“I will go and have supper,” Desmond said, “for I have ridden fifty miles since I last ate, and then it was but a piece of bread with a draught of wine.  After that I will, with your permission, return here, and if you tell me that he sleeps, will take my place by his bedside till morning.”

“To that I have no objection,” the surgeon said.  “I and a colleague have, one or other, been with him since he was brought in; and I shall be glad of a rest, myself.”

Desmond returned to the Soleil, where he had left Mike.  The latter, who had just finished his supper, was delighted to hear that de la Vallee was likely to recover.  After satisfying his own hunger, Desmond returned to the Couronne.  He went upstairs, and, taking off his riding boots, stole to the door of his friend’s chamber.  It stood a little ajar, and, pushing it open noiselessly, he entered.

The surgeon, who was sitting at the bedside, rose at once.

“He is asleep already,” he whispered, “and is breathing quietly.  I think it likely that he will not stir until tomorrow morning.  I shall be here at six.  If he wakes, and there is any change, send for me at once.”

After he had left the room, Desmond took his place on the fauteuil by the bedside.  For a time, he thought over the singular chain of adventures that he had gone through.  Gradually, in spite of his efforts, his eyelids drooped.  De la Vallee had not moved, and, being dead tired by the exertions of the past four days, he fell into a deep sleep, from which he did not awake until daylight streamed into the room.

Shocked at having thus given way, he looked anxiously at de la Vallee, and was relieved to find that he was lying exactly in the same position, and had evidently slept without once waking.  Half an hour later, Philip opened his eyes, looked wonderingly at him, and then said: 

“So, it was not all a good dream, Desmond!  You are really here, and your news is true?”

“Certainly, it is true, Philip.  By this time Mademoiselle de Pointdexter and her father are far on the way home.  They were to have travelled on to Argentan, and then through Aurillac, striking the Lozere at Entraigues and proceeding along its banks to Mende, and thence by a road over the hills to Villefort, where they would be twenty miles from Pointdexter.  The carriage was to be left behind at their first halting place.  Mademoiselle was then to ride, and her maid to be carried behind one of your men, by which means they would travel more than twice as fast as they would do, if encumbered by the carriage.  The baron said that he would spare no pains to get home as quickly as possible, and would send a man on, some hours ahead of him, to see that fresh horses were in readiness for the whole party at each town they came to.”

“Now tell me all about it, Desmond.  I feel another man.  Your good news, and a long night’s sleep, have done wonders for me.  Now, please tell me all about the affair.”