"Not dead!" exclaimed I, falling unconsciously on my knees, and lifting up my clasped hands and haggard eyes to heaven; "not dead! God be praised. At least there is a hope that I may escape the crime of murder." Before I could say more, the mayor entered my _cachot_ with the officers of the police, and informed me that a _proces-verbal_ had been held; that my friend had been able to give the clearest answers to all their questions; and that it appeared from the evidence of _Monsieur Talbot_ himself, that it was an _affaire d'honneur_, fairly decided; that the brace of pistols found in the water had confirmed his assertions: "and therefore, _monsieur_," continued the mayor, "whether your friend lives or dies _tout a ete fait en regle, et vous etes libre_." So saying, he bowed very politely, and pointed to the door; nor was I so ceremonious as to beg him to show me the way; out I ran, and flew to the apartment of Talbot, who had sent my servant to say how much he wished to see me. I found him in bed. As I entered, he held out his hand to me, which I covered with kisses and bathed with my tears. "O Talbot!" said I, "can you forgive me?" He squeezed my hand, and from exhaustion let it fall. The surgeon led me out of the room, saying, "All depends on his being kept quiet." I then learned that he owed his life to two circumstances--the first was, my having bound my neckcloth round the wound; the other was, that the duel took place below high-water mark. The tide was rising when I left him; and the cold waves as they rippled against his body, had restored him to animation. In this state he was found by his servant, not many minutes before the flood would have covered him, for he had not strength to move out of its way. I ascertained also that the ball had entered his liver, and had passed out without doing further injury. I now dressed myself, and devoutly thanking God for His miraculous preservation, took my seat by the bedside of the patient, which I never quitted until his perfect recovery. When this was happily completed, I wrote to my father and to Clara, giving both an exact account of the whole transaction. Clara, undeceived, made no scruple of acknowledging her attachment. Talbot was requested by his father to return home. I accompanied him as far as Calais, where we parted; and in a few weeks after, I had the pleasure of hearing that my sister had become his wife. Left to myself, returned slowly, and much depressed in spirits, to Quillacq's; where, ordering post-horses, I threw myself into my travelling-carriage into which my valet had by my orders previously placed my luggage. "Where are you going to, _monsieur_?" said the valet. "_Au diable_!" said I. "_Mais les passeports_?" said the man.