Conscience -- Volume 3

her to speak, she hoped to convince him-"that I have done all I could to bring Madame

ould be

her doctor than Monsieur Balzajette would find a remedy, some way, a miracle if you will, to enable Madame Dammauville to go to the Palais de justice, and I said it. I said it in every tone, in every way, with as much persuasion as I could put in my words. W

ould d

ople think to see her in this condition? What impression would she make on the jury? Would not her appearance weaken the value of her testimony? As Madame Dammauville is fond of me, and very kind to me, I determined to profit by this kindness to urge a consultation, but without mentioning any name. I represented to her that, since M. Balzajette might say with every appearance of truth he had cured her, he should not be angry if she desired to r

owledge i

sembled hers. It was not wrong, was it, to say what you have done for us? And without letting any one suspect my love, I could praise you, which my gratitude prompte

thout softening the hardness of his gla

d cured my mother, I had the right to praise you. With a nature like hers, she would not have understood if I had not done it; she would have believed me ungra

hat na

s. I took the book to her two days ago, and she has just told

not go; she has h

r a visit; all is arranged with Monsieur Balzajette,

xtraordinary on the

e smallest objection; on the contrary, he praised you. He says that you are one of the rare you

or the opinion of

t because I spoke of you, but because you have inspired Monsieur Balzajette wit

ght send for him, and with whom he would be obliged to remain. Besides, he wished to go to court; and since his testimony would carry considerable weight with the jury, it was his duty to be present on account of Florentin. It would be a contemptible cowardice to fail in this duty, and more, it would be an imprudence. In the eyes of the world he must appear to have nothing to fear, and this assurance, this confidence in himself, was one of the conditions of

t now was to know where this meeting would be the least d

e not present, his eyes fixed, his brow contracted, his lips tightly close

id, who did not wish to go yet,

she

leave the room,

alzajette

!" Phill

to admit Doctor Balzajette, and while Phillis s

forward with bot

'confrere'. I am enc

amicable, and protecting, an

e natural than that, for you inspired me with a quick sympathy. The first time you came to

d; and of all the visi

his quarter, that to Ba

how more pride, haught

o his reception of the

d Balzajette. "It is with regard to this pat

Dammau

mean time, the poor woman is irritable and impatient. You know women, young 'confrere'. To calm this impatience, I spontaneously proposed a consultation, and naturally pronounced your

ieved in the perfect sincerity

lf, I shall be happy to introduce you to my clientage. Fo

, Balzajette, mistaking the ca

aid. "Let us go the firs

hese conditions a refus

row suit you

y all means.

k and consulted an almanac, which appea

oing to believe his time so fully occupied that he

the exact hour of sunset that he wished: "26 March, 6h. 20m." At this moment it would not be dark enough at Madame Dammauville's

x suit you? I will call

o be very exact; I have a dinner a

able circumstance, enabling him to escape from Mad

one, he rejoined Phil

anged for to-morrow at

uvill

herself on

t you would