She resolved to place herself under no obligation to Marie-Anne Lacheneur.
"Very well," said she, "we will descend." Her former friend checked her.
"No," said she, "no! This is not the place for a young girl." "For an honest young girl, you should say," replied Blanche, with a sneer.
Chanlouineau was standing only a few feet from the speaker with his gun in his hand.

If a man had uttered those words he would have been instantly killed.

Marie-Anne did not deign to notice them.
"Mademoiselle will turn back," she said, calmly; "and as she can reach 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.