of his loss.
It is therefore certain that if she cannot go to court alone, she will
do all she can to go, no matter how--on M. Balzajette's arm, or on a
stretcher. I was, then, easy enough on this side, but I was not for the
stretcher. What would people think to see her in this condition? What
impression would she make on the jury? Would not her appearance weaken
the value of her testimony? As Madame Dammauville is fond of me, and
very kind to me, I determined to profit by this kindness to urge a
consultation, but without mentioning any name. I represented to her
that, since M. Balzajette might say with every appearance of truth he
had cured her, he should not be angry if she desired to ratify this
cure. That besides, there was an imperative motive that would not permit
her to wait, for it would be very disagreeable to her to present herself
at the court of assizes in a theatrical way, which was not at all
according to her character or habits. I easily discovered that the fear
of giving pain to this old friend of her husband was the chief reason
why she was opposed to this consultation. It was then that your name was
pronounced."

"You acknowledge it, then?"

"You will see how, and you will not be angry about it. I have often
spoken to Madame Dammauville of mamma, and, consequently, of how you
cured her paralysis, that resembled hers. It was not wrong, was it, to
say what you have done for us? And without letting any one suspect my
love, I could praise you, which my gratitude prompted. She asked me many
questions, and naturally, as usual when I speak of you, when I have
the joy of pronouncing your name, I answered in detail. That is not a
crime?"

She waited a moment, looking at him. Without softening the hardness of
his glance, he made a sign to her to continue.

"When I persisted on the consultation, Madame Dammauville recalled what
I had said, and she was the first--you hear?--the first to pronounce
your name. As you had cured my mother, I had the right to praise you.
With a nature like hers, she would not have understood if I had not done
it; she would have believed me ungrateful. I spoke of your book on
the diseases of the spinal cord, which was quite natural; and as she
manifested a desire to read it, I offered to lend it to her."

"Was that natural?"

"With any but Madame Dammauville, no; but she is not frivolous. I took
the book to her two days ago, and she has just told me that, after
reading it, she ha