Thereupon he led the little company to the Saint-Marc quarter and knocked at the door of the Valqueyras mansion.
At the very outset of the disturbances Count de Valqueyras had left for his chateau at Corbiere.

There was no one but the Marquis de Carnavant at the Plassans house.

He, since the previous evening, had prudently kept aloof; not that he was afraid, but because he did not care to be seen plotting with the Rougons at the critical moment.

As a matter of fact, he was burning with curiosity.

He had been compelled to shut himself up in order to resist the temptation of hastening to the yellow drawing-room.