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." "By whom?
How ?" "Ah! there was a fatality about it! Just as we were perfecting our arrangements to capture the Duc de Sairmeuse, the duke surprised us.

We fled, but the cursed noble pursued us, overtook Carini, seized him by the collar, and dragged him to the citadel." Lacheneur was overwhelmed; the abbe's gloomy prophecy again resounded in his ears.
"So I warned my friends, and hastened to warn you," continued the officer.

"The affair is an utter failure!" He was only too correct; and Lacheneur knew it even better than he did.
But, blinded by hatred and anger, he would not acknowledge that the disaster was irreparable.
"Let Mademoiselle de Counornieu pass without hinderance." He affected a calmness which he did not in the least feel.
"You are easily discouraged, gentlemen," he said, bitterly.