The porter's wife was on her way to summon the gendarmerie from Arcis.

Violette at once informed Grevin of his meeting with Laurence and the sudden flight of the daring girl, whose strong and decided character was known to all of them.
"She was keeping watch," said Violette.
"Is it possible that those Cinq-Cygne people have done this thing ?" cried Grevin.
"Do you mean to say you didn't recognize that stout Michu ?" exclaimed Violette.

"It was he who attacked me; I knew his fist.

Besides, they rode the Cinq-Cygne horses." Noticing the hoof-marks on the sand of the _rond-point_ and along the park road the notary stationed the forester at the gateway to see to the preservation of these precious traces until the justice of peace of Arcis (for whom he now sent Violette) could take note of them.
He himself returned hastily to the chateau, where the lieutenant and sub-lieutenant of the Imperial gendarmerie at Arcis had arrived, accompanied by four men and a corporal.

The lieutenant was the same man whose head Francois Michu had broken two years earlier, and who had heard from Corentin the name of his mischievous assailant.