Jarnonville hastened to his assistance; some cold water and a few swallows of cordial soon revived him, and he was about to continue; but Jarnonville urged him to rest a moment.
After a little while, there came a gentle tap at the door, and they heard Bathilde's voice, asking if the count could receive her, and if he wished her to bring his daughter to him.
"Not yet," said Léodgard; "I have not finished what I have to say to you. Ask the countess to return to Blanche; I will send for her."
Jarnonville, having done what the wounded man requested, returned to his bedside, saying:
"What reason have you to fear now that the truth may be known? Were you recognized by anyone last night?"
"Yes. Listen. I had returned to my house in Rue de Bretonvilliers to live, because there are secret exits there, leading to unoccupied land. I could don Giovanni's costume and go out and in unseen by my people."
"And one night Ambroisine saw you in that guise; but she was very far from suspecting that it was not Giovanni."
"True; but when she described that incident she made me shiver; I thought that she knew my secret!—But last night—I still needed money; Valentine—the Marquise de Santoval—I was to fly with her; and that is why I had resumed the Italian's disguise.—Yes, Jarnonville, I was about to abandon my wife and my daughter again—a wife so worthy of all my love, and a child who had opened my heart to repentance.—Ah! I deserved to be punished.—However, last night I had just attacked a financier; soldiers came running to the spot, and I had hardly time to make my escape. They fired at me, and I received a bullet, here, in the shoulder."
"And the bullet?"
"Is still there, in the wound; I can feel it.—Ah! it hurts me terribly!"