"Yes, madame; one of his hands is shattered, and he has a bullet lodged in his breast." "Gracious heavens!" resumed the princess, with a feverish excitement, "this is horrible, Monsieur de Manicamp! a hand shattered, do you say, and a bullet in his breast? And that coward! that wretch! that assassin, De Wardes, who did it!" Manicamp seemed overcome by a violent emotion. He had, in fact, displayed no little energy in the latter part of his speech. As for Madame, she entirely threw aside all regard for the formal observances of propriety which society imposes: for when, with her, passion spoke in accents either of anger or sympathy, nothing could any longer restrain her impulses. Madame approached Manicamp, who had sunk down upon a seat, as if his grief were a sufficiently powerful excuse for his infraction of one of the laws of etiquette. "Monsieur," she said, seizing him by the hand, "be frank with me." Manicamp looked up. "Is M. de Guiche in danger of death?" "Doubly so, madame," he replied; "in the first place on account of the hemorrhage which has taken place, an artery having been injured in the hand; and next, in consequence of the wound in his breast, which may--the doctor is afraid of it, at least--have injured some vital part." "He may die, then?" "Die, yes, madame; and without even having had the consolation of knowing that you have been told of his devotion." "You will tell him." "I?" "Yes; are you not his friend?" "I? oh no, madame. I will only tell M. de Guiche--if, indeed, he is still in a condition to hear me--I will only tell him what I have seen--that is, your cruelty for him." "Oh, monsieur, you will not be guilty of such barbarity!" "Indeed, madame, I shall speak the truth, for nature is very energetic in a man of his age. The physicians are clever men, and if, by chance, the poor comte should survive his wound, I should not wish him to die of a wound of the heart, after having escaped that of the body." And Manicamp, rose, and, with an expression of profound respect, seemed to be desirous of taking leave. "At least, monsieur," said Madame, stopping him with almost a suppliant air, "you will be kind enough to tell me in what state your wounded friend is, and who is the physician who attends him?" "As regards the state he is in, madame, he is seriously ill; his physician is M. Valot, his majesty's private medical attendant. M. Valot is, moreover, assisted by a professional friend, to whose house M. de Guiche has been carried." "What! he is not in the chateau?" said Madame. "Alas, madame! the poor fellow was so ill that he could not even be conveyed hither." "Give me the address, monsieur," said the princess, hurriedly: "I will send to inquire after him." "Rue du Feurre: a brick-built house, with white outside blinds. The doctor's name is on the door." "You are returning to your wounded friend. Monsieur de Manicamp?" "Yes, madame." "You will be able, then, to do me a service."