ear doctor."

"Thanks," he answered bruskly. "I am very much obliged to you." Then
turning to M. Folgat, he said, according to his odd notion,--

"I am convinced that M. Boiscoran is the victim of his republican
opinions which he has so boldly professed; for, baron, your future
son-in-law is a republican."

Grandpapa Chandore did not move. If they had come and told him Jacques
had been a member of the Commune, he would not have been any more moved.
Dionysia loved Jacques. That was enough for him.

"Well," the doctor went on, "I am a Radical, I, M."--

"Folgat," supplied the young lawyer.

"Yes, M. Folgat, I am a Radical; and it is my duty to defend a man whose
political opinions so closely resemble mine. I come, therefore, to show
you my medical report, if you can make any use of it in your defence of
M. Boiscoran, or suggest to me any ideas."

"Ah!" exclaimed the young man. "That is a very valuable service."

"But let us understand each other," said the physician earnestly. "If I
speak of listening to your suggestions, I take it for granted that they
are based upon facts. If I had a son, and he was to die on the scaffold
I would not use the slightest falsehood to save him."

He had, meanwhile, drawn the report from a pocket in his long coat, and
now put in on the table with these words,--

"I shall call for it again to-morrow morning. In the meantime you can
think it over. I should like, however, to point out to you the main
point, the culminating point, if I may say so."

At all events he was "saying so" with much hesitation, and looking
fixedly at Dionysia as if to make her understand that he would like her
to leave the room. Seeing that she did not take the hint, he added,--

"A medical and legal discussion would hardly interest the young lady."

"Why, sir, why, should I not be deeply, passionately, interested in any
thing that regards the man who is to be my husband?"

"Because ladies are generally very sensational," said the doctor
uncivilly, "very sensitive."

"Don't think so, doctor. For Jacques's sake, I promise you I will show
you quite masculine energy."

The doctor knew Dionysia well enough to see that she did not mean to go:
so he growled,--

"As you like it."

Then, turning again to M. Folgat, he said,--

"You know there were two shots fired at Count Claudieuse. One, which hit
him in the side, nearly missed him; the other, which struck his shoulder
and his neck, hit well."

"I know