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prisoners while holding these honorable and flattering posts。 We can
no more leave the Temple than Capet can； for； since his father died；
and the crazy legitimists began to call him King Louis XVII。； the
chief magistrate and the Convention have been very anxious。 They are
afraid of secret conspiracies； and consider it possible that the
little prisoner may be taken away from here by intrigue。 We have to
watch him day and night； therefore； and are never allowed to leave
the Temple； lest we should meet with other people； and lest the
legitimists should make the attempt to get into our good graces。
Would you believe； citizen doctor； that they did not even allow me
to go to the grand festival which the city of Paris gave in honor of
the taking of Toulan！ While all the people were shouting； and having
a good time； Jeanne Marie and I had to stay here in this good…for…
nothing Temple； and see and hear nothing of the fine doings。 And
this drives the gall into my blood； and it will make us both sick；
and it is past endurance！〃
〃I believe that you are right； citizen；〃 said the physician；
thoughtfully。 〃Yes； the whole trouble of your wife comes from the
fact that she is here in the Temple； and if she must be shut up here
always she will continue to suffer。〃
〃Yes； to suffer always； to suffer dreadfully；〃 groaned Jeanne Marie。
Then； all at once； she raised herself up and turned with a
commanding bearing to her husband。 〃Simon；〃 she said； 〃the doctor
shall know all that I suffer。 He shall examine my breast； and the
place where I have the greatest pain； but in your presence I shall
say nothing。〃
〃Well； well； I will go；〃 growled Simon。 〃But I think those are
pretty manners！〃
〃They are the manners of a respectable and honorable woman；〃 said
the doctor； gravely〃a woman who does not show the pains and
ailments of her body to any one excepting her physician。 Go； go；
Citizen Simon； and you will esteem your good wife none the less for
not letting you hear what she has to say to her old physician。〃
〃No； certainly not；〃 answered Simon； 〃and that you may both see that
I am not curious to hear what you have to say to one another； I will
go with the youngster up to the platform and remain a whole hour
with him。〃
〃You will beat him again； and I shall hear him；〃 said Jeanne Marie；
weeping。 〃I hear every thing now that goes on in the Temple； and
whenever you strike； the youngster； I feel every blow in my brain；
and that gives me pain enough to drive me to distraction。〃
〃I promise you； Jeanne Marie； that I will not strike him； and will
not trouble myself about him at all。 He can play with his ball。
Halloa； Capet！ Come！ We are going up on the platform。 Take your ball
and any thing else you like； for you shall play to…day and have a
good time。〃
The child stole out of his room with his ball； not looking
particularly delighted； and the prospect of 〃playing〃 did not give
wings to his steps； nor call a smile to his swollen face。 He left
the room noiselessly； and Simon slammed the doors violently behind
him。
〃And now we are alone；〃 said Doctor Naudin； 〃and you can tell me
about your sickness； and about every thing that troubles you。〃
〃Ah； doctor； I do not dare to；〃 she whispered。 〃I am overpowered by
a dreadful fear； and I think you will betray me； and bring my
husband and myself to the scaffold。〃
〃I am no betrayer；〃 answered the doctor； solemnly。 〃The physician is
like a priest； he receives the secrets and disclosures of his
patients； and lets not a word of them pass his lips。 But； in order
that you may take courage； I will first prove to you that I put
confidence in you； by showing you that I understand you。 I will tell
you what the disease is that you are suffering from； and also its
locality。 Jeanne Marie Simon； you are enduring that with which no
pains of the body can be compared。 Your sickness has its seat in the
conscience； and its name is remorse and despair。〃
Jeanne Marie uttered a heart…rending cry； and sprang like an
exasperated tiger from her bed。 〃You lie！〃 she said； seizing the
doctor's arm with both hands； 〃that is a foul； damnable calumny；
that you have thought out merely to bring me under the axe。 I have
nothing to be sorry for； and my conscience fills me with no
reproaches。〃
〃And yet it is gnawing into you with iron teeth； which have been
heated blood…red in the fires of hell；〃 said the doctor； with a
compassionate look at the pale； quivering face of the woman。 〃Do not
raise any quarrel； but quietly listen to me。 We have an hour's time
to talk together； and we want to use it。 But let us speak softly；
softly； together； for what we have to say to each other the deaf
walls themselves ought not to hear。〃
Simon had not returned from the platform with the boy； when Doctor
Naudin ended his long and earnest conversation； and prepared to
leave his patient； who was now quietly lying in her bed。
〃You know every thing now that you have to do；〃 he said； extending
his hand to her。 〃You can reckon on me as I reckon on you； and we
will both go bravely and cheerfully on。 It is a noble work that we
have undertaken； and if it succeeds your heart will be light again；
and God will forgive you your sins； for two martyrs will stand and
plead in your behalf at the throne of God！ Now； do every thing
exactly as I have told you； and speak with your husband to…night；
but not sooner； that you may be safe； and for fear that in his first
panic his face would betray him。〃
〃I shall do every thing just as you wish；〃 said Jeanne Marie； who
had suddenly become humble and bashful； apparently entirely
forgetful of the republican 〃thou。〃 〃It seems to me； now that I have
disburdened my heart to you； that I have become well and strong
again； and certainly I shall owe it to you if I do live and get my
health once more。 But shall you come again to…morrow； doctor？〃
〃No；〃 he replied； 〃I will send a man to…morrow who understands
better than I do how to continue this matter； and to whom you can
give unconditional confidence。 He will announce himself to you as my
assistant； and you can talk over at length every thing that we have
been speaking of。 Hush！ I hear Simon coming！ Farewell！〃
He nodded to Jeanne Marie； and hastily left the room。 Outside； in
the corridor； he met Simon and his silent young ward。
〃Well； citizen doctor；〃 asked Simon； 〃how is it with our sick one？
She has intrusted all her secrets to you； and they must have made a
long story； for you have been a whole hour together。 It is fortunate
that you are an old man； or else I should have been jealous of your
long tete…a…tete with my wife。〃
〃Then you would be a great fool； and I have always held you to be a
prudent and good man。 But； as concerns your wife； I must tell you
something very serious； and I beg you； Citizen Simon； to mark my
words well。 I tell you this： unless your wife Jeanne Marie is out of
this Temple in less than a week； and enjoys her freedom； she will
either lose her senses or take her life。 I will say to you this；
besides： if Citizen Simon does not； as soon as possible； leave this
cursed place and give up his hateful business； it will be the same
with him as with his