In fact the latter had been so frightened that she fell heavily to the floor in a faint.
This incident probably saved the young man's life; his blood had already begun to run cold at the sight of his adversary foaming with rage and standing between him and the door, when the noise of the fall distracted the duke's attention.
"What was that ?" he cried.

"Are there other enemies concealed here too ?" And forgetting that he was leaving a way of escape free, he rushed in the direction from which the sound came, and lunged at the tapestry-covered partition with his sword.

Meantime the chevalier, dropping all his airs of bravado, sprang from one end of the room to the other like a cat pursued by a dog; but rapid as were his movements, the duke perceived his flight, and dashed after him at the risk of breaking both his own neck and the chevalier's by a chase through unfamiliar rooms and down stairs which were plunged in darkness.
All this took place in a few seconds, like a flash of lightning.

Twice, with hardly any interval, the street door opened and shut noisily, and the two enemies were in the street, one pursued and the other pursuing.
"My God! Just to think of all that has happened is enough to make one die of fright!" said Mademoiselle de Guerchi.

"What will come next, I should like to know?
And what shall I say to the duke when he comes back ?" Just at this instant a loud cracking sound was heard in the room.
Angelique stood still, once more struck with terror, and recollecting the cry she had heard.