“I appreciate, sir, the importance of your duties; but mine are, I think, by no means less solemn nor less urgent.”

“Oh!”

“Consequently you will be pleased, sir, to grant me five minutes more.”

“Ten, if it must be, sir.  Only I warn you that every minute henceforth may endanger the life of my patient.”

They had drawn near to each other, and were measuring each other with defiant looks, which betrayed the bitterest animosity.  They would surely not quarrel at the bedside of a dying man?  The countess seemed to fear such a thing; for she said reproachfully,—­

“Gentlemen, I pray, gentlemen”—­

Perhaps her intervention would have been of no avail, if M. Seneschal and M. Daubigeon had not stepped in, each addressing one of the two adversaries.  M. Galpin was apparently the most obstinate of the two; for, in spite of all, he began once more to question the count, and said,—­

“I have only one more question to ask you, sir:  Where and how were you standing, where and how do you think the murderer was standing, at the moment when the crime was committed?”

“Sir,” replied the count, evidently with a great effort, “I was standing, as I told you, on the threshold of my door, facing the courtyard.  The murderer must have been standing some twenty yards off, on my right, behind a pile of wood.”

When he had written down the answer of the wounded man, the magistrate turned once more to the physician, and said,—­

“You heard what was said, sir.  It is for you now to aid justice by telling us at what distance the murderer must have been when he fired.”

“I don’t guess riddles,” replied the physician coarsely.

“Ah, have a care, sir!” said M. Galpin.  “Justice, whom I here represent, has the right and the means to enforce respect.  You are a physician, sir; and your science is able to answer my question with almost mathematical accuracy.”

The physician laughed, and said,—­

“Ah, indeed!  Science has reached that point, has it?  Which science?  Medical jurisprudence, no doubt,—­that part of our profession which is at the service of the courts, and obeys the judges’ behests.”

“Sir!”

But the doctor was not the man to allow himself to be defeated a second time.  He went on coolly,—­

“I know what you are going to say; there is no handbook of medical jurisprudence which does not peremptorily settle the question you ask me.  I have studied these handbooks, these formidable weapons which you gentlemen of the bar know so well how to handle.  I know the opinions of a Devergie and an Orfila, I know even what Casper and Tardieu, and a host of others teach on that subject.  I am fully aware that these gentlemen claim to be able to tell you by the inch at what distance a shot has been fired.  But I am not so skilful.  I am only a poor country-practitioner, a simple healer of diseases.  And before I give an opinion which may cost a poor devil his life, innocent though he be, I must have time to reflect, to consult data, and to compare other cases in my practice.”