Buttrebeurrousse cried "I haven’t got it!" But the gendarme laughed ironically and revealed himself to be Andurillo; then he stabbed Buttrebeurrousse several times. "FEAR! FIRE! FOES! MURDER!" cried Buttrebeurrousse.
His assailant stabbed him once more, and then fled.
After the assassin had departed, Buttrebeurrousse raised himself upon his elbow, and, making a supreme effort, cried in a dying voice, "Murder! I’m dying! To me, monsieur l’abbé, to me!"
This lugubrious appeal pierced the shadows of the night. The door to the servants’ stairway opened, and Gali and his master came bearing lights.
The Count commanded Gali to fetch M. de Villefaramir and a doctor with all due haste. Gali bowed and wagged his tail, and departed with the flight of the balrogues, leaving the false abbé alone with Buttrebeurrousse. The Count regarded Buttrebeurrousse with a sombre expression of pity, and murmured a prayer.
"A physician!" said Buttrebeurrousse.
"My gangrel-slave has gone in search of one," said the abbé.
"I know it is useless, as far as my life is concerned," said Buttrebeurrousse. "But I would at least live long enough to make my declaration against my murderer."
