Captain Delaitre at first demurred at the idea of deferring his journey; but at last their departure was fixed for the following day, October 3d, at nightfall.  A heated discussion ensued.  Langelley noticed that Vannier, Allain, Placene and the others did not approve of Mme. Acquet’s decision.  They were all certain that she ran not the slightest risk by remaining in Caen, inasmuch as there would never be a judge to prosecute nor a tribunal to condemn her.  Delaitre replied that it was precisely to guard against the indulgence of the Calvados authorities, that an imperial decree had laid the affair before the special court at Rouen; but the lawyer who could not see his last chance of laying hands on the Buquets’ treasure disappear without feeling some annoyance, replied that nothing must be decided without the advice of their friends.  The young woman ended the discussion by declaring that she was going “because it was her mother’s wish.”

“Are you sure,” asked Chauvel, “that that really is your mother’s writing?”

She answered yes, and the gendarme said that in his opinion she was right to obey.

They then settled the details of the departure.  Langelley offered to conduct the travellers to the borders of the department of Calvados, which Delaitre knew very slightly.  Mme. Acquet was to take no luggage.  Her clothes were to be forwarded to her, care of the Captain, at the Rouen office.  The conversation took a “tone of the sincerest friendship and the greatest confidence.”  When the hour for separating came, Mme. Acquet pressed the Captain’s hand several times, saying, “Till to-morrow, then, Monsieur.”  And as she went down the stairs Chauvel remained behind with Delaitre, to make sure that the latter had brought money to pay the small debts which the fugitive had incurred with the tradesmen.

Towards eleven on the following morning Chauvel presented himself at the inn alone.  He went up at once to Delaitre’s room who asked him to lunch and sent his nephew out to get oysters.  Chauvel had come to beg Delaitre to put off his journey another day, as Mme. Acquet could not start before Sunday, the 4th.  While they were at lunch Chauvel became quite confidential.  He could not see his friend go away without regret; he alone, he said, had served her from pure devotion.  He told how, in order to put off his comrades, who had been charged by Manginot to draw up a description of the fugitive, he had intentionally made it out incorrectly, describing her “as being very stout and having fair hair.”  He talked of d’Ache whom he considered a brigand and “the sole cause of all the misfortunes which had happened to Mme. de Combray and her family.”  Finally he inquired if the Captain would consent to take Buquet and Allain to England as they were in fact two of the principal actors in the affair, and the Captain consented very willingly.  It was agreed that as soon as he had landed Mme. Acquet in England, he should return to Saint-Valery which was his port.  All Allain and Buquet had to do, was to go to Privost, the innkeeper, opposite the post at Cany on Wednesday, the 14th, and he would meet them and take them on board.