“It breaks my heart to see her in this state,” resumed Noel.  “Must she die without recovering her reason even for one moment?  Will she not recognise me, speak one word to me?”

“Who knows?  This disease, my poor friend, baffles all foresight.  Each moment, the aspect may change, according as the inflammation affects such or such a part of the brain.  She is now in a state of utter insensibility, of complete prostration of all her intellectual faculties, of coma, of paralysis so to say; to-morrow, she may be seized with convulsions, accompanied with a fierce delirium.”

“And will she speak then?”

“Certainly; but that will neither modify the nature nor the gravity of the disease.”

“And will she recover her reason?”

“Perhaps,” answered the doctor, looking fixedly at his friend; “but why do you ask that?”

“Ah, my dear Herve, one word from Madame Gerdy, only one, would be of such use to me!”

“For your affair, eh!  Well, I can tell you nothing, can promise you nothing.  You have as many chances in your favour as against you; only, do not leave her.  If her intelligence returns, it will be only momentary, try and profit by it.  But I must go,” added the doctor; “I have still three calls to make.”

Noel followed his friend.  When they reached the landing, he asked:  “You will return?”

“This evening, at nine.  There will be no need of me till then.  All depends upon the watcher.  But I have chosen a pearl.  I know her well.”

“It was you, then, who brought this nun?”

“Yes, and without your permission.  Are you displeased?”

“Not the least in the world.  Only I confess—­”

“What! you make a grimace.  Do your political opinions forbid your having your mother, I should say Madame Gerdy, nursed by a nun of St. Vincent?”

“My dear Herve, you—­”

“Ah!  I know what you are going to say.  They are adroit, insinuating, dangerous, all that is quite true.  If I had a rich old uncle whose heir I expected to be, I shouldn’t introduce one of them into his house.  These good creatures are sometimes charged with strange commissions.  But, what have you to fear from this one?  Never mind what fools say.  Money aside, these worthy sisters are the best nurses in the world.  I hope you will have one when your end comes.  But good-bye; I am in a hurry.”

And, regardless of his professional dignity, the doctor hurried down the stairs; while Noel, full of thought, his countenance displaying the greatest anxiety, returned to Madame Gerdy.

At the door of the sick-room, the nun awaited the advocate’s return.

“Sir,” said she, “sir.”

“You want something of me, sister?”

“Sir, the servant bade me come to you for money; she has no more, and had to get credit at the chemist’s.”

“Excuse me, sister,” interrupted Noel, seemingly very much vexed; “excuse me for not having anticipated your request; but you see I am rather confused.”