Part 2, Chapter 12 Summary

Claire finally gets to see the hospital (L'Hopital des Anges). Herr Gerstmann takes her, Mary Hawkins, and a few other women. Hildegarde de Gascogne is in charge of the place. Gerstmann tells Hildegarde that he brings the women to volunteer their time. A nurse named Angelique shows them through the wards of the hospital. The grotesque scene throughout makes some of the women leave. Claire and Mary Hawkins are the only two left. Claire diagnoses one sick woman by dipping her finger into the urine. She has diabetes, but they don't call it that in the 1700s. She also announces that the woman has but a month left to live. Angelique is very impressed with Claire.

Claire spends day after day at the hospital. As the nuns and other caregivers get used to her she feels more comfortable. Hildegarde takes a...