When he is established at the now-thriving school, he attempts and--thanks to Aline and Mme. de Plougastel (a relative of his godfather whom he has seen only once in his life but who has taken an almost maternal interest in him)--succeeds in a reconciliation with his godfather. The reconciliation, however, is brief when Moreau's friends, after learning of his swordsmanship, convince him to take a seat in the Estates-General of 1789. They face the scourge of "spadassinicides", aristocratic senators who have been provoking the inexperienced republicans to fight duels and then wounding or killing them, just as the Marquis did to Vilmorin, and indeed La Tour d'Azyr is the chief "spadassinicide". Andre-Louis turns the tables and succeeds in killing or seriously wounding all who challenge him. Finally, Moreau manages to goad the Marquis to challenge him to a duel; at last, he can confront the murderer of his childhood friend Vilmorin. Having heard of this, Mme. de Plougastel goes with Aline to stop the duel. They do not arrive in time, seeing the Marquis leaving the duel wounded, though not fatally. Andre-Louis becomes a full-time member of the National Assembly, while the Marquis becomes a counter-revolutionary. In 1792, Paris is up in arms and the Tuileries are stormed by a mob. Mme. de Plougastel and Aline are there and in grave danger, as the former's husband is a counter-revolutionary. Moreau, returning from an errand in Brittany, is informed that his godfather is in need of travel permits to allow these two women to leave Paris, and he travels to Gavrillac to visit Kercadiou. Kercadiou tells him of the plight of Aline and Plougastel in Paris. Moreau agrees to rescue Aline, but does not agree to help Mme. de Plougastel until Kercadiou reveals to Andre-Louis that Mme. de Plougastel is his mother. Moreau secures and brings the needed travel permits to the women. However, before he arrives, La Tour d'Azyr, on the run from the mob, seeks shelter in the same apartment as the women. He and Andre-Louis draw pistols on each other. Mme. de Plougastel is forced to reveal that the Marquis is Moreau's father.