"My poor child," said Rudolph to his daughter, "I will lead you to a chamber in this house, and you will await me there; for I cannot abandon solely to the care of my people this courageous man, who has once more saved my life." "Oh! father, I entreat you, do not leave me!" cried Fleur-de-Marie with alarm, clinging to the arm of Rudolph. "Do not leave me alone. I would die with fear. I will go where you go--" "But this is a frightful sight!" "But, thanks to this man, you live for me, father; at least, permit me to unite with you in thanking and consoling him." The perplexity of the prince was great; his daughter seemed so much alarmed at remaining alone, that he was obliged to allow her to accompany him to the room where the Slasher had been carried. The master of the tavern, assisted by several of the women who had remained (among whom was the Ogress of the White Rabbit), had in haste laid the wounded man upon a mattress, and then stanched his wound with napkins. The Slasher had just opened his eyes, when Rudolph entered. At the sight of the prince, his countenance of deathlike paleness, brightened up a little; he smiled painfully, and said to him, in a feeble voice: "Ah! M. Rudolph! how fortunate it was that I was at hand." "Brave and devoted--as always," said the prince to him in a mournful voice; "you save me again!" "I was going to the Barrière de Charenton--to see you depart--happily--I was stopped here by the crowd--besides, this was to happen to me--I said so to Martial--I had a presentiment." "A presentiment?" "Yes, M. Rudolph--the dream of the sergeant--last night I had it---" "Forget these ideas. Hope; your wound will not be mortal." "Oh! yes--Bones has struck home. Never mind, I was right--to say to Martial--that an earthworm like me could sometimes be--useful--to a great lord like you---" "But it is life--life!--that I owe you again." "We are quits, M. Rudolph. You told me that I had a heart and honor. These words--Oh! I suffocate, without you--command--do me the honor--of--your hand!--I feel that I am going---" "No, it is impossible!" cried the prince, bending over the Slasher, and pressing in his hands the icy fingers of the dying man. "No; you will live--you will live!" "M. Rudolph--do you see that there is something-up there!--I killed--with a _slash_ myself!" said the Slasher, in a voice more and more feeble and indistinct. At this moment his eyes were fixed on Fleur-de-Marie, whom he had not yet perceived. Astonishment was painted on his dying face, he started, and said, "Oh! La Goualeuse." "Yes, she is my daughter. She blesses you for having preserved her father." "She--your daughter! here--that reminds me of our acquaintance--M. Rudolph--and the--blows with the fists--at the end--but--this--blow with the knife--will be also--the blow--of the end. I have _slashed_--I am _slashed_--it is fair play!" Then he uttered a deep sigh, his head falling backward--he was dead!