The groups parted as Deroulede walked out of the room, followed by the
Colonel and M. de Quettare, who stood by him to the last. Both were
old and proved soldiers, both had chivalry and courage in them, with
which to do tribute to the brave man whom they had seconded.

At the door of the establishment, they met the leech who had been
summoned some little time ago to hold himself in readiness for any
eventuality.

The great eventuality had occurred: it was beyond the leech's
learning. In the brilliantly lighted saloon above, the only son of the
Duc de Marny was breathing his last, whilst Deroulede, wrapping his
mantle closely round him, strode out into the dark street, all alone.





II

The head of the house of Marny was at this time barely seventy years
of age. But he had lived every hour, every minute of his life, from
the day when the Grand Monarque gave him his first appointment as
gentleman page in waiting when he was a mere lad, barely twelve years
of age, to the moment--some ten years ago now--when Nature's
relentless hand struck him down in the midst of his pleasures,
withered him in a flash as she does a sturdy old oak, and nailed him--
a cripple, almost a dotard--to the invalid chair which he would only
quit for his last resting place.