I saw Croisette stoop to enter and as quickly fall back a pace.

Why?
In a moment it flashed across my mind that we were too late that the Vidame had been before us.
And yet how quiet it all was.
Then I breathed freely again.

I saw that Croisette had only stepped back to avoid some one who was coming out--the Coadjutor in fact.

The moment the entrance was clear, the lad shot in, and the others after him, the priest taking no notice of them, nor they of him.
I was for going in too, when I felt Madame d'O's hand tighten suddenly on my arm, and then fall from it.

Apprised of something by this, I glanced at the priest's face, catching sight of it by chance just as his eyes met hers.