"Hullo, Marcel, you there too. Give me your hand. My dear fellow I am delighted to meet you again," said Payot. "I suppose I must have supped a little too freely," he continued; "I remember having dinner--a very good one it was, Villebois, but what happened afterwards I have not the remotest recollection. Well, anyhow, I feel quite refreshed. If you do not mind, I will get ready to come downstairs." The three watchers then left after shaking hands with him, and returned to the library. "Well," said Delapine, "and did our friend wake up?" "Precisely on the stroke of ten," they all replied together. "And did he say anything to you, Marcel?" "Oh, he shook me by the hand and said he was delighted to meet me again." "Did he refer in any way to his fight with you?" "Not one word on the subject, professor. I am perfectly convinced that he has not the slightest idea that he ever had a quarrel with me." "This is perfectly incomprehensible," said Riche. "'Pon my word, Delapine, you make me afraid of you." A moment later Payot, looking none the worse for his enforced sleep, entered the room. "Hullo, here you all are," he cried. "I have just been looking for you. And pray, where is madame?" he continued, as he sat down, while Villebois handed him a liqueur. "My wife had a bad headache and retired to bed," said Villebois, "and Céleste went to look after her with a plentiful supply of vinaigre and smelling salts." "And Renée?" "Oh, Renée, I don't know where she is. I think she has gone to practice some music." "My dear Marcel, what is the matter with your eye?" said Payot. "It looks as if you had received a blow there. You have not been fighting with anyone surely?" "Oh dear, no. As a matter of fact I slipped as I was going down the steps of the house and struck my eye against the corner of the balustrade." "I hope it is nothing serious, my dear Marcel? It is your duty to see to him, Villebois, these little accidents sometimes become serious. Anyhow, you could not be in better hands than under the care of my excellent friend here. I would not have been the cause of this accident for worlds, is that not so, my good friend Marcel? I only wish I could have been in time to prevent it." Marcel looked up at Riche, who winked significantly. "He will be all right to-morrow morning," said Villebois.