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cursed place and give up his hateful business； it will be the same
with him as with his wife。 He will not become insane； but he will
lapse into melancholy； and if he does not take his own life
consumption will take it for him； the result of his idle； listless
life； the many vexations here； and the wretched atmosphere of the
Temple。〃
〃Consumption！〃 cried Simon； horrified。 〃Do you suppose I am exposed
to that？〃
〃You have it already；〃 said the doctor； solemnly。 〃Those red spots
on your cheeks； and the pain which you have so often in the breast；
announce its approach。 I tell you that if you do not take measures
to leave the Temple in a week； in three months you will be a dead
man； without giving the guillotine a chance at you。 Good…by！
Consider well what I say； citizen； and then do as you like！〃
〃He is right；〃 muttered Simon； as he looked after the doctor with a
horrified look； as Naudin descended the staircase； 〃yes； I see； he
is right。 If I have to stay here any longer； I shall die。 The
vexations and the loneliness； andsomething still more dreadful；
frightful； that I can tell no one of…have made me sick； and the
stitch in my side will grow worse and worse every day； andI must
and will get away from here；〃 he said aloud； and with a decided air。
〃I will not die yet； neither shall Jeanne Marie。 To…morrow I will
hand in my resignation； and then be away！〃
While Simon was walking slowly and thoughtfully toward his wife；
Doctor Naudin left the dark building； went with a light heart out
into the street； and returned with a quick step to the Hotel Dieu。
The porter who opened the door for him； reported to him that during
his absence the same old gentleman who had come the day before to
consult him； had returned and was waiting for him in the anteroom。
Doctor Naudin nodded； and then walked； quickly toward his own
apartments。 Before the door he found his servant。
〃Old Doctor Saunier is here again；〃 he said； taking off his master's
cloak。 〃He insisted on waiting for you。 He said that he must consult
you about a patient； and would not cease begging till you should
consent to accompany him to the sick person's house。 For； if a case
seemed desperate； the great Naudin might still save it。〃
〃You are an ass for letting him talk such nonsense； and for
believing it yourself； Citizen Joly；〃 cried Naudin with a laugh； and
then entering the anteroom。
An old gentleman； clad in the same old…fashioned costume with Doctor
Naudin； came forward。 Citizen Joly； as he closed the door somewhat
slowly； heard him say：
〃Thank God that you have come at last； citizen！ I have waited for
you impatiently； and now I conjure you to accompany me as quickly as
possible to my patient。〃
Naudin； opening the door of his study； said in reply； 〃Come in；
Citizen Saunier； and tell me first how it is with your sick one。〃
Nothing more could Joly； Naudin's servant； understand； for the two
doctors had gone into the study； and the door was closed behind
them。 After a short time； however； it was opened。 Naudin ordered the
valet to order a tiacre at once； and a few minutes later Director
Naudin rode away at the side of Doctor Saunier。
At a house in the Rue Montmartre the carriage stopped； and the two
physicians entered。 The porter； opening the little； dusty window of
his lodge； nodded confidentially to Saunier。
〃That is probably the celebrated Doctor Naudin of the Hotel Dieu；
whom you have with you？〃 he asked。
〃Yes； it is he；〃 answered Saunier； 〃and if anybody can help our
patient； it is he。 Citizen Crage is probably at home？〃
〃Certainly he is at home； for you know he never leaves his sick boy。
You will find him above。 You know the way； citizen doctor！〃
The two physicians passed on； ascended the staircase； and entered
the suit of rooms whose door was only partially closedleft ajar；
as it seemed； for them。 Nobody came to meet them； but they carefully
closed the door behind them； drew the bolt； and then walked silently
and quickly across the anteroom to the opposite door。
Doctor Saunier knocked softly three times with a slight interval
between； and cried three times with a loud voice；
〃The two physicians are come to see the patient。〃
A bolt was withdrawn on the inside； the door opened； and a tall
man's figure appeared and motioned to the gentlemen to come in。
〃Are we alone？〃 whispered Doctor Saunier； as they entered the inner
room。
〃Yes； entirely alone；〃 answered the other。 〃There in the chamber
lies my poor sick boy； and you know well that he can betray no one；
and that he knows nothing of what is going on around him。〃
〃Yes； unfortunately； I know that；〃 answered Doctor Saunier sadly。 〃I
promised you that I would bring you the most celebrated and skilful
physician in Paris； and you see I keep my word； for I have brought
you Doctor Naudin； the director of the Hotel Dieu andthe friend
and devoted servant of the royal family； to whom we have both sworn
allegiance until death。 Doctor Naudin； I have not given you the name
of the gentleman to whom I was taking you。 It is a secret which only
the possessor is able to divulge to you。〃
〃I divulge it；〃 said the other； smiling； 〃Doctor Naudin； I am the
Marquis Jarjayes。〃
〃Jarjayes； who made the plan for the escape of the royal family in
the Temple？〃 asked Naudin eagerly。
〃Marquis Jarjayes； who lost his property in the service of the
queen； risked his life in her deliverance； and perhaps escaped the
guillotine merely by emigrating and putting himself beyond the reach
of Robespierre。 Are you that loyal； courageous Marquis de Jarjayes？〃
〃I am Jarjayes； and I thank you for the praises you have given me；
but I cannot accept them in the presence of him who merits them all
much more than I do； and who is more worthy of praise than any one
else。 No； I can receive no commendation in the presence of Toulan；
the most loyal； the bravest； the most prudent of us all； for Toulan
is the soul of every thing； and our martyr queen confessed it in
giving him the highest of all titles of honor； in calling him
Fidele； a title which will remain for centuries。〃
〃Yes； you are right；〃 said Dr。 Naudin； laying his hand on the
shoulder of Dr。 Saunier。 〃He is the noblest； most loyal； and bravest
of us all。 On that account； when he came to me a few days ago and
showed me the golden salt* bottle of the queen in confirmation of
his statement that he was Toulan； I was ready to do every thing that
he might desire of me and to enter into all his plans； for Toulan's
magnanimity and fidelity are contagious； and excite every one to
emulate him。〃
〃I beg you； gentlemen；〃 said Toulan softly； 〃do not praise me nor
think that to be heroism which is merely natural。 I have devoted to
Queen Marie Antoinette my life； my thought； my heart。 I swore upon
her hand that so long as I lived I would be true to her and her
family； and to keep my vow is simple enough。 Queen Marie Antoinette
is no more。 I was not able to save her； but perhaps she looks down
from the heavenly heights upon us； and is satisfied with us； if she
sees that we are now trying to do for her son what； unfortunately；
we were not able to accomplish for her。 This is my hope；