“How can we set about to find her?”

“If that is all, I have a servant who knows people in that part of the country, and who knows how to go about things:  if you like, he shall go in quest of her.”

“If I like?  This very moment.”

The same evening the servant started on his errand with the count’s instructions, not forgetting those of his master.  He went at full speed.  It may readily be supposed that he had not far to seek the woman he was to bring back with him; but he purposely kept away for three days, and at the end of this time Louise Goillard was installed in the chateau.

She was a woman of plain and severe exterior, who at once inspired confidence in everyone.  The plots of the marquis and Madame de Bouille thus throve with most baneful success; but an accident happened which threatened to nullify them, and, by causing a great disaster, to prevent a crime.

The countess, passing into her apartments, caught her foot in a carpet, and fell heavily on the floor.  At the cries of a footman all the household was astir.  The countess was carried to bed; the most intense alarm prevailed; but no bad consequences followed this accident, which produced only a further succession of visits from the neighbouring gentry.  This happened about the end of the seventh month.

At length the moment of accouchement came.  Everything had long before been arranged for the delivery, and nothing remained to be done.  The marquis had employed all this time in strengthening Madame de Bouille against her scruples.  He often saw Louise Goillard in private, and gave her his instructions; but he perceived that the corruption of Baulieu, the house steward, was an essential factor.  Baulieu was already half gained over by the interviews of the year preceding; a large sum of ready money and many promises did the rest.  This wretch was not ashamed to join a plot against a master to whom he owed everything.  The marchioness for her part, and always under the instigation of M. de Saint-Maixent, secured matters all round by bringing into the abominable plot the Quinet girls, her maids; so that there was nothing but treason and conspiracy against this worthy family among their upper servants, usually styled confidential.  Thus, having prepared matters, the conspirators awaited the event.

On the 16th of August the Countess de Saint-Geran was overtaken by the pangs of labour in the chapel of the chateau, where she was hearing mass.  They carried her to her room before mass was over, her women ran around her, and the countess dowager with her own hands arranged on her head a cap of the pattern worn by ladies about to be confined—­a cap which is not usually removed till some time later.

The pains recurred with terrible intensity.  The count wept at his wife’s cries.  Many persons were present.  The dowager’s two daughters by her second marriage, one of whom, then sixteen years of age, afterwards married the Duke de Ventadour and was a party to the lawsuit, wished to be present at this accouchement, which was to perpetuate by a new scion an illustrious race near extinction.  There were also Dame Saligny, sister of the late Marshal Saint-Geran, the Marquis de Saint-Maixent, and the Marchioness de Bouille.