debris out of the windows, pillaging and degrading everything that came to hand.
Laurent outran them into the neighboring room; it was dark and deserted. He penetrated into a third salon; nobody there; into the dining room. Again nobody; he ransacked the orangery and the conservatory without meeting a living soul.
Others, however, followed him. Weary of breaking everything, they wanted to do their business with Béjard. Laurent rushed out into the vestibule, saw the staircase, and mounted it four steps at a time.
He reached the first floor landing, penetrated into the bedrooms, a dressing room, and another room. Nobody. He called, "Gina! Gina!" Not even the ghost of Gina! He continued his search, rummaging all the corners, opening closets and wardrobes, looking under the beds. And still nothing! She was not on the upper floors, or in the garret. Coming downstairs in despair he ran into the ringleaders, who were still howling for Béjard. For a very little they would have accused Paridael of having let his enemy escape. Happily, Vingerhout came along just in time to take him out of their hands.
Outside the tumult was augmenting. Laurent walked out into the garden and visited the stables with no greater success.
Finally he resolved to quit the deserted house. In the street, where hundreds of spectators among the rioters watched the sacking of this luxurious home with sanctimonious curiosity, he learned from the servants that the master and mistress were dining with Madame Athanasius Saint-Fardier. Reassured, he was about to leave the theatre of the saturnalia when he heard a furious galloping resounding in the distance.
