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brood！ But if you beat him to death； they will have to bring you to
the guillotine； that it may not appear as if they had ordered you to
kill the little Capet。〃
〃True；〃 said Simon； 〃you are right； and I thank you； Jeanne Marie；
that you may remind me of it。 It shows that you love me still；
although you are always so quiet。 Yes； yes； I will be more careful；
I will take care to beat the little serpent only so much that it may
not bite； but cannot die。〃
Jeanne Marie made no reply； but sat down in the corner again； and
took up her stocking； without touching the needles； however； and
going on with her work。
〃Get up； you cursed snake！〃 growled Simon； 〃get up and go out of my
sight； and do not stir me up again。〃
The child rose slowly from the floor； crept to the wash…basin and
with his trembling； bruised hands wiped away the blood that was
flowing out of his nose and mouth。 A loud； gurgling sound came from
the corner where Jeanne Marie sat。 It seemed half like a cry； half
like a sob。 When Simon looked around； his wife lay pale and
motionless on the floor； she had sunk from her chair in a swoon。
Simon grasped her in his strong arms and carried her to the bed；
laid her gently and carefully down； and busied himself about her；
showing a manifest anxiety。
〃She must not die；〃 he murmured； rubbing her temples with salt
water； 〃she must not leave me alone in this horrible prison and with
this dreadful child。Jeanne Marie； wake up； come to yourself！〃 She
opened her eyes； and gazed at her husband with wild； searching
looks。
〃What is the matter； Jeanne Marie？〃 he asked。 〃Have you pain？ Are
you sick？〃
〃Yes；〃 she said； 〃I am sick； I am in pain。〃
〃I will go to bring you a physician； you shall not die！ No； no； you
shall not die； you shall have a physician。 The Hotel Dieu is very
near； they will certainly allow me to go as far as there； and bring
a doctor for my dear Jeanne。〃
He was on the point of hastening away； but Jeanne Marie held him
fast。 〃Remain here；〃 she murmured； 〃do not let me be alone with him…
…I am afraid of him！〃
〃Of whom？〃 asked Simon； astonished； and as he followed the looks of
his wife； they rested on the boy； who was still busy in checking the
blood that was flowing freely from his swollen nose。
〃Of him！〃 asked Simon； in amazement。
Jeanne Marie nodded。 〃Yes；〃 she whispered； 〃I am afraid of him； and
I do not want to remain alone with him； for he would kill me。〃 Simon
burst into a loud； hoarse laugh。 〃Now I see that you are really
sick； and the doctor shall come at once。 But they certainly will not
let me leave this place； for this despicable brat has made us both
prisoners； the miserable； good…for…nothing thing！〃
〃Send him away； let him go into his own room；〃 whispered Jeanne
Marie。 〃I cannot bear to see him； he poisons my blood。 Send him
away； for I shall be crazy if I have to look at him longer。〃
〃Away with you； you viper！〃 roared Simon； and the boy； who knew that
he was meantthat the term viper was applied only to himhastily
dried his tears； and slipped through the open door into his little
dark apartment。
〃Now I will run and call the porter；〃 said Simon； hurriedly； 〃he
shall send some one to the Hotel Dieu； and bring a physician for my
poor； dear； sick Jeanne Marie。〃
He hastened out； and turned back； after a few minutes； with the
report that the porter himself had gone to bring a doctor； and that
help would come at once。
〃Nonsense！〃 cried Jeanne Marie； 〃no doctor can help me； and there is
nothing at all that I want。 Only give me something to drink； Simon；
for my throat burns like fire； and then call little Capet in； for in
his dark room his eyes glisten like stars； and I cannot bear them。〃
Simon shook his head sadly； and； while holding a glass of cold water
to her lips； he said to himself： 〃Jeanne Marie is really sick！ She
has a fever！ But we must do what she orders； else it will come to
delirium； and she might become insane。〃
And with a loud voice he called； 〃Capet； Capet！ come here； come
here！ you viper； you wolf's cub； come here！〃
The boy obeyed the command； slowly crept into the room； and sat down
in the rush…chair in the corner。 〃He shall not look at me；〃 shrieked
Jeanne Marie； 〃he shall not look into my heart with his dreadful
blue eyes； it hurts meoh！ so much； so much！〃
〃Turn around； you viper！〃 said Simon。 〃Look round this way again； or
I'll tear your eyes out of your head！ I〃
The door leading to the corridor now opened； and an old man； leaning
on a cane； entered； wearing on his head a powdered peruke； his bent
form covered with a black satin coat； beneath which a satin vest was
seen； on his feet； silk stockings and buckled shoes； in his lace…
encircled hand； a cane with a gold head。
〃Well；〃 cried Simon； with a laugh； 〃what sort of an old scarecrow is
that？ And what does it want here？〃
〃The scarecrow wants nothing of you；〃 said the old man； in a kindly
way； 〃but you want something of it； citizen。 You have sent for me。〃
〃Ah！ so you are the doctor from the Hotel Dieu。〃
〃Yes； my friend； I am Citizen Naudin。〃
〃Naudin； the chief physician at the Hotel Dieu？〃 cried Simon。 〃And
you come yourself to see my sick wife？〃
〃Does that surprise you； Citizen Simon？〃
〃Yes； indeed； it surprises me。 For I have been told so often that
Citizen Naudin； the greatest and most skilful physician in all
Paris； never leaves the Hotel Dieu； that the aristocrats and ci…
devants have begged him in vain to attend them； and that even the
Austrian woman； in the days when she was queen； sent to no purpose
to the celebrated Naudin； and begged him to come to Versailles。
We heard that the answer was： 'I am the physician of the poor and
the sick in the Hotel Dieu； and whoever is poor and sick may come to
me in the house which bears the name of God。 But whoever is too rich
and too well for that； must seek another doctor； for my duties with
the sick do not allow me to leave the H6tel Dieu。' And after that
answer reached the palaceso the great Doctor Marat told methe
queen had her horses harnessed； and drove to Paris； to consult
Doctor Naudin at the Hotel Dieu； and to receive his advice。 Is the
story really true； and are you Doctor Naudin？〃
〃The story is strictly true； and； my friend； I am Doctor Naudin。〃
〃And you now leave the Hotel Dieu to come and visit my sick wife？〃
asked Simon； with a pleasant look and a flattered manner。
〃Does your wife not belong to my poor and sick？〃 asked the doctor。
〃Is she not a woman of the people； this dear French people； to whom
I have devoted my services and my life？ For a queen Doctor Naudin
might not leave his hospital； but for a woman of the people he does
it。 And now； citizen； let me see your sick wife； for I did not come
here to talk。〃
Without waiting for Simon's answer； the physician walked up to the
bed； sat down on the chair in front of it； and began at once to
investigate the condition of the woman； who reached him her feverish
hand； and； with an almost inaudible voice； answered his professional
questions。
The cobbler stood at the foot of the bed； and directed his little
cunning eyes to the physician in amazement and admiration。 Behind