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!" "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 Jericourt, how is he?" asked Roncherolle. "He is stone dead!" XLIV THE EMBROIDERED HANDKERCHIEF While the duel which concerned the pretty flower girl was in progress, the girl herself was greatly surprised to see Pongo appear at her door about nine o'clock. "Master," he said, "he want mamzelle to come and see him after her dress herself all fine; yes, dress herself all fine, and bring a big bouquet." Violette hastened to answer that she would obey Monsieur Malberg's orders; but as she donned her best dress and her prettiest cap, she said to herself: "Probably Monsieur Malberg wants to send me somewhere, for he would not tell me to dress in my best just to go to his house. Besides, the bouquet that he wants--no doubt I shall have to go to Madame de Grangeville's.--So much the better! I like that lady very much, and it's a long time since I carried her a bouquet." When he saw Violette enter his room, so fresh and pretty and graceful, and wearing a dress, which, although appropriate to her rank in life, gave an added charm to her person, none the less, the count could not help sighing, as he said to himself: "I should have been very happy if I could have called her my daughter." "Here I am, monsieur, I have obeyed your orders," said Violette; "I have done what your servant told me to do; do I look well, monsieur?" "Yes, my child, yes, very well; and I have no doubt that Madame de Grangeville will find you charming thus." "Am I going to that lady's house? I suspected it, monsieur."