"They are loaded; I believe there is nothing more for me to do now."
"It is for you to begin, monsieur," said Roncherolle, bowing to Jéricourt.
Jéricourt took a long aim, then fired; the ball from his pistol grazed his adversary's right side and made him turn slightly; Georget started to run to him, but Roncherolle motioned to him not to stir and speedily resumed his position, saying:
"That was not bad, but it was not quite the thing."
He fired almost instantly, and Jéricourt, wounded in the breast, fell to the ground.
The four seconds rushed at once to the assistance of the wounded man, who was already discharging blood through his mouth; and when he saw Georget, he said to him in a faint voice:
"I lied—she is innocent—tell her that I confess, that——"
The unhappy wretch closed his eyes and could say no more; Chicotin took him in his arms and carried him to the carriage which had brought him, which Astianax also entered. As for Saint-Arthur, he had disappeared and they were unable to find him.
Georget ran back to Roncherolle, crying:
"He confessed, monsieur; he confessed; he admitted that he had slandered Violette! all those gentlemen heard him as well as I!"