He was not deceived; Martial and La Louve accepted his offer with transport; then, having, through the intervention of Murphy, made the acquaintance of the Slasher, they mutually congratulated each other on the agreeable prospects before them in Algiers. Notwithstanding the deep sadness into which he was plunged; or, rather, in consequence of this sadness the Slasher, affected by the cordial advances of Martial and his wife, responded to them with warmth. In a short time a sincere friendship united the future colonists; persons of their temperament form very sudden attachments. La Louve and Martial, being unable, in spite of their kind attentions, to divert the melancholy of their new friend discontinued their efforts, trusting that the voyage, and the active employment of their future life, would change his thoughts; for, once in Algiers they would be obliged to turn their attention to the cultivation of the lands which had been bestowed upon them. These facts established, it will be understood that, informed of the painful interview that Martial was obliged to undergo in obedience to the last wishes of his mother, the Slasher had wished to accompany his new friend to the gate of Bicetre, where he awaited him in the coach which had brought them, and which took them back to Paris, after Martial, deeply agitated, had left the dungeon, where the terrible preparations for the execution of mother and sister were being made. The physiognomy of the Slasher was completely altered; the expression of boldness and of happiness which ordinarily characterized his manly face was replaced with sorrowful dejection: his voice, also had lost somewhat of its roughness. Grief, until now a stranger to him, had broken, prostrated his energetic nature. He looked at Martial with compassion. "Cheer up," said the Slasher to him "you have done all that a brave fellow could do--it is all over, think of your wife, of those children whom you have prevented from following the bad example of their parents; and then, besides, this evening we shall have quitted Paris, never to return; and you will never again hear of that which afflicts you." "It is a11 the same, do you see, Slasher. After all, it is my mother and my sister." "But what would you--this has happened; and it's no use crying over spilled milk," said the Slasher, suppressing a sigh. After a moment's silence, Martial said to him, cordially, "I, also, ought to console you, my poor fellow--always this melancholy." "Always, Martial." "Well, my wife and I confidently hope that, once away from Paris, it will be dissipated." "Yes," said the Slasher, at the expiration of a few seconds, and hardly restraining a shudder, "if I leave Paris--" "But we set out this evening." "That is to say, _you_--you go this evening." "And you, then, have you changed your intention recently?" "No." "Well, what then?"