“But what is to be done?  Is it better to destroy two persons and perhaps kill a whole family with despair?  Oh, madame, I entreat you, extricate us from this extremity!”

The marquis buried his face in his hands, and sobbed as though he were weeping copiously.

“Your despair grievously affects me,” said the matron; “but consider that for a woman of my calling it is a capital offence.”

“What are you talking about?  Do not our mystery, our safety, and our credit come in first?

“They can never get at you till after the death and dishonour of all that is dear to me in the world.”

“I might then, perhaps.  But in this case you must insure me against legal complications, fines, and procure me a safe exit from the kingdom.”

“Ah! that is my affair.  Take my whole fortune!  Take my life!”

And he threw the whole purse on the table.

“In this case, and solely to extricate you from the extreme danger in which I see you placed, I consent to give you a decoction, and certain instructions, which will instantly relieve the lady from her burden.  She must use the greatest precaution, and study to carry out exactly what I am about to tell you.  My God! only such desperate occasions as this one could induce me to——­ Here——­”

She took a flask from the bottom of a cupboard, and continued—­

“Here is a liquor which never fails.”

“Oh, madame, you save my honour, which is dearer to me than life!  But this is not enough:  tell me what use I am to make of this liquor, and in what doses I am to administer it.”

“The patient,” replied the midwife, “must take one spoonful the first day; the second day two; the third——­”

“You will obey me to the minutest particular?”

“I swear it.”

“Let us start, then.”

She asked but for time to pack a little linen, put things in order, then fastened her doors, and left the house with the marquis.  A quarter of an hour later they were galloping through the night, without her knowing where the marquis was taking her.

The marquis reappeared three days later at the chateau, finding the count’s family as he had left them—­that is to say, intoxicated with hope, and counting the weeks, days, and hours before the accouchement of the countess.  He excused his hurried departure on the ground of the importance of the business which had summoned him away; and speaking of his journey at table, he related a story current in the country whence he came, of a surprising event which he had all but witnessed.  It was the case of a lady of quality who suddenly found herself in the most dangerous pangs of labour.  All the skill of the physicians who had been summoned proved futile; the lady was at the point of death; at last, in sheer despair, they summoned a midwife of great repute among the peasantry, but whose practice did not include the gentry.  From the first treatment of this