LUCIEN settled himself comfortably in his arm-chair and looking at me fixedly¹, resumed:—  
“It is very simple. The day my brother was killed I was riding very early, and went out to visit the shepherds, when soon after I had looked at my watch and replaced it in my pocket, I received a blow in the side, so violent that I fainted. When I recovered I found myself lying on the ground in the arms of the Orlandini, who was bathing my face with water. My horse was close by.
 
“ ‘Well,’ said Orlandini, ‘what has happened?’
 
“ ‘I know no more about it than you do. Did you not hear a gun fired?’
 
“ ‘No.’
 
“ ‘It appears to me that I have received a ball in the side,’ and I put my hand upon the place where I felt pain.
 
“ ‘In the first place,’ replied he ‘there has been no shot fired, and besides, there is no mark of a bullet on your clothes.’
 
“ ‘Then,’ I replied, ‘it must be my brother who is killed.’
 
“ ‘Ah, indeed,’ he replied, ‘that is a different thing.’ I opened my coat and I found a mark, only at first it was quite red and not blue as I showed you just now.
 
“For an instant I was tempted² to return to Sullacaro, feeling so upset both mentally and bodily, but I thought of my mother, who did not expect me before supper time, and I should be obliged to give her a reason for my return, and I had no reason to give.
 
“On the other hand, I did not wish to announce my brother’s death to her until I was absolutely certain of it. So I continued my way, and returned home about six o’clock in the evening.
 
“My poor mother received me as usual. She evidently had no suspicion that anything was wrong.
 
“Immediately after supper, I went upstairs, and as I passed through the corridor the wind blew my candle out.
 
“I was going downstairs to get a light when, passing my brother’s room, I noticed a gleam within.
 
“I thought that Griffo had been there and left a lamp burning.
 
“I pushed open the door; I saw a taper³ burning near my brother’s bed, and on the bed my brother lay extended, naked and bleeding.
 
“I remained for an instant, I confess, motionless with terror, then I approached.
 
“I touched the body, he was already dead.
 
“He had received a ball through the body, which had struck in the same place where I had felt the blow, and some drops of blood were still falling from the wound.
 
“It was evident to me that my brother had been shot.
 
“I fell on my knees, and leaning my head against the bed, I prayed fervently⁴.
 
“When I opened my eyes again the room was in total darkness, the taper had been extinguished, the vision had disappeared.
 
“I felt all over the bed, it was empty.
 
“Now I believe I am as brave as most people, but when I tottered⁵ out of that room I declare to you my hair was standing⁶ on end and the perspiration⁷ pouring from my forehead.
 
“I went downstairs for another candle. My mother noticed me, and uttered a cry of surprise.
 
“ ‘What is the matter with you,’ she said, ‘and why are you so pale?’
 
“ ‘There is nothing the matter,’ I replied, as I returned upstairs.
 
“This time the candle was not extinguished. I looked into my brother’s room; it was empty.
 
“The taper had completely disappeared, nor was there any trace of the body on the bed.
 
“On the ground was my first candle, which I now relighted.
 
“Notwithstanding this absence of proof, I had seen enough to be convinced that at ten minutes past nine that morning my brother had been killed. I went to bed in a very agitated⁸ frame of mind.
 
“As you may imagine, I did not sleep very well, but at length fatigue⁹ conquered my agitation¹⁰ and I got a little rest.
 
“Then all the circumstances came before me in the form of a dream. I saw the scene as it had passed. I saw the man who had killed him. I heard his name. He is called M. de Chateau¹¹ Renaud.”
 
“Alas! that is all too true,” I replied; “but what have you come to Paris for?”
 
&l............