emained in this sad scene, Rodolph, his daughter, and the Chourineur,
bathed in his blood. The two servants of the prince had seated him on
the ground, with his back to a tree.

All this passed more quickly than it can be described, and at a few
paces from the _guinguette_ from which the Skeleton and his band had
issued.

The prince, pale and agitated, held in his arms Fleur-de-Marie, half
fainting, whilst the postilions were repairing the harness broken in the
scuffle.

"Quick!" said the prince to his servants engaged in aiding the
Chourineur, "convey this poor fellow to the cabaret; and you," he added,
turning to the courier, "get on the box, and gallop back for Doctor
David at the hotel; you will find him there, as he does not leave until
eleven o'clock."

The carriage went away at a great speed, and the two servants conveyed
the Chourineur to the low apartment in which the orgies had taken place;
several of the women were still there.

"My poor, dear child!" said Rodolph, to his daughter, "let me take you
to some room in this place where you can await me, for I cannot abandon
this brave fellow, who has again saved my life."

"Oh, my dearest father, I entreat you do not leave me!" exclaimed
Fleur-de-Marie, with alarm, and seizing Rodolph's arm. "Do not leave me
alone! I should die with fright! Where you go I will go!"

"But this frightful spectacle?"

"Yes, thanks to this worthy man, you still live for me, my father, and
therefore allow me to join you in thanking and consoling him."

The prince's perplexity was very great. His daughter evinced so much
just fear of remaining alone in a room in this low haunt that he made up
his mind to allow her to enter with him into the apartment, where they
found the Chourineur.

The mistress of the tavern and many of the women who had remained (and
amongst whom was the ogress of the _tapis-franc_) had hastily laid the
wounded man on a mattress, and then stanched and bound his wound with
napkins. The Chourineur opened his eyes as Rodolph entered. At the sight
of the prince his features, pale with approaching death, became
animated. He smiled painfully, and said in a low voice:

"Ah, M. Rodolph, it was very fortunate I was there!"

"Brave and devoted as ever!" said the prince, in an accent of despair.
"Again you have saved my life!"

"I was going to the barrier of--Charenton--to try and see you go by--see
you for the last time. Fortunately--I was unable to get in for