The Mystery of Orcival [40]
them, a cynical boldness. A sly smile was always playing about his thin lips, beneath which there was no beard. A little way off, with his slight figure and his beardless face, he looked like a Paris gamin - one of those little wretches who are the essence of all corruption, whose imagination is more soiled than the gutters where they search for lost pennies.
Robelot advanced several steps, smiling and bowing. "Perhaps," said he, " Monsieur has, by chance, need of me?"
"None whatever, Master Robelot, I only wish to congratulate you on happening in so apropos, to bleed Monsieur Courtois. Your lancet has, doubtless, saved his life."
It's quite possible."
"Monsieur Courtois is generous - he will amply recompense this great service."
"Oh, I shall ask him nothing. Thank God, I want nobody's help. If I am paid my due, I am content."
"I know that well enough; you are prosperous - you ought to be satisfied."
M. Plantat's tone was friendly, almost paternal. He was deeply interested, evidently, in Robelot's prosperity.
"Satisfied!" resumed the bone-setter. "Not so much as you might think. Life is very dear for poor people."
"But, haven't you just purchased an estate near d'Evry?"
Yes."
"And a nice place, too, though a trifle damp. Happily you have stone to fill it in with, on the land that you bought of the widow Frapesle."
Robelot had never seen the old justice of the peace so talkative, so familiar; he seemed a little surprised.
"Three wretched pieces of land!" said he.
"Not so bad as you talk about. Then you've also bought something in the way of mines, at auction, haven't you?"
"Just a bunch of nothing at all."
"True, but it pays well. It isn't so bad, you see, to be a doctor without a diploma."
Robelot had been several times prosecuted for illegal practicing; so he thought he ought to protest against this.
"If I cure people," said he, "I'm not paid for it."
"Then your trade in herbs isn't what has enriched you."
The conversation was becoming a cross-examination. The bone-setter was beginning to be restless.
"Oh, I make something out of the herbs,". he answered.
"And as you are thrifty, you buy land."
"I've also got some cattle and horses, which bring in something. I raise horses, cows, and sheep."
"Also without diploma?"
Robelot waxed disdainful.
"A piece of parchment does not make science. I don't fear the men of the schools. I study animals in the fields and the stable, without bragging. I haven't my equal for raising them, nor for knowing their diseases."
M. Plantat's tone became more and more winning.
"I know that you are a bright fellow, full of experience. Doctor Gendron, with whom you served, was praising your cleverness a moment ago."
The bone-setter shuddered, not so imperceptibly as to escape Plantat, who continued: "Yes, the good doctor said he never had so intelligent an assistant. 'Robelot,' said he, 'has such an aptitude for chemistry, and so much taste for it besides, that he understands as well - as I many of the most delicate operations.'"
"Parbleu! I did my best, for I was well paid, and I was always fond of learning."
"And you were an apt scholar at Doctor Gendron's, Master Robelot; he makes some very curious studies. His work and experience on poisons are above all remarkable."
Robelot's uneasiness became apparent; his look wavered.
"Yes;" returned he, "I have seen some strange experiments."
"Well, you see, you may think yourself lucky - for the doctor is going to have a splendid chance to study this sort of thing, and he will undoubtedly want you to assist him."
But Robelot was too shrewd not to have already guessed that this cross-examination had a purpose. What was M. Plantat after? he asked himself, not without a vague terror. And, going over in his mind the questions which had been asked, and the answers he had given, and to what these questions led, he trembled. He thought to escape further questioning by saying:
"I am always at my old master's orders when he needs me."
Robelot advanced several steps, smiling and bowing. "Perhaps," said he, " Monsieur has, by chance, need of me?"
"None whatever, Master Robelot, I only wish to congratulate you on happening in so apropos, to bleed Monsieur Courtois. Your lancet has, doubtless, saved his life."
It's quite possible."
"Monsieur Courtois is generous - he will amply recompense this great service."
"Oh, I shall ask him nothing. Thank God, I want nobody's help. If I am paid my due, I am content."
"I know that well enough; you are prosperous - you ought to be satisfied."
M. Plantat's tone was friendly, almost paternal. He was deeply interested, evidently, in Robelot's prosperity.
"Satisfied!" resumed the bone-setter. "Not so much as you might think. Life is very dear for poor people."
"But, haven't you just purchased an estate near d'Evry?"
Yes."
"And a nice place, too, though a trifle damp. Happily you have stone to fill it in with, on the land that you bought of the widow Frapesle."
Robelot had never seen the old justice of the peace so talkative, so familiar; he seemed a little surprised.
"Three wretched pieces of land!" said he.
"Not so bad as you talk about. Then you've also bought something in the way of mines, at auction, haven't you?"
"Just a bunch of nothing at all."
"True, but it pays well. It isn't so bad, you see, to be a doctor without a diploma."
Robelot had been several times prosecuted for illegal practicing; so he thought he ought to protest against this.
"If I cure people," said he, "I'm not paid for it."
"Then your trade in herbs isn't what has enriched you."
The conversation was becoming a cross-examination. The bone-setter was beginning to be restless.
"Oh, I make something out of the herbs,". he answered.
"And as you are thrifty, you buy land."
"I've also got some cattle and horses, which bring in something. I raise horses, cows, and sheep."
"Also without diploma?"
Robelot waxed disdainful.
"A piece of parchment does not make science. I don't fear the men of the schools. I study animals in the fields and the stable, without bragging. I haven't my equal for raising them, nor for knowing their diseases."
M. Plantat's tone became more and more winning.
"I know that you are a bright fellow, full of experience. Doctor Gendron, with whom you served, was praising your cleverness a moment ago."
The bone-setter shuddered, not so imperceptibly as to escape Plantat, who continued: "Yes, the good doctor said he never had so intelligent an assistant. 'Robelot,' said he, 'has such an aptitude for chemistry, and so much taste for it besides, that he understands as well - as I many of the most delicate operations.'"
"Parbleu! I did my best, for I was well paid, and I was always fond of learning."
"And you were an apt scholar at Doctor Gendron's, Master Robelot; he makes some very curious studies. His work and experience on poisons are above all remarkable."
Robelot's uneasiness became apparent; his look wavered.
"Yes;" returned he, "I have seen some strange experiments."
"Well, you see, you may think yourself lucky - for the doctor is going to have a splendid chance to study this sort of thing, and he will undoubtedly want you to assist him."
But Robelot was too shrewd not to have already guessed that this cross-examination had a purpose. What was M. Plantat after? he asked himself, not without a vague terror. And, going over in his mind the questions which had been asked, and the answers he had given, and to what these questions led, he trembled. He thought to escape further questioning by saying:
"I am always at my old master's orders when he needs me."