"It is too late, cousin," replied the marquis, rising. "Justice is done!"
D'Alvimar was nailed to the earth by the marquis's long rapier; he had ceased to live.
Adamas had swooned.
At the cry of mercy, Bois-Doré's servants had hurried to the spot. The marquis was leaning against a rock, breathless and exhausted. But he showed no weakness, and, the moon having emerged from the cloud, he stood erect again to look at the body, and stooped to touch it.
"He is quite dead!" said Guillaume in a reproachful tone. "You have killed a friend of mine, monsieur, and I am unable to congratulate you upon it; for your suspicions must be unjust."
"I will prove to you that they were not, Guillaume," replied Bois-Doré, with a dignity which shook his kinsman's confidence anew; "until then, suspend your displeasure against me and your regrets for this wicked man. When you know the truth, perhaps you will regret having compelled me to risk my life in order to take his."
"But what shall we do with this unfortunate body now?" said Guillaume, downcast and dismayed.
"I will not leave you in any difficulty on my account," said Bois-Doré. "My men will carry it to the Carmelite convent of La Châtre, where the monks will give it such burial as they choose. I have no idea of concealing from anyone what I have done, especially as I still have to punish the other assassin. But I cannot perform that distasteful task in cold blood, and I propose to turn him over to the provost's lieutenant, so that exemplary punishment may be dealt out to him. You will escort him thither, Adamas. Why, where is my trusty Adamas?"
"Alas, monsieur," replied Adamas in a cavernous voice, "here I am at your knees, and very ill over this affair. For a moment I thought that you were dead, and I believe that I was dead myself for a good quarter of an hour. Do not send me anywhere; I have no legs, and I feel as if I had a millwheel in my head."
"Well, my poor fellow, if you are not good for anything more we will send somebody else. I told you that you were too old to endure excitement!"