It has been first arranged that immediately after the marriage they should make a short tour; but in spite of this, they still lingered at Mussidan; and all that Diana could do was to keep this previous determination before her husband, without making any direct attack.
The blow came at last, and was more unexpected and terrible than she had anticipated.

On the afternoon of the 26th of October, as Diana was gazing from her window, an excited crowd rushed into the courtyard of the Chateau, followed by four men bearing a litter covered with a sheet, under which could be distinguished the rigid limbs of a dead body, while a cruel crimson stain upon one side of the white covering too plainly showed that some one had met with a violent death.
The hideous sight froze Diana with terror, and it was impossible for her to leave the window or quit the object on the litter, which seemed to have a terrible fascination for her.

That very morning her husband, accompanied by his friend the Baron de Clinchain, Montlouis, and a servant named Ludovic, had gone out for a day's shooting.

It was evident that something had happened to one of the party; which of them could it be?
The doubt was not of very long duration; for at that moment her husband entered the courtyard, supported by M.de Clinchain and Ludovic.
His face was deadly pale, and he seemed scarcely able to drag one leg after the other.

The dead man therefore must be Montlouis.