He is not his medical attendant
either. There is another _medico_ in the village, who has charge of
Monsieur Dominique and his blacks, as also the slaves of the Besancon
plantation. The latter chanced to be out of the way, and so Reigart was
called to me. Professional etiquette partly, and partly my own
interference, forbade any change in this arrangement; and the latter
continued to attend me. I have seen the other gentleman, who came once
in Reigart's company, and he appears much more suited to be the friend
of the _avocat_.

Reigart is a stranger in Bringiers, but seems to be rapidly rising in
the esteem of the neighbouring planters. Indeed, many of these--the
"grandees" among them--keep physicians of their own, and pay them
handsomely, too! It would be an unprofitable speculation to neglect the
health of the slave; and on this account it is better looked after than
that of the "poor white folks" in many a European state.

I have endeavoured to draw from the doctor some facts, regarding the
connexion existing between Gayarre and the family of Besancon. I could
only make distant allusion to such a subject. I obtained no very
satisfactory information. The doctor is what might be termed a "close
man," and too much talking would not make one of his profession very
popular in Louisiana. He either knows but little of their affairs, or
affects not to know; and yet, from some expressions that dropped from
him, I suspect the latter to be the more probable.

"Poor young lady!" said he; "quite alone in the world. I believe there
is an aunt, or something of the kind, who lives in New Orleans, but she
has no male relation to look after her affairs. Gayarre seems to have
everything in his hands."

I gathered from the doctor that Eugenie's father had been much richer at
one period--one of the most extensive planters on the coast; that he had
kept a sort of "open house," and dispensed hospitality in princely
style. "Fetes" on a grand scale had been given, and this more
particularly of late years. Even since his death profuse hospitality
has been carried on, and Mademoiselle continues to receive her father's
guests after her father's fashion. Suitors she has in plenty, but the
doctor has heard of no one who is regarded in the light of a "lover."

Gayarre had been the intimate friend of Besancon. Why, no one could
tell; for their natures were as opposite as the poles. It was thought
by some that their friendship