"That is well, my young friend; that is what I wanted. Now you must give me your arm to help me to walk back to the carriage."
"Oh! are you wounded too, monsieur?"
"A scratch, a mere scratch, but it troubles me when walking. I will lean on you."
"Oh! as hard as you please, monsieur. What a debt of gratitude I owe you! And Violette, when she knows it——"
"I knew perfectly well that she deserved to be defended; but I am very glad to have spared you that trouble; and then, you see, I have done a lot of foolish things in my life, and I am not sorry to do some good now and then."
Chicotin reached the carriage just as Monsieur de Roncherolle and Georget entered it. The young messenger's face was all awry, and he faltered:
"All the same, it gives a man a shock—a young man, who was so well a minute ago——"
"Well? Monsieur Jéricourt, how is he?" asked Roncherolle.