The uneasiness of Monsieur and Madame d'Hauteserre at the idea of keeping eleven hundred thousand francs in gold in a lonely chateau on the borders of a forest was likely to be so great that their sons advised they should know nothing about it.

The secret of the expedition was therefore confined to Gothard, Michu, Laurence, and the four gentlemen.
After much consultation it seemed possible to put forty-eight thousand francs in a long sack on the crupper of each of their horses.

Three trips would therefore bring the whole.

It was agreed to send all the servants, whose curiosity might be troublesome, to Troyes to see the shows.

Catherine, Marthe, and Durieu, who could be relied on, stayed at home in charge of the house.