CONTRARY to custom, the duel¹ was very little talked about; even the papers were silent on the subject.  
A few intimate friends followed the body to Père la Chaise. Chateau² Renaud refused to quit Paris, although pressed to do so.
 
At one time I thought of following Louis’ letter to Corsica with one from myself, but although my intentions were good, the misleading statements I should have to make were so repugnant to me that I did not do so. Besides, I was quite convinced that Louis himself had fully³ weighed before he had decided⁴ upon his course of action.
 
So at the risk of being thought indifferent, or even ungrateful, I kept silence, and I was sure that the Baron⁵ Giordano had done as much.
 
Five days after the duel, at about eleven o’clock in the evening, I was seated by my table in a rather melancholy⁶ frame of mind, when my servant entered and shutting the door quickly behind him said, in an agitated⁷ whisper, that M. de Franchi desired to speak with me.
 
I looked at him steadily⁸; 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 misfortune to lose my friend five days ago?”
 
“Yes, sir; and that is the reason I am so upset. He rang, I was in the ante-chamber, and opened the[Pg 115] door, but recoiled⁹ at his appearance. However, he entered, and asked if you were at home. I replied that you were, and then he said, ‘Go and announce M. de Franchi, who wishes to speak with your master,’ and so I came.”
 
“You are stupid, Victor, the ante-chamber is not properly lighted. You were asleep, no doubt, and did not hear correctly. Go, and ask the gentleman his name.”
 
“It would be useless, sir. I swear to you I am not deceived. I heard him, and saw him, distinctly.”
 
“Then go and show him in.”
 
Victor turned tremblingly to the door, opened it, and then standing¹⁰ still in the room, said—
 
“Will monsieur be kind enough to come in?”
 
I immediately heard the footsteps of my visitor crossing the ante-chamber, and sure enough, at the door there appeared M. de Franchi.
 
I confess that I was terrified, and took a step backwards¹¹ as he approached.
 
“I trust you will excuse my appearance so late,” said my visitor; “I only arrived ten minutes ago, and you will understand that I could not wait till tomorrow without seeing you.”
 
“Oh, my dear Lucien,” I exclaimed, advancing quickly, and embracing him. “Then it is really you.” And, in spite of myself, tears really came into my eyes.
 
“Yes,” he said, “it is I.”
 
I made a calculation of the time that had elapsed, and could scarcely imagine that he had received the letter—it could hardly have reached Ajaccio yet.
 
“Good Heavens! then you do not know what has happened?” I exclaimed.
 
“I know all,” was his reply.
 
“Victor,” I said, turning toward............