The crowd was in fact so great that they were forced to
make their way through two hedges of Chouans. Francine no longer
strove to detain her mistress, and after giving a few last touches to
a costume the greatest charm of which was its exquisite freshness, she
stationed herself in the courtyard that she might not abandon this
beloved mistress to her fate without being able to fly to her succor;
for the poor girl foresaw only evil in these events.
A strange scene was taking place in Montauran's chamber as Marie was
on her way to the ball. The young marquis, who had just finished
dressing, was putting on the broad red ribbon which distinguished him
as first in rank of the assembly, when the Abbe Gudin entered the room
with an anxious air.
"Monsieur le marquis, come quickly," he said. "You alone can quell a
tumult which has broken out, I don't know why, among the leaders. They
talk of abandoning the king's cause. I think that devil of a Rifoel is
at the bottom of it. Such quarrels are always caused by some mere
nonsense. Madame du Gua reproached him, so I hear, for coming to the
ball ill-dressed."
"That woman must be crazy," cried the marquis, "to try to--"
"Rifoel retorted," continued the abbe, interrupting his chief, "that
if you had given him the money promised him in the king's name--"
"Enough, enough; I understand it all now.
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