"My dear girl," Dossonville responded, with much good humor, "believe me, I am not dead; and, what's more, I never have been dead that I remember."
"But—"
"Mordieu, Nicole! are you determined to exterminate me?" Dossonville cried. "Let us reason. You saw me at the gate, but you didn't see me cut down, did you?"
"No."
"Then I reject your theory."
The three burst out laughing, until Dossonville suddenly exclaimed:
"But come, Louison must have told you."
"Louison!" echoed Barabant and Nicole, more and more amazed.
"Extraordinary woman! She can even keep a secret then!" Dossonville cried. "Why, it was Louison who found me in the crowd and piloted me to safety."