And Jean lay so still, so motionless, and in his unconsciousness seemed
so much like--like dead. She shivered a little, and fought back the
tears, and tried resolutely to think of something else--of anything--of
how beautifully Madame Mi-mi had told her Jean's rooms here were
furnished.

She forced herself to look around her. Yes, yes, it was as Madame
Mi-mi had said--the carpet seemed to shine as though it were of silk;
and the bed was very large and made of brass, which was something she
had never seen before; and in all the rooms, as she had passed through
them, she had been conscious that everything was very magnificent, just
as the salon downstairs was very magnificent. And here on that big,
carved dresser were wonderful candlesticks like those Father Anton used
to have at the altar in Bernay-sur-Mer, only these were perhaps real
silver, just as Father Anton had said that some day, when the parish
grew very rich, theirs would be instead of only looking like it,
and--she turned quickly back again toward the bed. Monsieur Vinailles
and the doctor were speaking.

"But what would you have!" Monsieur Vinailles was exclaiming in a low
voice. "I know no more than you what it was about--and neither does
LeFair. We tried to bring about an understanding, LeFair and I, before
we called for you, or at least get them to consent to a delay in which
their tempers might cool; but neither Valmain nor Jean would listen to
us. Not a word! If LeFair and I would not act for them, they would
get some one else. _Voila tout_! What would you have!"

"H'm!" returned the doctor gruffly. "Well, then, Vinailles, as I shall
not need you any more for the moment, I think you had better go and
tell Monsieur Bliss what has happened."

"_Sacre_--no!" ejaculated Vinailles. "I prefer some one else should do
that! And besides, I do not think that he has returned to Paris yet."

"Then Mademoiselle Bliss," insisted the doctor quietly. "It is all
one! They are Jean's family, as it were, are they not--eh? And then
is not Mademoiselle Bliss as good as his fiancee? Well? I consider
that she, or Monsieur Bliss, or both of them, should know."

"You mean," said Vinailles, in a startled tone, "that Jean is--"

"I mean nothing!" answered the doctor bluntly. "He is a long time
unconscious, and he is not responding well to stimulants, that is all.
On the other hand, you need not unnecessarily alarm any one; if I get
him through the next