ad long since
begun to be tinged with gray. The skin of his ruddy, mottled face was
tough and indurated as a peasant's, spending as he did most of his
time in the open air, always on the go to relieve the sufferings of
his fellow-creatures; while the large, bright eyes, the massive nose,
indicative of obstinacy, and the benignant if somewhat sensual mouth
bore witness to the lifelong charities and good works of the honest
country doctor; a little brusque at times, not a man of genius, but whom
many years of practice in his profession had made an excellent healer.

When he had examined Jean, still in a comatose state, he murmured:

"I am very much afraid that amputation will be necessary."

The words produced a painful impression on Maurice and Henriette.
Presently, however, he added:

"Perhaps we may be able to save the leg, but it will require the utmost
care and attention, and will take a very long time. For the moment his
physical and mental depression is such that the only thing to do is to
let him sleep. To-morrow we shall know more."

Then, having applied a dressing to the wound, he turned to Maurice, whom
he had known in bygone days, when he was a boy.

"And you, my good fellow, would be better off in bed than sitting
there."

The young man continued to gaze before him into vacancy, as if he had
not heard. In the confused hallucination that was due to his fatigue he
developed a kind of delirium, a supersensitive nervous excitation that
embraced all he had suffered in mind and body since the beginning of
the campaign. The spectacle of his friend's wretched state, his own
condition, scarce less pitiful, defeated, his hands tied, good for
nothing, the reflection that all those heroic efforts had culminated in
such disaster, all combined to incite him to frantic rebellion against
destiny. At last he spoke.

"It is not ended; no, no! we have not seen the end, and I must go away.
Since _he_ must lie there on his back for weeks, for months, perhaps,
I cannot stay; I must go, I must go at once. You will assist me, won't
you, doctor? you will supply me with the means to escape and get back to
Paris?"

Pale and trembling, Henriette threw her arms about him and caught him to
her bosom.

"What words are those you speak? enfeebled as you are, after all the
suffering you have endured! but think not I shall let you go; you shall
stay here with me! Have you not paid the debt you owe your country? and
should you not