The Count's Millions [57]
of his indiscretion, the doctor retreated seven or eight steps down the stairs, and then ascended them again, coughing slightly, so as to announce his approach. This time he was heard. for Mademoiselle Marguerite came to the door to meet him. "Well?" he inquired.
"Alas!"
He advanced toward the bed, but before he had time to examine his patient Mademoiselle Marguerite handed him a scrap of paper. "The physician who usually attends M. de Chalusse has been here in your absence, monsieur," said she. "This is his prescription, and we have already administered a few drops of the potion."
M. Jodon, who was expecting this blow, bowed coldly.
"I must add," continued Mademoiselle Marguerite, "that the doctor approved of all that had been done; and I beg you will unite your skill with his in treating the case."
Unfortunately all the medical skill of the faculty would have availed nothing here. After another examination, Dr. Jodon declared that it would be necessary to wait for the action of nature, but that he must be informed of the slightest change in the sick man's condition. "And I will tell my servant to wake me at once if I am sent for," he added.
He was already leaving the room, when Madame Leon barred his passage. "Isn't it true, doctor, that one attentive person would suffice to watch over the count?" she asked.
"Most assuredly," he answered.
The housekeeper turned toward Mademoiselle Marguerite. "Ah, you see, my dear young lady," she said, "what did I tell you? Listen to me; take a little rest. Watching is not suitable work for one of your age----"
"It is useless to insist," interrupted the young girl, resolutely. "I shall remain here. I shall watch over him myself."
The housekeeper made no reply; but it seemed to the doctor that the two women exchanged singular glances. "The devil!" he muttered, as he took his departure; "one might think that they distrusted each other!"
Perhaps he was right; but at all events he had scarcely left the house before Madame Leon again urged her dear young lady to take a few hours' rest. "What can you fear?" she insisted, in her wheedling voice. "Sha'n't I be here? Do you suppose your old Leon capable of losing herself in sleep, when your future depends upon a word from that poor man lying there?"
"Pray, cease."
"Ah, no! my dear young lady; my love for you compels me "
"Oh, enough!" interrupted Mademoiselle Marguerite; "enough, Leon!"
Her tone was so determined that the housekeeper was compelled to yield; but not without a deep sigh, not without an imploring glance to Heaven, as if calling upon Providence to witness the purity of her motives and the usefulness of her praiseworthy efforts. "At least, my dear lady, wrap yourself up warmly. Shall I go and bring you your heavy travelling shawl?"
"Thanks, my dear Leon--Annette will bring it."
"Then, pray, send for it. But we are not going to watch alone? What should we do if we needed anything?"
"I will call," replied Marguerite.
This was unnecessary, for Dr. Jodon's departure from the house had put an abrupt termination to the servants' conference; and they were now assembled on the landing, anxious and breathless, and peering eagerly into the sick-room.
Mademoiselle Marguerite went toward them. "Madame Leon and myself will remain with the count," she said. "Annette"--this was the woman whom she liked best of all the servants "Casimir and a footman will spend the night in the little side salon. The others may retire."
Her orders were obeyed. Two o'clock sounded from the church-tower near by, and then the solemn and terrible silence was only broken by the hard breathing of the unconscious man and the implacable ticktack of the clock on the mantel-shelf, numbering the seconds which were left for him to live. From the streets outside, not a sound reached this princely abode, which stood between a vast courtyard and a garden as large as a park. Moreover, the straw which had been spread over the paving-stones effectually deadened the rumble of the few vehicles that
"Alas!"
He advanced toward the bed, but before he had time to examine his patient Mademoiselle Marguerite handed him a scrap of paper. "The physician who usually attends M. de Chalusse has been here in your absence, monsieur," said she. "This is his prescription, and we have already administered a few drops of the potion."
M. Jodon, who was expecting this blow, bowed coldly.
"I must add," continued Mademoiselle Marguerite, "that the doctor approved of all that had been done; and I beg you will unite your skill with his in treating the case."
Unfortunately all the medical skill of the faculty would have availed nothing here. After another examination, Dr. Jodon declared that it would be necessary to wait for the action of nature, but that he must be informed of the slightest change in the sick man's condition. "And I will tell my servant to wake me at once if I am sent for," he added.
He was already leaving the room, when Madame Leon barred his passage. "Isn't it true, doctor, that one attentive person would suffice to watch over the count?" she asked.
"Most assuredly," he answered.
The housekeeper turned toward Mademoiselle Marguerite. "Ah, you see, my dear young lady," she said, "what did I tell you? Listen to me; take a little rest. Watching is not suitable work for one of your age----"
"It is useless to insist," interrupted the young girl, resolutely. "I shall remain here. I shall watch over him myself."
The housekeeper made no reply; but it seemed to the doctor that the two women exchanged singular glances. "The devil!" he muttered, as he took his departure; "one might think that they distrusted each other!"
Perhaps he was right; but at all events he had scarcely left the house before Madame Leon again urged her dear young lady to take a few hours' rest. "What can you fear?" she insisted, in her wheedling voice. "Sha'n't I be here? Do you suppose your old Leon capable of losing herself in sleep, when your future depends upon a word from that poor man lying there?"
"Pray, cease."
"Ah, no! my dear young lady; my love for you compels me "
"Oh, enough!" interrupted Mademoiselle Marguerite; "enough, Leon!"
Her tone was so determined that the housekeeper was compelled to yield; but not without a deep sigh, not without an imploring glance to Heaven, as if calling upon Providence to witness the purity of her motives and the usefulness of her praiseworthy efforts. "At least, my dear lady, wrap yourself up warmly. Shall I go and bring you your heavy travelling shawl?"
"Thanks, my dear Leon--Annette will bring it."
"Then, pray, send for it. But we are not going to watch alone? What should we do if we needed anything?"
"I will call," replied Marguerite.
This was unnecessary, for Dr. Jodon's departure from the house had put an abrupt termination to the servants' conference; and they were now assembled on the landing, anxious and breathless, and peering eagerly into the sick-room.
Mademoiselle Marguerite went toward them. "Madame Leon and myself will remain with the count," she said. "Annette"--this was the woman whom she liked best of all the servants "Casimir and a footman will spend the night in the little side salon. The others may retire."
Her orders were obeyed. Two o'clock sounded from the church-tower near by, and then the solemn and terrible silence was only broken by the hard breathing of the unconscious man and the implacable ticktack of the clock on the mantel-shelf, numbering the seconds which were left for him to live. From the streets outside, not a sound reached this princely abode, which stood between a vast courtyard and a garden as large as a park. Moreover, the straw which had been spread over the paving-stones effectually deadened the rumble of the few vehicles that