Meanwhile Dixmer had hurled Gilbert back into the prison, and would have entered with him, but Duchesne, leaning against the door, prevented him. But he was unable to close it, for Dixmer, in despair, had placed his arm between the gate and the wall.
In his hand he still retained the poniard, which in the contest, checked by the buckle of the belt, had glided over the gendarme's breast, tearing open his coat and lacerating his flesh.
The two gendarmes encouraged each other to reunite their efforts, at the same time calling loudly for assistance.
Dixmer felt his arm must break; he placed his shoulder against the door, shook it violently, and succeeded in withdrawing his bruised arm.
The door closed with a great noise; Duchesne pushed the bolts, while Gilbert turned the key.
A rapid step was heard in the corridor, then all was over. The two gendarmes looked at each other, and searched everywhere around them.
They detected the sound of the assumed turnkey wrenching the bar.
Gilbert rushed into the queen's chamber, where he found Geneviève entreating her Majesty on her knees to exchange clothes with her.
Duchesne seized his gun and ran to the window; he discovered a man hanging to the bar, which he shook with rage, and tried in vain to scale.