CHAPTER XVIII.

by Alexandre Dumas

　　CONTRARY to custom, the duel was very little talked about; even thepapers were silent on the subject.A few intimate friends followed the body to Père la Chaise. ChateauRenaud refused to quit Paris, although pressed to do so.At one time I thought of following Louis' letter to Corsica with onefrom myself, but although my intentions were good, the misleadingstatements I should have to make were so repugnant to me that I didnot do so. Besides, I was quite convinced that Louis himself had fullyweighed before he had decided upon his course of action.So at the risk of being thought indifferent, or even ungrateful, Ikept silence, and I was sure that the Baron Giordano had done as much.Five days after the duel, at about eleven o'clock in the evening, Iwas seated by my table in a rather melancholy frame of mind, when myservant entered and shutting the door quickly behind him said, in anagitated whisper, that M. de Franchi desired to speak with me.I looked at him steadily; he was quite pale."Whom did you say, Victor?" I asked."Oh, monsieur, in truth I hardly know myself.""What M. de Franchi wishes to speak to me?""Monsieur's friend. The gentleman who was here two or three times.""You are mad, my good man. Do you not know that I had the misfortuneto lose my friend five days ago?""Yes, sir; and that is the reason I am so upset. He rang, I was in theante-chamber, and opened the door, but recoiled at his appearance.However, he entered, and asked if you were at home. I replied that youwere, and then he said, 'Go and announce M. de Franchi, who wishes tospeak with your master,' and so I came.""You are stupid, Victor, the ante-chamber is not properly lighted. Youwere asleep, no doubt, and did not hear correctly. Go, and ask thegentleman his name.""It would be useless, sir. I swear to you I am not deceived. I heardhim, and saw him, distinctly.""Then go and show him in."Victor turned tremblingly to the door, opened it, and then standingstill in the room, said--"Will monsieur be kind enough to come in?"I immediately heard the footsteps of my visitor crossing theante-chamber, and sure enough, at the door there appeared M. deFranchi.I confess that I was terrified, and took a step backwards as heapproached."I trust you will excuse my appearance so late," said my visitor; "Ionly arrived ten minutes ago, and you will understand that I could notwait till tomorrow without seeing you.""Oh, my dear Lucien," I exclaimed, advancing quickly, and embracinghim. "Then it is really you." And, in spite of myself, tears reallycame into my eyes."Yes," he said, "it is I."I made a calculation of the time that had elapsed, and could scarcelyimagine that he had received the letter--it could hardly have reachedAjaccio yet."Good Heavens! then you do not know what has happened?" I exclaimed."I know all," was his reply."Victor," I said, turning towards my servant, who was still ratherembarrassed, "leave us, and return in a quarter of an hour with somesupper. You will have something to eat, and will sleep here ofcourse.""With great pleasure," he replied. "I have eaten nothing since we leftAuxerre. Then, as to lodgings, as nobody knew me in the Rue de Helder,or rather," he added, with a sad smile, "as everybody recognized methere, they declined to let me in, so I left the whole house in astate of alarm.""In fact, my dear Lucien, your resemblance to Louis is so verystriking that even I myself was just now taken aback.""How," exclaimed Victor, who had not yet ventured to leave us. "Ismonsieur the brother----""Yes," I replied, "go and get supper."Victor went out, and we found ourselves alone.I took Lucien by the hand, and leading him to an easy chair seatedmyself near him."I suppose (I began) you were on your way to Paris when the fatal newsmet you?""No, I was at Sullacaro!""Impossible! Why your brother's letter could not have reached you.""You forget the ballad of _Burger,_ my dear Alexander--_the deadtravel fast!_"I shuddered! "I do not understand," I said."Have you forgotten what I told you about the apparitions familiar toour family?""Do you mean to say that you have _seen_ your dead brother?"--"Yes."--"When?""On the night of the 16th inst.""And he told you everything?"--"All!""That he was dead?""He told me that he had been killed. The dead never lie!""And he said in what way?""In a duel.""By whom?""By M. de Chateau Renaud.""Oh no, Lucien, that cannot be," I exclaimed, "you have obtained yourinformation in some other way.""Do you think I am likely to joke at such a time?""I beg your pardon. But truly what you tell me is so strange, andeverything that relates to you and your brother so out of ordinarynature, that----""That you hesitate to believe it. Well, I can understand the feeling.But wait. My brother was hit here," he continued, as he opened hisshirt and showed me the blue mark of the bullet on his flesh, "he waswounded above the sixth rib on the right side--do you believe that?""As a matter of fact," I replied, "that is the very spot where he washit.""And the bullet went out here," continued Lucien, putting his fingerjust above his left hip."It is miraculous," I exclaimed."And now," he went on, "do you wish me to tell you the time he died?""Tell me!""At ten minutes past nine.""That will do, Lucien;" I said, "but I lose myself in questions. Giveme a connected narrative of the events. I should prefer it."