wonderful change had passed over the countenance.

"I staked everything on that move," said Maitre Laurent to himself,
with a long breath of relief, "and I have won. It was either kill or
cure--and it has not killed him. All glory be to Aesculapius, Hygeia,
and Hippocrates!"

At this moment a hand noiselessly put aside the hangings over the door,
and the venerable head of the prince appeared--looking ten years older
for the agony and dread of the terrible night just passed.

"How is he, Maitre Laurent?" he breathed, in broken, scarcely audible
tones.

The surgeon put his finger to his lips, and with the other hand pointed
to the young duke's face-still raised a little on the pillows, and no
longer wearing its death-like look; then, with the light step habitual
with those who are much about the sick, he went over to the prince,
still standing on the threshold, and drawing him gently outside and
away from the door, said in a low voice, "Your highness can see that the
patient's condition, so far from growing worse, has decidedly improved.
Certainly he is not out of danger yet--his state is very critical--but
unless some new and totally unforeseen complication should arise,
which I shall use every effort to prevent, I think that we can pull him
through, and that he will be able to enjoy life again as if he had never
been hurt."

The prince's care-worn face brightened and his fine eyes flashed at
these hopeful words; he stepped forward to enter the sick-room, but
Maitre Laurent respectfully opposed his doing so.

"Permit me, my lord, to prevent your approaching your son's bedside just
now--doctors are often very disagreeable, you know, and have to impose
trying conditions upon those to whom their patients are dear. I beseech
you not to go near the Duke of Vallombreuse at present. Your beloved
presence might, in the excessively weak and exhausted condition of
my patient, cause dangerous agitation. Any strong emotion would be
instantly fatal to him, his hold upon life is still so slight. Perfect
tranquility is his only safety. If all goes well--as I trust and believe
that it will--in a few days he will have regained his strength in a
measure, his wound will be healing, and you can probably be with him as
much as you like, without any fear of doing him harm. I know that this
is very trying to your highness, but, believe me, it is necessary to
your son's well-being."

The prince, very much relieved, and yielding readily