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his lips. It was useless to send for a surgeon. Chateau-Renard had withdrawn, but his seconds hastened to express their horror at the fatal ending of the combat. Chateaugrand added that he hoped M. de Franchi bore no malice against his opponent. "No, no, I forgive him!" said Louis. "But tell him to leave Paris. He must go." The dying man spoke with difficulty. He reminded me of my promise, and asked me, as he fell back, to look at my watch. It was exactly ten minutes past nine, and Louis was dead. We carried the body back to the house, and Giordano made the required statement to the District Commissioner of Police. Then the house was sealed by the police, and Louis de Franchi was laid to rest in Pere-La-chaise. But M. de Chateau-Renard could not be persuaded to leave Paris, though MM. de Boissy and de Chateaugrand both did their best to induce him to go. _IV.--Lucien Takes Vengeance_ One night, five days after the funeral, I was working late at my writing-table, when my servant entered, and told me in a frightened tone that M. de Franchi wanted to speak to me. "Who?" I said, in astonishment. "M. de Franchi, sir, your friend--the gentleman who has been here once or twice to see you." "You must be out of your senses, Victor! Don't you know that he died five days ago?" "Yes, sir; and that's why I am so upset. I heard a ring at the bell, and when I opened the door, he walked in, asked if you were at home, and told me to tell you that M. de Franchi desired to speak with you." "Are you out of your mind, my good man? I suppose the hall is badly lit, and you were half-asleep and heard the name wrong. Go back and ask the name again." "No, sir, I will swear that I'm not mistaken. I'm sure I heard and saw perfectly." "Very well, then, show him in." Victor went back to the door, trembling all the time, and said, "Please step in, sir." My hasty sensation of terror was quickly dispelled. It was Lucien who was apologising to me for disturbing me at such an hour. "The fact is," he said, "I only arrived ten minutes ago, and you will understand how impossible it was not to come and see you at once." I at once thought of the letter I had sent. In five days it could not have reached Sullacro. "Good heaven!" I cried. "Nothing is known to you?" "Everything is known," he said quietly. Lucien mentioned that on going to his brother's house, the people were so panic-stricken that they ref
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