed like the others.

"Monsieur le Duc is busy, and can receive no one," said the servant.
"Monsieur le Duc is preparing his report for His Majesty."

And in support of this assertion, he pointed to the horses, standing
saddled in the court-yard, and the couriers who were to bear the
despatches.

The priest sadly rejoined his companions.

"We must wait!" said he.

Intentionally or not, the servants were deceiving these poor people. The
duke, just then, was not troubling himself about despatches. A violent
altercation was going on between the Marquis de Courtornieu and himself.

Each of these noble personages aspired to the leading role--the one
which would be most generously rewarded, undoubtedly. It was a conflict
of ambi