Part 48 (1/2)
”That is for me a prophetic day, and more, it is the anniversary of my birth, my dear abbe, so give me your evening on that day and you will not regret having come.”
”Very well, then, the twentieth of November, if my health--”
”Permits you,--well understood, my dear abbe; but my experience tells me that you will be able to drag yourself to see me on that day.”
”What a man. He is capable of giving me a perfect example, in his big own d.a.m.ned person, of the seven capital sins.”
At this moment the door opened.
It was on this door, more than once, that the glances of Abbe Ledoux had been turned with secret and growing impatience, during his conversation with the doctor.
CHAPTER V.
The abbe's housekeeper, having entered the chamber, handed a letter to her master, and, exchanging with him a look of intelligence, said:
”It is very urgent, M. abbe.”
”Permit me, doctor?” said the holy man, before breaking the seal of the letter he held in his hand.
”At your convenience, my dear abbe,” replied the doctor, rising from his seat; ”I must leave you now.”
”I pray you, just a word!” cried the abbe, who seemed especially anxious that the doctor should not depart so soon. ”Give me time to glance over this letter, and I am at your service.”
”But, abbe, we have nothing more to say to each other. I have an urgent consultation, and the hour is--”
”I implore you, doctor,” insisted the abbe, breaking the seal and running his eyes over the letter he had just received, ”in the name of Heaven, give me only five minutes, not more.”
Surprised at this singular persistence on the part of the abbe, the doctor hesitated to go out, when the invalid, discontinuing his reading of the letter, raised his eyes to heaven and exclaimed:
”Ah, my G.o.d, my G.o.d!”
”What is the matter?”
”Ah, my poor doctor!”
”Finish what you have to say.”
”Ah, doctor, it was Providence that sent you here.”
”Providence!”
”Yes, because I find it in my power to render you a great service, perhaps.”
The physician appeared to be a little doubtful of the good-will of Abbe Ledoux, and accepted his words not without a secret distrust.
”Let us see, my dear abbe,” replied he, ”what service can you render me?”