ion was made to the
absent one, to her whose departure had left the house empty, than an
energetic and sad hand clasp.

"You don't know why I have come?" cried Ramond immediately. "It is about
a question of money. Yes, my father-in-law, M. Leveque, the advocate,
whom you know, spoke to me yesterday again about the funds which you had
with the notary Grandguillot. And he advises you strongly to take some
action in the matter, for some persons have succeeded, he says, in
recovering something."

"Yes, I know that that business is being settled," said Pascal. "Martine
has already got two hundred francs out of it, I believe."

"Martine?" said Ramond, looking greatly surprised, "how could she
do that without your intervention? However, will you authorize my
father-in-law to undertake your case? He will see the assignee, and sift
the whole affair, since you have neither the time nor the inclination to
attend to it."

"Certainly, I authorize M. Leveque to do so, and tell him that I thank
him a thousand times."

Then this matter being settled, the young man, remarking the doctor's
pallor, and questioning him as to its cause, Pascal answered with a
smile:

"Imagine, my friend, I have just had an attack of angina pectoris. Oh,
it is not imagination, all the symptoms were there. And stay! since you
are here you shall sound me."

At first Ramond refused, affecting to turn the consultation into a
jest. Could a raw recruit like him venture to pronounce judgment on
his general? But he examined him, notwithstanding, seeing that his face
looked drawn and pained, with a singular look of fright in the eyes. He
ended by auscultating him carefully, keeping his ear pressed closely to
his chest for a considerable time. Several minutes passed in profound
silence.

"Well?" asked Pascal, when the young physician stood up.

The latter did not answer at once. He felt the doctor's eyes looking
straight into his; and as the question had been put to him with quiet
courage, he answered in the same way:

"Well, it is true, I think there is some sclerosis."

"Ah! it was kind of you not to attempt to deceive me," returned the
doctor, smiling. "I feared for an instant that you would tell me an
untruth, and that would have hurt me."

Ramond, listening again, said in an undertone:

"Yes, the beat is strong, the first sound is dull, while the second, on
the contrary, is sharp. It is evident that the apex has descended and is
turned toward th