e point just now. And besides, it is not 'only money,' as you
call it; there are works of art in the question; the vessels were carved.
You speak like a child. You weary me exceedingly, quoting my words out of
all logical connection, like a parroquet."

"And at any rate, we have nothing to do with it," returned the boy
submissively.

They struck the Route Ronde at that moment; and the sudden change to the
rattling causeway combined, with the Doctor's irritation, to keep him
silent. The noddy jigged along; the trees went by, looking on silently,
as if they had something on their minds. The Quadrilateral was passed;
then came Franchard. They put up the horse at the little solitary inn,
and went forth strolling. The gorge was dyed deeply with heather; the
rocks and birches standing luminous in the sun. A great humming of bees
about the flowers disposed Jean-Marie to sleep, and he sat down against a
clump of heather, while the Doctor went briskly to and fro, with quick
turns, culling his simples.

The boy's head had fallen a little forward, his eyes were closed, his
fingers had fallen lax about his knees, when a sudden cry called him to
his feet. It was a strange sound, thin and brief; it fell dead, and
silence returned as though it had never been interrupted. He had not
recognised the Doctor's voice; but, as there was no one else in all the
valley, it was plainly the Doctor who had given utterance to the sound.
He looked right and left, and there was Desprez, standing in a niche
between two boulders, and looking round on his adopted son with a
countenance as white as paper.

"A viper!" cried Jean-Marie, running towards him. "A viper! You are
bitten!"

The Doctor came down heavily out of the cleft, and advanced in silence to
meet the boy, whom he took roughly by the shoulder.

"I have found it," he said, with a gasp.

"A plant?" asked Jean-Marie.

Desprez had a fit of unnatural gaiety, which the rocks took up and
mimicked. "A plant!" he repeated scornfully. "Well--yes--a plant. And
here," he added suddenly, showing his right hand, which he had hitherto
concealed behind his back--"here is one of the bulbs."

Jean-Marie saw a dirty platter, coated with earth.

"That?" said he. "It is a plate!"

"It is a coach and horses," cried the Doctor. "Boy," he continued,
growing warmer, "I plucked away a great pad of moss from between these
boulders, and disclosed a crevice; and when I looked in, what do you
suppose I saw?