collusion； and took care to say nothing about it to the First Consul。
He preferred to make Malin his instrument rather than destroy him。 It
was Fouche's habit to keep to himself a good part of the secrets he
detected； and he thus obtained for his own purposes a power over those
concerned which was even greater than that of Bonaparte。 This
duplicity was one of the Emperor's charges against his minister。
Fouche knew of the swindling transaction by which Malin became
possessed of Gondreville and which led him to keep his eyes so
anxiously on the Simeuse brothers。 These gentlemen were now serving in
the army of Conde； Mademoiselle de Cinq…Cygne was their cousin；
possibly they were in her neighborhood； and were sharers in the
conspiracy； if so； it would implicate the house of Conde to which they
were devoted。 Talleyrand and Fouche were bent on casting light into
this dark corner of the conspiracy of 1803。 All these considerations
Fouche saw at a glance； rapidly and with great clearness。 But between
Malin； Talleyrand； and himself there were strong ties which forced him
to the utmost circumspection； and made him anxious to know the exact
state of things within the walls of Gondreville。 Corentin was
unreservedly attached to Fouche； just as Monsieur de la Besnardiere
was to Talleyrand； Gentz to Monsieur de Metternich； Dundas to Pitt；
Duroc to Napoleon； Chavigny to Cardinal Richelieu。 Corentin was not
the counsellor of his master； but his instrument； the Tristan to this
Louis XI。 of low estate。 Fouche had kept him in the ministry of the
police when he himself left it； so as to still keep an eye and a
finger in it。 It was said that Corentin belonged to Fouche by some
unavowed relationship； for he rewarded him lavishly after every
service。 Corentin had a friend in Peyrade； the old pupil of the last
lieutenant of police； but he kept a good many of his secrets from him。
Fouche gave Corentin an order to explore the chateau of Gondreville；
to get the plan of it into his memory； and to know every hiding…place
within its walls。
〃We may be obliged to return there；〃 said the ex…minister； precisely
as Napoleon told his lieutenants to explore the field of Austerlitz on
which he intended to fall back。
Corentin was also to study Malin's conduct； discover what influence he
had in the neighborhood； and observe the men he employed。 Fouche
regarded it as certain that the Simeuse brothers were in that part of
the country。 By cautiously watching the two officers； who were closely
allied with the Prince de Conde； Peyrade and Corentin could obtain
precious light on the ramifications of the conspiracy beyond the
Rhine。 In any case； however； Corentin received the means； the orders；
and the agents； to surround the chateau of Cinq…Cygne and watch the
whole region； from the forest of Nodesme into Paris。 Fouche insisted
on the utmost caution； and would only allow a domiciliary visit to
Cinq…Cygne in case Malin gave them positive information which made it
necessary。 By way of instructions he explained to Corentin the
otherwise inexplicable personality of Michu； who had been watched by
the police for the last three years。 Corentin's idea was that of his
master： 〃Malin knows all about the conspiracyBut；〃 he added to
himself； 〃perhaps Fouche does； too； who knows？〃
Corentin； having started for Troyes before Malin； had made
arrangements with the commandant of the gendarmerie in that town； who
picked out a number of his most intelligent men and placed them under
orders of an able captain。 Corentin chose Gondreville as the place of
rendezvous； and directed the captain to send some of his men at night
in four detachments to different points of the valley of Cinq…Cygne at
sufficient distance from each other to cause no alarm。 These four
pickets were to form a square and close in around the chateau of Cinq…
Cygne。 By leaving Corentin alone at Gondreville during his
consultation in the fields with Grevin； Malin had enabled him to
fulfil part of Fouche's orders and explore the house。 When the
Councillor of State returned home he told Corentin so positively that
the d'Hauteserre and Simeuse brothers were in the neighborhood and
probably at Cinq…Cygne that the two agents despatched the captain with
the rest of his company； who； fortunately for the four gentlemen；
crossed the forest on their way to the chateau during the time when
Michu was making Violette drunk。 Malin had told Corentin and Peyrade
of the escape he had from lying in wait for him。 The two agents
related the incident of the gun they had seen the bailiff load； and
Grevin had sent Violette to obtain information as to what was going on
at Michu's house。 Corentin advised the notary to take Malin to his own
house in the little town of Arcis； and let him sleep there as a
measure of precaution。 At the moment when Michu and his wife were
rushing through the forest on their way to Cinq…Cygne； Peyrade and
Corentin were starting from Gondreville for Cinq…Cygne in a shabby
wicker carriage； drawn by one post…horse driven by the corporal of
Arcis； one of the shrewdest men in the Legion； whom the commandant at
Troyes advised them to employ。
〃The surest way to seize them all is to warn them；〃 said Peyrade to
Corentin。 〃At the moment when they are well frightened and are trying
to save their papers or to escape we'll fall upon them like a
thunderbolt。 The gendarmes surround the chateau now and are as good as
a net。 We sha'n't lose one of them！〃
〃You had better send the mayor to warn them；〃 said the corporal。 〃He
is friendly to them and wouldn't like to see them harmed； they won't
distrust him。〃
Just as Goulard was preparing to go to bed； Corentin； who stopped the
vehicle in a little wood； went to his house and told him；
confidentially； that in a few moments an emissary from the government
would require him to enter the chateau of Cinq…Cygne and arrest the
brothers d'Hauteserre and Simeuse； and in case they had already
disappeared he would have to ascertain if they had slept there the
night before； search Mademoiselle de Cinq…Cygne's papers； and；
possibly； arrest both the masters and servants of the household。
〃Mademoiselle de Cinq…Cygne；〃 said Corentin； 〃is undoubtedly protected
by some great personages； for I have received private orders to warn
her of this visit； and to do all I can to save her without
compromising myself。 Once on the ground； I shall no longer be able to
do so； for I am not alone； go to the chateau yourself and warn them。〃
The mayor's visit at that time of night was all the more bewildering
to the card…players when they saw the agitation of his face。
〃Where is the countess？〃 were his first words。
〃She has gone to bed；〃 said Madame d'Hauteserre。
The mayor； incredulous； listened to noises that were heard on the
upper floor。
〃What is the matter with you； Goulard？〃 said Monsieur d'Hauteserre。
Goulard was dumb with surprise as he noted the tranquil ease of the
faces about him。 Observing the peaceful and innocent game of cards
which he had thus interrupted； he was unable to imagine what the
Parisian police meant by their suspicions。
At that moment Laurence； kneeling in her oratory； was praying
fervently for the success of the conspiracy。 She prayed to God to send
help and succor to the murderers of Bonaparte。 She implored Him
ardently to destroy that fatal being。 The fanaticism of Harmodius；
Judith； Jacques Clement； Ankarstroem； of Charlotte Corday and
Limoelan； inspired this pure and virgin spirit。 Catherine was
preparing the bed； Gothard was closing the blinds； when Marthe Michu
coming under the windows flung a pebble on the glass and was seen at
once。
〃Mademoiselle； here's some one；〃 said Gothard； seeing a woman。
〃Hush！〃 said Marthe； in a low voice。 〃Come down and speak to me。〃
Gothard was in the garden in less time than a bird would have taken to
fly down from a tree。
〃In a minute the chateau will be surrounded by the gendarmerie。 Saddle
mademoiselle's horse without making any noise and take it down through
the breach in the moat between the stables and this tower。〃
Marthe quivered when she saw Laurence； who had followed Gothard；
standing beside her。
〃What is it？〃 asked Laurence； quietly。
〃The conspiracy against the First Consul is discovered；〃 replied
Marthe； in a whisper。 〃My husband； who seeks to save your two cousins；
sends me to ask you to come and speak to him。〃
Laurence drew back and looked at Marthe。 〃Who are you？〃 she said。
〃Marthe Michu。〃
〃I do not know what you want of me；〃 replied the countess； coldly。
〃Take care； you will kill them。 Come with me； I implore you in the
Simeuse name；〃 said Marthe； clasping her hands and stretching them
towards Laurence。 〃Have you papers here which may compromise you？ If
so； destroy them。 From the heights over there my husband has just seen
the silver…laced hats and the muskets of the gendarmerie。〃
Gothard had already clambered to the hay…loft and seen the same sight；
he heard in the stillness of the evening the sound of their horses'
hoofs。 Down he slipped into the stable and saddled his mistress's
mare； whose feet Catherine； at a word from the lad； muffled in linen。
〃Where am I to go？〃 said Laurence to Marthe； whose look and language
bore the unmistakable signs of sincerity。
〃Through the breach；〃 she replied； 〃my noble husband is there。 You
shall learn the value of a 'Judas'！〃
Catherine went quickly into the salon； picked up the hat； veil； whip；
and gloves of her mistress； and disappeared。 This sudden apparition
and action were so striking a commentary on the mayor's inquiry that
Madame d'Hauteserre and the abbe exchanged glances which contained the
melancholy thought： 〃Farewell to all our peace！ Laurence is
conspiring； she will be the death of her cousins。〃
〃But what do you really mean？〃 said Monsieur d'Hauteserre to the
mayor。
〃The chateau is surrounded。 You are about to receive a domiciliary
visit。 If your sons are here tell them to escape； and the Simeuse
brothers too； if they are with them。〃
〃My sons！〃 exclaimed Madame d'Hauteserre； stupefied。
〃We have seen no one；〃 said Monsieur d'Hauteserre。
〃So much the better；〃 said Goulard； 〃but I care too much for t