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doctor's arm with both hands； 〃that is a foul； damnable calumny；
that you have thought out merely to bring me under the axe。 I have
nothing to be sorry for； and my conscience fills me with no
reproaches。〃
〃And yet it is gnawing into you with iron teeth； which have been
heated blood…red in the fires of hell；〃 said the doctor； with a
compassionate look at the pale； quivering face of the woman。 〃Do not
raise any quarrel； but quietly listen to me。 We have an hour's time
to talk together； and we want to use it。 But let us speak softly；
softly； together； for what we have to say to each other the deaf
walls themselves ought not to hear。〃
Simon had not returned from the platform with the boy； when Doctor
Naudin ended his long and earnest conversation； and prepared to
leave his patient； who was now quietly lying in her bed。
〃You know every thing now that you have to do；〃 he said； extending
his hand to her。 〃You can reckon on me as I reckon on you； and we
will both go bravely and cheerfully on。 It is a noble work that we
have undertaken； and if it succeeds your heart will be light again；
and God will forgive you your sins； for two martyrs will stand and
plead in your behalf at the throne of God！ Now； do every thing
exactly as I have told you； and speak with your husband to…night；
but not sooner； that you may be safe； and for fear that in his first
panic his face would betray him。〃
〃I shall do every thing just as you wish；〃 said Jeanne Marie； who
had suddenly become humble and bashful； apparently entirely
forgetful of the republican 〃thou。〃 〃It seems to me； now that I have
disburdened my heart to you； that I have become well and strong
again； and certainly I shall owe it to you if I do live and get my
health once more。 But shall you come again to…morrow； doctor？〃
〃No；〃 he replied； 〃I will send a man to…morrow who understands
better than I do how to continue this matter； and to whom you can
give unconditional confidence。 He will announce himself to you as my
assistant； and you can talk over at length every thing that we have
been speaking of。 Hush！ I hear Simon coming！ Farewell！〃
He nodded to Jeanne Marie； and hastily left the room。 Outside； in
the corridor； he met Simon and his silent young ward。
〃Well； citizen doctor；〃 asked Simon； 〃how is it with our sick one？
She has intrusted all her secrets to you； and they must have made a
long story； for you have been a whole hour together。 It is fortunate
that you are an old man； or else I should have been jealous of your
long tete…a…tete with my wife。〃
〃Then you would be a great fool； and I have always held you to be a
prudent and good man。 But； as concerns your wife； I must tell you
something very serious； and I beg you； Citizen Simon； to mark my
words well。 I tell you this： unless your wife Jeanne Marie is out of
this Temple in less than a week； and enjoys her freedom； she will
either lose her senses or take her life。 I will say to you this；
besides： if Citizen Simon does not； as soon as possible； leave this
cursed place and give up his hateful business； it will be the same
with him as with his wife。 He will not become insane； but he will
lapse into melancholy； and if he does not take his own life
consumption will take it for him； the result of his idle； listless
life； the many vexations here； and the wretched atmosphere of the
Temple。〃
〃Consumption！〃 cried Simon； horrified。 〃Do you suppose I am exposed
to that？〃
〃You have it already；〃 said the doctor； solemnly。 〃Those red spots
on your cheeks； and the pain which you have so often in the breast；
announce its approach。 I tell you that if you do not take measures
to leave the Temple in a week； in three months you will be a dead
man； without giving the guillotine a chance at you。 Good…by！
Consider well what I say； citizen； and then do as you like！〃
〃He is right；〃 muttered Simon； as he looked after the doctor with a
horrified look； as Naudin descended the staircase； 〃yes； I see； he
is right。 If I have to stay here any longer； I shall die。 The
vexations and the loneliness； andsomething still more dreadful；
frightful； that I can tell no one of…have made me sick； and the
stitch in my side will grow worse and worse every day； andI must
and will get away from here；〃 he said aloud； and with a decided air。
〃I will not die yet； neither shall Jeanne Marie。 To…morrow I will
hand in my resignation； and then be away！〃
While Simon was walking slowly and thoughtfully toward his wife；
Doctor Naudin left the dark building； went with a light heart out
into the street； and returned with a quick step to the Hotel Dieu。
The porter who opened the door for him； reported to him that during
his absence the same old gentleman who had come the day before to
consult him； had returned and was waiting for him in the anteroom。
Doctor Naudin nodded； and then walked； quickly toward his own
apartments。 Before the door he found his servant。
〃Old Doctor Saunier is here again；〃 he said； taking off his master's
cloak。 〃He insisted on waiting for you。 He said that he must consult
you about a patient； and would not cease begging till you should
consent to accompany him to the sick person's house。 For； if a case
seemed desperate； the great Naudin might still save it。〃
〃You are an ass for letting him talk such nonsense； and for
believing it yourself； Citizen Joly；〃 cried Naudin with a laugh； and
then entering the anteroom。
An old gentleman； clad in the same old…fashioned costume with Doctor
Naudin； came forward。 Citizen Joly； as he closed the door somewhat
slowly； heard him say：
〃Thank God that you have come at last； citizen！ I have waited for
you impatiently； and now I conjure you to accompany me as quickly as
possible to my patient。〃
Naudin； opening the door of his study； said in reply； 〃Come in；
Citizen Saunier； and tell me first how it is with your sick one。〃
Nothing more could Joly； Naudin's servant； understand； for the two
doctors had gone into the study； and the door was closed behind
them。 After a short time； however； it was opened。 Naudin ordered the
valet to order a tiacre at once； and a few minutes later Director
Naudin rode away at the side of Doctor Saunier。
At a house in the Rue Montmartre the carriage stopped； and the two
physicians entered。 The porter； opening the little； dusty window of
his lodge； nodded confidentially to Saunier。
〃That is probably the celebrated Doctor Naudin of the Hotel Dieu；
whom you have with you？〃 he asked。
〃Yes； it is he；〃 answered Saunier； 〃and if anybody can help our
patient； it is he。 Citizen Crage is probably at home？〃
〃Certainly he is at home； for you know he never leaves his sick boy。
You will find him above。 You know the way； citizen doctor！〃
The two physicians passed on； ascended the staircase； and entered
the suit of rooms whose door was only partially closedleft ajar；
as it seemed； for them。 Nobody came to meet them； but they carefully
closed the door behind them； drew the bolt； and then walked silently
and quickly across the anteroom to the opposite door。
Doctor Saunier knocked softly three times with a slight interval
between； and cried three times with a loud voice；
〃The two physicians are come to see the patient。〃
A bolt was withdrawn on the inside； the door opened； and a tall
man's figure appeared and motioned to the gentlemen to come in。
〃Are we alone？〃 whispered Doctor Saunier； as they entered the inner
room。
〃Yes； entirely alone；〃 answered the other。 〃There in the chamber
lies my poor sick boy； and you know well that he can betray no one；
and that he knows nothing of what is going on around him。〃
〃Yes； unfortunately； I know that；〃 answered Doctor Saunier sadly。 〃I
promised you that I would bring you the most celebrated and skilful
physician in Paris； and you see I keep my word； for I have brought
you Doctor Naudin； the director of the Hotel Dieu andthe friend
and devoted servant of the royal family； to whom we have both sworn
allegiance until death。 Doctor Naudin； I have not given you the name
of the gentleman to whom I was taking you。 It is a secret which only
the possessor is able to divulge to you。〃
〃I divulge it；〃 said the other； smiling； 〃Doctor Naudin； I am the
Marquis Jarjayes。〃
〃Jarjayes； who made the plan for the escape of the royal family in
the Temple？〃 asked Naudin eagerly。
〃Marquis Jarjayes； who lost his property in the service of the
queen； risked his life in her deliverance； and perhaps escaped the
guillotine merely by emigrating and putting himself beyond the reach
of Robespierre。 Are you that loyal； courageous Marquis de Jarjayes？〃
〃I am Jarjayes； and I thank you for the praises you have given me；
but I cannot accept them in the presence of him who merits them all
much more than I do； and who is more worthy of praise than any one
else。 No； I can receive no commendation in the presence of Toulan；
the most loyal； the bravest； the most prudent of us all； for Toulan
is the soul of every thing； and our martyr queen confessed it in
giving him the highest of all titles of honor； in calling him
Fidele； a title which will remain for centuries。〃
〃Yes； you are right；〃 said Dr。 Naudin； laying his hand on the
shoulder of D