He repeated the reasons that Nougarede had given him for not proceeding in this manner.

“I would not say anything that resembles a reproach,” said Madame Cormier, with more decision than she ordinarily put into her words; “but perhaps Monsieur Nougarde has some personal ideas in his advice.  Our interest is that Florentin should return to us as quickly as possible, and that he should be spared the sufferings of a prison.  But I understand that to an ‘ordonnance de non-lieu’, in which he does not appear, Monsieur Nougarde prefers the broad light of the court, where he could deliver a brilliant address, useful to his reputation.”

“Whether or not he has made this calculation,” Saniel said, “things are thus.  I, also, I should have preferred the ‘ordonnance de non-lieu’, which has the great advantage of finishing everything immediately.  Nougarede does not believe that this would be a good plan to follow, so we must follow the one that he traces out for us.”

“We will follow it,” Phillis said, “and I believe that it may bring about the result Monsieur Nougarede expects, as Madame Dammauville would have spoken to but few persons.  When I tried to make her explain herself on this point, without asking her the question directly, she told me that she had only spoken to the concierge of the non-resemblance of the portrait to the man she saw draw the curtains, so that the concierge, who had often spoken to her of Florentin and of my efforts to save him, might warn me.  I shall see, then, to-morrow, how far her story has spread, and I will go to see you about it at five o’clock, unless you prefer that I should go at once to see Monsieur Nougarede.”

“Begin with me, and we will go together to see him, if there is occasion.  I am going to write to him.”

“If I understand Monsieur Nougarde’s plan, it seems that it rests on Madame Dammauville’s appearance in court.  Will this appearance be possible?  That is what I could not learn; only a physician could tell.”

Saniel did not wish to let it appear that he understood this new challenge.

“I forgot to tell you,” Phillis continued, “that the physician who attends her is Doctor Balzajette of the Rue de l’Echelle.  Do you know him?”

“A prig, who conceals his ignorance under dignified manners.”

No sooner had these words left his lips than he realized his error.  Madame Dammauville should have an excellent physician, one who was so high in the estimation of his ‘confreres’ that, if he did not cure her, it was because she was incurable.

“Then how can you hope that he will cure her in time for her to go to court?” Phillis asked.

He did not answer, and rose to go.  Timidly, Madame Cormier repeated her invitation, but he did not accept it, in spite of the tender glance that Phillis gave him.

CHAPTER XXVII

A NEW PERIL