through　them。　As　soon　as　he　reached　the　landing；　Auguste；　who　was
  probably　on　the　watch　for　him；　opened　the　door　of　Monsieur　Bernard's
  apartment　and　said：
  〃Mamma　would　like　to　see　you；　and　my　grandfather　offers　you　a　cup　of
  tea。〃
  When　Godefroid　entered；　the　patient　seemed　to　him　transfigured　by　the
  pleasure　she　felt　in　making　music；　her　face　was　radiant；　her　eyes　were
  sparkling　like　diamonds。
  〃I　ought　to　have　waited　to　let　you　hear　the　first　sounds；〃　she　said　to
  Godefroid；　〃but　I　flung　myself　upon　the　little　organ　as　a　starving　man
  flings　himself　on　food。　You　have　a　soul　that　comprehends　me；　and　I
  know　you　will　forgive。〃
  Vanda　made　a　sign　to　her　son；　who　placed　himself　in　such　a　way　as　to
  press　with　his　foot　the　pedal　which　filled　the　bellows；　and　then　the
  invalid；　whose　fingers　had　for　the　time　recovered　all　their　strength
  and　agility；　raising　her　eyes　to　heaven　like　Saint　Cecilia；　played　the
  〃Prayer　of　Moses　in　Egypt；〃　which　her　son　had　bought　for　her　and　which
  she　had　learned　by　heart　in　a　few　hours。　Godefroid　recognized　in　her
  playing　the　same　quality　as　in　Chopin's。　The　soul　was　satisfied　by
  divine　sounds　of　which　the　dominant　note　was　that　of　tender
  melancholy。　Monsieur　Bernard　had　received　Godefroid　with　a　look　that
  was　long　a　stranger　to　his　eyes。　If　tears　were　not　forever　dried　at
  their　source；　withered　by　such　scorching　sorrows；　that　look　would　have
  been　tearful。
  The　old　man　sat　playing　with　his　snuff…box　and　looking　at　his　daughter
  in　silent　ecstasy。
  〃To…morrow；　madame；〃　said　Godefroid；　when　the　music　ceased；　〃to…morrow
  your　fate　will　be　decided。　I　bring　you　good　news。　The　celebrated
  Halpersohn　is　coming　to　see　you　at　three　o'clock　in　the　afternoon。　He
  has　promised；〃　added　Godefroid　in　a　low　voice　to　Monsieur　Bernard；　〃to
  tell　me　the　exact　truth。〃
  The　old　man　rose；　and　grasping　Godefroid's　hand；　drew　him　to　a　corner
  of　the　room　beside　the　fireplace。
  〃Ah！　what　a　night　I　shall　pass！　a　definitive　decision！　My　daughter
  cured　or　doomed！〃
  〃Courage！〃　said　Godefroid；　〃after　tea　come　out　with　me。〃
  〃My　child；　my　child；　don't　play　any　more；〃　said　the　old　man；　〃you　will
  bring　on　an　attack；　such　a　strain　upon　your　strength　must　end　in
  reaction。〃
  He　made　Auguste　take　away　the　instrument　and　offered　a　cup　of　tea　to
  his　daughter　with　the　coaxing　manner　of　a　nurse　quieting　the　petulance
  of　a　child。
  〃What　is　the　doctor　like？〃　she　asked；　her　mind　already　distracted　by
  the　prospect　of　seeing　a　new　person。
  Vanda；　like　all　prisoners；　was　full　of　eager　curiosity。　When　the
  physical　phenomena　of　her　malady　ceased；　they　seemed　to　betake
  themselves　to　the　moral　nature；　she　conceived　the　strangest　fancies；
  the　most　violent　caprices；　she　insisted　on　seeing　Rossini；　and　wept
  when　her　father；　whom　she　believed　to　be　all　powerful；　refused　to
  fetch　him。
  Godefroid　now　gave　her　a　minute　account　of　the　Jewish　doctor　and　his
  study；　of　which　she　knew　nothing；　for　Monsieur　Bernard　had　cautioned
  Auguste　not　to　tell　his　mother　of　his　visits　to　Halpersohn；　so　much
  had　he　feared　to　rouse　hopes　in　her　mind　which　might　not　be　realized。
  Vanda　hung　upon　Godefroid's　words　like　one　fascinated；　and　she　fell
  into　a　sort　of　ecstasy　in　her　passionate　desire　to　see　this　strange
  Polish　doctor。
  〃Poland　has　produced　many　singular；　mysterious　beings；〃　said　Monsieur
  Bernard。　〃To…day；　for　instance；　besides　this　extraordinary　doctor；　we
  have　Hoene　Wronski；　the　enlightened　mathematician；　the　poet
  Mickievicz；　Towianksi　the　mystic；　and　Chopin；　whose　talent　is
  supernatural。　Great　national　convulsions　always　produce　various
  species　of　dwarfed　giants。〃
  〃Oh！　dear　papa；　what　a　man　you　are！　If　you　would　only　write　down　what
  we　hear　you　say　merely　to　amuse　me　you　would　make　your　reputation。
  Fancy；　monsieur；　my　dear　old　father　invents　wonderful　stories　when　I
  have　no　novels　to　read；　he　often　puts　me　to　sleep　in　that　way。　His
  voice　lulls　me；　and　he　quiets　my　mind　with　his　wit。　Who　can　ever
  reward　him？　Auguste；　my　child；　you　ought　for　my　sake；　to　kiss　the
  print　of　your　grandfather's　footsteps。〃
  The　young　man　raised　his　beautiful　moist　eyes　to　his　mother；　and　the
  look　he　gave　her；　full　of　a　long…repressed　compassion；　was　a　poem。
  Godefroid　rose；　took　the　lad's　hand；　and　pressed　it。
  〃God　has　placed　two　angels　beside　you；　madame；〃　he　said。
  〃Yes；　I　know　that。　And　for　that　reason　I　often　reproach　myself　for
  harassing　them。　Come；　my　dear　Auguste；　and　kiss　your　mother。　He　is　a
  child；　monsieur；　of　whom　all　mothers　might　be　proud；　pure　as　gold；
  frank　and　honest；　a　soul　without　sinbut　too　passionate　a　soul；　alas！
  like　that　of　his　poor　mother。　Perhaps　God　has　fastened　me　in　this　bed
  to　keep　me　from　the　follies　of　womenwho　have　too　much　heart；〃　she
  added；　smiling。
  Godefroid　replied　with　a　smile　and　a　bow。
  〃Adieu；　monsieur；　and　thank　your　friend　for　the　instrument；　tell　him
  it　makes　the　happiness　of　a　poor　cripple。〃
  〃Monsieur；〃　said　Godefroid；　when　they　were　alone　in　the　latter's　room。
  〃I　think　I　may　assure　you　that　you　shall　not　be　robbed　by　that　trio　of
  bloodsuckers。　I　have　the　necessary　sum　to　free　your　book；　but　you　must
  first　show　me　your　written　agreement　with　them。　And　after　that；　in
  order　to　do　still　more　for　you；　you　must　let　me　have　your　work　to
  read；not　I　myself；　of　course；　I　have　not　knowledge　enough　to　judge
  of　it；　but　a　former　magistrate；　a　lawyer　of　eminence　and　of　perfect
  integrity；　who　will　undertake；　according　to　what　he　thinks　of　the
  book；　to　find　you　an　honorable　publisher　with　whom　you　can　make　an
  equitable　agreement。　This；　however；　I　will　not　insist　upon。　Meantime
  here　are　five　hundred　francs；〃　he　added；　giving　a　bank…note　to　the
  stupefied　old　man；　〃to　meet　your　present　needs。　I　do　not　ask　for　any
  receipt；　you　will　be　under　obligations　to　your　own　conscience　only；
  and　that　conscience　is　not　to　move　you　until　you　have　recovered　a
  sufficient　competence；I　undertake　to　pay　Halpersohn。〃
  〃Who　are　you；　then？〃　asked　the　old　man；　dropping　into　a　chair。
  〃I　myself；〃　replied　Godefroid；　〃am　nothing；　but　I　serve　powerful
  persons　to　whom　your　distress　is　known；　and　who　feel　an　interest　in
  you。　Ask　me　nothing　more　about　them。〃
  〃But　what　induces　them　to　do　this？〃　said　the　old　man。
  〃Religion。〃
  〃Religion！　is　it　possible？〃
  〃Yes；　the　catholic；　apostolic；　and　Roman　religion。〃
  〃Ah！　do　you　belong　to　the　order　of　Jesus？〃
  〃No；　monsieur；〃　replied　Godefroid。　〃Do　not　feel　uneasy；　these　persons
  have　no　designs　upon　you；　except　that　of　helping　you　to　restore　your
  family　to　prosperity。〃
  〃Can　philanthropy　be　anything　but　vanity？〃
  〃Ah！　monsieur；〃　said　Godefroid；　hastily；　〃do　not　insult　the　virtue
  defined　by　Saint　Paul；　sacred；　catholic　Love！〃
  Monsieur　Bernard；　hearing　this　answer；　began　to　stride　up　and　down
  with　long　steps。
  〃I　accept；〃　he　said　suddenly；　〃and　I　have　but　one　way　of　thanking　you；
  and　that　is　to　offer　you　my　work。　The　notes　and　citations　are
  unnecessary　to　the　magistrate　you　speak　of；　and　I　have　still　two
  months'　work　to　do　in　arranging　them　for　the　press。　To…morrow　I　will
  give　you　the　five　volumes；〃　he　added；　offering　Godefroid　his　hand。
  〃Can　I　have　made　a　conversion？〃　thought　Godefroid；　struck　by　the　new
  expression　which　he　saw　on　the　old　man's　face。
  XVII
  HALPERSOHN
  The　next　afternoon　at　three　o'clock　a　cabriolet　stopped　before　the
  house；　and　Godefroid　saw　Halpersohn　getting　out　of　it；　wrapped　in　a
  monstrous　bear…skin　pelisse。　The　cold　had　strengthened　during　the
  night；　the　thermometer　marking　ten　degrees　of　it。
  The　Jewish　doctor　examined　with　curious　eyes；　though　furtively；　the
  room　in　which　his　client　of　the　day　before　received　him；　and　Godefroid
  detected　the　suspicious　thought　which　darted　from　his　eyes　like　the
  sharp　point　of　a　dagger。　This　rapid　conception　of　distrust　gave
  Godefroid　a　cold　chill；　for　he　thought　within　himself　that　such　a　man
  would　be　pitiless　in　all　relations；　it　is　so　natural　to　suppose　that
  genius　is　connected　with　goodness　that　a　strong　sensation　of　disgust
  took　possession　of　him。
  〃Monsieur；〃　he　said；　〃I　see　that　the　simplicity　of　my　room　makes　you
  uneasy；　therefore　you　need　not　be　surprised　at　my　method　of
  proceeding。　Here　are　your　two　hundred　francs；　and　here；　too；　are　three
  notes　of　a　thousand　francs　each；〃　he　added；　drawing　from　his　pocket…
  book　the　money　Madame　de　la　Chanterie　had　given　him　to　release
  Monsieur　Bernard's　book；　but　in　case　you　still　feel　doubtful　of　my
  solvency　I　offer　you　as　reference　Messrs。　Mongenod；　bankers；　rue　de　la
  Victoire。〃
  〃I　know　them；〃　said　Halpersohn；　putting　the　ten　gold　pieces　into　his
  pocket。
  〃He'll　inquire　of　them；〃　thought　Godefroid。
  〃Where　is　the　patient？〃　asked　the　doctor；　rising　like　a　man　who　knows
  the　value　of　time。
  〃This　way；　monsieur；〃　said　Godefroid；　preceding　him　to　show　the　way。
  The　Jew　examined　with　a　shrewd　and　suspicious　eye　the　places　he　passed
  through；　giving　them　the　keen；　rapid　glance　of　a　spy；　he　saw　all　the
  horrors　of　poverty　through　the　door　of　the　room　in　which　the
  grandfather　and　the　grandson　lived；　for；　unfortunately；　Monsieur
  Bernard　had　gone　in　to　change　his　clothes　before　entering　his
  daughter's　room；　and　in　his　haste　to　open　the　outer　door　to　the
  doctor；　he　had　forgotten　to