He must decide and act without delay.
The abbe was a brave man. He darted to the door, and called the servants
who were standing in the hall and on the staircase.
When they were gathered around him:
"Listen to me, intently," said he, in that quick and imperious voice
that impresses one with the certainty of approaching peril, "and
remember that your master's life depends, perhaps, upon your discretion.
We can rely upon you, can we not?"
Every hand was raised as if to call upon God to witness their fidelity.
"In less than an hour," continued the priest, "the soldiers sent in
pursuit of the fugitives will be here. Not a word must be uttered in
regard to what has passed this evening. Everyone must be led to suppose
that I went away with the baron and returned alone. Not one of you
must have seen Mademoiselle Lacheneur. We are going to find a place of
concealment for her. Remember, my friends, if there is the slightest
suspicion of her presence here, all is lost. If the soldiers question
you, endeavor to convince them that Monsieur Maurice has not left the
house this evening.
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