A man suddenly started out from some place of concealment, and rushed upon him with a dagger.

Fortunately the clown had a cat-like instinct, which enabled him to protect himself against immediate danger, and detect any which threatened.

He saw, or rather divined, the man crouching in the dark shadow of a house, and had the presence of mind to strike an attitude which enabled him to ward off the assassin by spreading out his arms before him.

This movement certainly saved his life; for he received in his arm a furious stab, which would have instantly killed him had it penetrated his breast.

Anger, more than pain, made him cry out: 

“Ah, you villain!”

And recoiling a few feet, he put himself on the defensive.

But the precaution was useless.

Seeing his blow miss, the assassin did not return to the attack, but made rapidly off.

“That was certainly Lagors,” said the clown, “and Clameran must be somewhere near.  While I walked around one side of the church, they must have gone the other and lain in wait for me.”

His wound began to pain him; he stood under a gas-lamp to examine it.

It did not appear to be dangerous, but the arm was cut through to the bone.

He tore his handkerchief into four bands, and tied his arm up with the dexterity of a surgeon.

“I must be on the track of some great crime, since these fellows are resolved upon murder.  When such cunning rogues are only in danger of the police court, they do not gratuitously risk the chance of being tried for murder.”

He thought by enduring a great deal of pain he might still use his arm; so he started in pursuit of his enemy, taking care to keep in the middle of the road, and avoid all dark corners.

Although he saw no one, he was convinced that he was being pursued.

He was not mistaken.  When he reached the Boulevard Montmartre, he crossed the street, and, as he did so, distinguished two shadows which he recognized.  They crossed the same street a little higher up.

“I have to deal with desperate men,” he muttered.  “They do not even take pains to conceal their pursuit of me.  They seem to be accustomed to this kind of adventure, and the carriage trick which fooled Fanferlot would never succeed with them.  Besides, my light hat is a perfect beacon to lead them on in the night.”  He continued his way up the boulevard, and, without turning his head, was sure that his enemies were thirty feet behind him.

“I must get rid of them somehow,” he said to himself.  “I can neither return home nor to the Archangel with these devils at my heels.  They are following me to find out where I live, and who I am.  If they discover that the clown is M. Verduret, and that M. Verduret is M. Lecoq, my plans will be ruined.  They will escape abroad with the money, and I shall be left to console myself with a wounded arm.  A pleasant ending to all my exertions!”