Contents
Chapter 98.
Overview
Andrea flees the broken betrothal, stealing jewels from Eugénie’s corbeille and racing north toward the frontier. Cornered at the Bell and Bottle in Compiègne, he attempts a rooftop–chimney escape that drops him into Eugénie and Louise’s room. Exposed and arrested, he is sent to the Conciergerie, while the women proceed to Brussels.
Summary
After the contract scene collapses, Andrea Cavalcanti slips through the salon, pauses at the displayed trousseau, and steals the most valuable ornaments. He escapes by window, hires a cab with bribes, and drives hard toward Louvres, pretending to chase a friend bound for Chapelle‑en‑Serval.
Failing to overtake anyone, Andrea dismisses the cab, walks by night, then hires a horse at Chapelle‑en‑Serval using a dropped visiting card to misdirect suspicion. He reaches Compiègne before dawn and takes a room at the Bell and Bottle, planning to disguise himself as a woodcutter and slip across the frontier, financing flight with the stolen diamonds and cash.
At daybreak, telegraph alarms send gendarmes to the inn. Spotting sentries at stair and gate, Andrea writes a decoy note, leaves his pin as “pledge,” and climbs the chimney to the roof. When the brigadier tests his room’s flue with fire, Andrea crawls down another chimney—into Room No. 3, occupied by Eugénie Danglars and Louise d’Armilly, who awaken and raise the alarm.
Andrea begs concealment; Louise urges him to flee; Eugénie icily suggests suicide. The brigadier smashes the door, and Andrea, abandoning resistance, surrenders to be manacled, taunting Eugénie as he is led away. The public commotion shames the women, who depart in feminine dress amid gossip.
By the next day, Eugénie and Louise arrive in Brussels, while Andrea is incarcerated in the Conciergerie to face justice for his crimes, ending his brief ascent through Parisian society.
Who Appears
- undefinedFlees the failed marriage, steals the corbeille jewels, attempts a chimney escape, and surrenders to gendarmes at Compiègne.
- Eugénie DanglarsAwakened by Andrea’s fall into her room; denounces him and scornfully urges suicide; departs toward Brussels.
- Louise d’ArmillyWith Eugénie; raises the alarm, then pities Andrea and urges him to flee; continues to Brussels.
- undefinedLeads the search at the inn, tests the chimney, breaks into Room No. 3, and arrests Andrea.
- undefinedAccompanies the brigadier during the search and arrest at the Bell and Bottle.
- undefinedAdmits Andrea, assigns rooms, and assists authorities during the morning search.
- undefinedHired and overworked by Andrea during his initial nighttime flight from Paris.
- undefinedRents Andrea a horse; misled by a dropped visiting card; sends his child to fetch the horse back.