Chicot glided under the balcony, then behind a pillar, and waited.
Hardly had he installed himself there, when the door opposite was opened immediately the unknown had whispered a word through the keyhole, and yet he did not venture beyond the threshold.
A moment afterward the lady appeared within the doorway.
She took hold of the cavalier's arm, who led her to the litter, closed the door of it, and then mounted his horse.
"There is no doubt on the subject," said Chicot, "it is the husband, a good-natured fellow of a husband after all, since he does not think it worth his while to explore the house in order to be revenged on my friend Carmainges."
The litter then moved off, the cavalier walking his horse beside the door of it.
"Pardieu!" said Chicot, "I must follow those people and learn who they are, and where they are going; I shall at all events draw some solid counsel from my discovery for my friend Carmainges."
Chicot accordingly followed the cortege, observing the precaution, however, of keeping in the shadow of the walls, and taking care that the noise made by the footsteps of the men and of the horses should render the sound of his own inaudible.
Chicot's surprise was by no means slight when he saw the litter stop at the door of the "Brave Chevalier."
Almost immediately afterward, as if some one had been on the watch, the door was opened.