Catherine and Gothard went to the salon to kiss the hands of their mistress, who lay exhausted on the sofa; Durieu also went in to tell her that Stella would recover, but needed great care.
The mayor, uneasy and inquisitive, met Peyrade and Corentin in the village.

He declared that he could not allow such important officials to breakfast in a miserable tavern, and he took them to his own house.

The abbey was only three quarters of a mile distant.

On the way, Peyrade remarked that the corporal of Arcis had sent no news of Michu or of Violette.
"We are dealing with very able people," said Corentin; "they are stronger than we.

The priest no doubt has a finger in all this." Just as the mayor's wife was ushering her guests into a vast dining-room (without any fire) the lieutenant of gendarmes arrived with an anxious air.
"We met the horse of the corporal of Arcis in the forest without his master," he said to Peyrade.
"Lieutenant," cried Corentin, "go instantly to Michu's house and find out what is going on there.