Lacoste staged a quiet exit, leaving his wife behind as cover.

Evidence

When asked by the author why he had left Algiers before de Gaulle came to power, Lacoste explained, “I didn’t want to leave in disorder, like Soustelle—so I thought it was much better to go in discretion, and not submit enflamed Algeria to another tearing-apart demonstration like that one…. So, I went quietly—no flags—no music. I left my wife behind to give the impression that I would come back; though I had decided, once and for all, to leave.” — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 907