kiss me? No one ever did but you, and it
was so sweet."

"Indeed I will, and with all my heart," said Isabelle, taking the
child's thin face between her hands and kissing her warmly on her brown
cheeks, which flushed crimson under the soft caress.

"And now, good-bye!" said Chiquita, when after a few moments of silence
she had resumed her usual sang-froid. She turned quickly away, but,
catching sight of the knife she had given Isabelle, which lay upon the
dressing-table, she seized it eagerly, saying, "Give me back my knife
now; you will not need it any more," and vanished.

CHAPTER XVIII. A FAMILY PARTY

The next morning found the young Duke of Vallombreuse still living,
though his life hung by so slender a thread, that the surgeon, who
anxiously watched his every breath, feared from moment to moment that it
might break. He was a learned and skilful man, this same Maitre Laurent,
who only needed some favourable opportunity to bring him into notice and
make him as celebrated as he deserved to be. His remarkable talents and
skill had only been exercised thus far "in anima vili," among the lower
orders of society--whose living or dying was a matter of no moment
whatever. But now had come at last the chance so long sighed for in
secret, and he felt that the recovery of his illustrious patient was of
paramount importance to himself. The worthy doctor's amour propre
and ambition were both actively engaged in this desperate duel he
was fighting with Death, and he set his teeth and determined that the
victory must rest with him. In order to keep the whole glory of
the triumph for himself, he had persuaded the prince--not without
difficulty--to renounce his intention of sending for the most celebrated
surgeons in Paris, assuring him that he himself was perfectly capable to
do all that could be done, and pleading that nothing was more dangerous
than a change of treatment in such a case as this. Maitre Laurent
conquered, and feeling that there was now no danger of his being
pushed into the background, threw his whole heart and strength into the
struggle; yet many times during that anxious night he feared that his
patient's life was slipping away from his detaining grasp, and almost
repented him of having assumed the entire responsibility. But with the
morning came encouragement, and as the watchful surgeon stood at
the bedside, intently gazing upon the ghastly face on the pillow, he
murmured to himself:

"No, he will n