swear　to　you　that　I　will　be　your　devoted　and　faithful　servant。〃
  It　happened　further　that　Dr。　Naudin　pressed　to　his　lips　the　hand
  that　reached　him　the　precious　gift；　and　that　upon　this　hand　two
  tears　fell　from　the　eyes　of　the　physician；　long　accustomed　to　look
  upon　human　misery　and　pain；　and　which　had　not　for　years　been
  suffused　with　moisture。
  Just　then；　approaching　steps　being　heard　in　the　corridor；　the　doctor
  rose　quickly；　concealed　the　pears　in　his　pocket；　and　entered　the
  chamber　of　the　sick　woman　at　the　same　instant　when　Simon　returned
  from　his　visit　above…stairs。
  Tne　boy　slipped；　with　the　doctor；　into　the　sick…room；　and　as　no　one
  paid　any　attention　to　him；　he　stole　softly　into　his　room；　crouched
  down　upon　his　straw　bed；　with　fluttering　heart；　to　think　over　all　he
  had　experienced　or　dreamed　of　that　day。
  〃And　how　is　it　with　our　sick　one　to…day？〃　asked　Doctor　Naudin；
  sitting　down　near　the　bed；　and　giving　a　friendly　nod　to　Simon　to　do
  the　same。
  〃It　goes　badly　with　me；〃　moaned　Mistress　Simon。　〃My　heart　seems　to
  be　on　fire；　and　I　have　no　rest　day　or　night。　I　believe　that　it　is
  all　over　with　me；　and　that　I　shall　die；　and　that　is　the　best　thing
  for　me；　for　then　I　shall　be　free　again；　and　not　have　to　endure　the
  torments　that　I　have　had　to　undergo　in　this　dreadful　dungeon。〃
  〃What　kind　of　pains　are　they？〃　asked　the　doctor。　〃Where　do　you
  suffer？〃
  〃I　will　tell　you；　citizen　doctor；〃　cried　Simon；　impatiently。　〃Her
  pains　are　everywhere；　in　every　corner　of　this　lonely　and　cursed
  building；　and　if　it　goes　on　so　long；　we　shall　have　to　pack　and　move。
  The　authorities　have　done　us　both　a　great　honor；　for　they　have　had
  confidence　enough　in　us　to　give　the　little　Capet　into　our　charge；
  but　it　is　our　misfortune　to　be　so　honored；　and　we　shall　both　die　of
  it。　For；　not　to　make　a　long　story　of　it；　we　both　cannot　endure　the
  air　of　the　prison；　the　stillness　and　solitude；　and　it　is　a　dreadful
  thing　for　us　to　see　nothing　else　the　whole　day　than　the　stupid　face
  of　this　youngster；　always　looking　at　me　so　dreadfully　with　his　great
  blue　eyes；　that　it　really　affects　one。　We　are　neither　of　us　used　to
  such　an　idle；　useless　life；　and　it　will　be　the　death　of　us；　citizen
  doctor。　My　wife；　Jeanne　Marie；　whom　you　see　lying　there　so　pale　and
  still；　used　to　be　the　liveliest　and　most　nimble　woman　about；　and
  could　do　as　much　with　her　strong　arms　and　brown　hands　as　four　other
  women。　And　then　she　was　the　bravest　and　most　outrageous　republican
  that　ever　was；　when　it　came　to　battling　for　the　people。　We　both
  helped　to　storm　the　Bastile；　both　went　to　Versailles　that　time；　and
  afterward　took　the　wolf's　brood　from　the　Tuileries　and　brought　them
  to　the　Convention。　Afterward　Jeanne　Marie　was　always　the　first　on
  the　platform　near　the　guillotine；　and　when　Samson　and　his　assistants
  mounted　the　scaffold　in　the　morning；　and　waited　for　the　cars；　the
  first　thing　they　did　was　to　look　over　to　the　tribune　to　see　if
  Mistress　Simon　was　there　with　her　knitting；　for　it　used　to　seem　to
  them　that　the　work　of　hewing　off　heads　went　more　briskly　on　if
  Jeanne　Marie　was　there　and　kept　the　account　in　her　stocking。　Samson
  himself　told　me　this；　and　said　to　me　that　Jeanne　Marie　was　the
  bravest　of　all　the　women；　and　that　she　never　trembled；　and　that　her
  eyes　never　turned　away；　however　many　heads　fell　into　the　basket。　And
  she　was　there　too　when　the　Austrian〃
  〃Hush！〃　cried　Jeanne　Marie；　rising　up　hastily　in　bed；　and　motioning
  to　her　husband　to　be　silent。　〃Do　not　speak　of　that；　lest　the
  youngster　hear　it；　and　turn　his　dreadful　eyes　upon　us。　Do　not　speak
  of　that　fearful　day；　for　it　was　then　that　my　sickness　began；　and　I
  believe　that　there　was　poison　in　the　brandy　that　we　drank　that
  evening。　Yes；　yes；　there　was　poison　in　it；　and　from　that　comes　the
  fire　that　burns　in　my　heart；　and　I　shall　die　of　it！　Oh！　I　shall　burn
  to　death　with　it！〃
  She　put　her　hands　before　her　face　and　sank　back　upon　the　pillows；
  sobbing。　Simon　shook　his　head　and　heaved　a　deep　sigh。　〃It　is　not
  that；〃　murmured　he；　〃it　is　not　from　that；　doctor！　The　thing　is；　that
  Jeanne　Marie　has　no　work　and　no　exercise；　and　that　she　is　going　to
  wreck；　because　we　are　compelled　to　live　here　as　kings　and
  aristocrats　used　to　live；　without　labor　and　occupation；　and　without
  doing　any　more　than　to　nurse　our　fancies。　We　shall　all　die　of　this；
  I　tell　you！〃
  〃But　if　you　know　this；　citizen；　why　do　you　not　give　up　your
  situation？　Why　do　you　not　petition　the　authorities　to　dismiss　you
  from　this　service；　and　give　you　something　else　to　do？〃
  〃I　have　done　that　twice　already；〃　answered　Simon；　bringing　his　fist
  down　upon　the　table　near　the　bed　so　violently　that　the　bottles　of
  medicine　standing　there　were　jerked　high　into　the　air。　〃Twice
  already　have　I　tried　to　be　transferred　to　some　other　duty；　and　the
  answer　has　been　sent　back；　that　the　country　orders　me　to　stand　at　my
  post；　and　that　there　is　no　one　who　could　take　my　place。〃
  〃That　is　very　honorable　and　flattering；〃　remarked　the　physician。
  〃Yes；　but　very　burdensome　and　disagreeable；〃　answered　Simon。　〃We　are
  prisoners　while　holding　these　honorable　and　flattering　posts。　We　can
  no　more　leave　the　Temple　than　Capet　can；　for；　since　his　father　died；
  and　the　crazy　legitimists　began　to　call　him　King　Louis　XVII。；　the
  chief　magistrate　and　the　Convention　have　been　very　anxious。　They　are
  afraid　of　secret　conspiracies；　and　consider　it　possible　that　the
  little　prisoner　may　be　taken　away　from　here　by　intrigue。　We　have　to
  watch　him　day　and　night；　therefore；　and　are　never　allowed　to　leave
  the　Temple；　lest　we　should　meet　with　other　people；　and　lest　the
  legitimists　should　make　the　attempt　to　get　into　our　good　graces。
  Would　you　believe；　citizen　doctor；　that　they　did　not　even　allow　me
  to　go　to　the　grand　festival　which　the　city　of　Paris　gave　in　honor　of
  the　taking　of　Toulan！　While　all　the　people　were　shouting；　and　having
  a　good　time；　Jeanne　Marie　and　I　had　to　stay　here　in　this　good…for…
  nothing　Temple；　and　see　and　hear　nothing　of　the　fine　doings。　And
  this　drives　the　gall　into　my　blood；　and　it　will　make　us　both　sick；
  and　it　is　past　endurance！〃
  〃I　believe　that　you　are　right；　citizen；〃　said　the　physician；
  thoughtfully。　〃Yes；　the　whole　trouble　of　your　wife　comes　from　the
  fact　that　she　is　here　in　the　Temple；　and　if　she　must　be　shut　up　here
  always　she　will　continue　to　suffer。〃
  〃Yes；　to　suffer　always；　to　suffer　dreadfully；〃　groaned　Jeanne　Marie。
  Then；　all　at　once；　she　raised　herself　up　and　turned　with　a
  commanding　bearing　to　her　husband。　〃Simon；〃　she　said；　〃the　doctor
  shall　know　all　that　I　suffer。　He　shall　examine　my　breast；　and　the
  place　where　I　have　the　greatest　pain；　but　in　your　presence　I　shall
  say　nothing。〃
  〃Well；　well；　I　will　go；〃　growled　Simon。　〃But　I　think　those　are
  pretty　manners！〃
  〃They　are　the　manners　of　a　respectable　and　honorable　woman；〃　said
  the　doctor；　gravely〃a　woman　who　does　not　show　the　pains　and
  ailments　of　her　body　to　any　one　excepting　her　physician。　Go；　go；
  Citizen　Simon；　and　you　will　esteem　your　good　wife　none　the　less　for
  not　letting　you　hear　what　she　has　to　say　to　her　old　physician。〃
  〃No；　certainly　not；〃　answered　Simon；　〃and　that　you　may　both　see　that
  I　am　not　curious　to　hear　what　you　have　to　say　to　one　another；　I　will
  go　with　the　youngster　up　to　the　platform　and　remain　a　whole　hour
  with　him。〃
  〃You　will　beat　him　again；　and　I　shall　hear　him；〃　said　Jeanne　Marie；
  weeping。　〃I　hear　every　thing　now　that　goes　on　in　the　Temple；　and
  whenever　you　strike；　the　youngster；　I　feel　every　blow　in　my　brain；
  and　that　gives　me　pain　enough　to　drive　me　to　distraction。〃
  〃I　promise　you；　Jeanne　Marie；　that　I　will　not　strike　him；　and　will
  not　trouble　myself　about　him　at　all。　He　can　play　with　his　ball。
  Halloa；　Capet！　Come！　We　are　going　up　on　the　platform。　Take　your　ball
  and　any　thing　else　you　like；　for　you　shall　play　to…day　and　have　a
  good　time。〃
  The　child　stole　out　of　his　room　with　his　ball；　not　looking
  particularly　delighted；　and　the　prospect　of　〃playing〃　did　not　give
  wings　to　his　steps；　nor　call　a　smile　to　his　swollen　face。　He　left
  the　room　noiselessly；　and　Simon　slammed　the　doors　violently　behind
  him。
  〃And　now　we　are　alone；〃　said　Doctor　Naudin；　〃and　you　can　tell　me
  about　your　sickness；　and　about　every　thing　that　troubles　you。〃
  〃Ah；　doctor；　I　do　not　dare　to；〃　she　whispered。　〃I　am　overpowered　by
  a　dreadful　fear；　and　I　think　you　will　betray　me；　and　bring　my
  husband　and　myself　to　the　scaffold。〃
  〃I　am　no　betrayer；〃　answered　the　doctor；　solemnly。　〃The　physician　is
  like　a　priest；　he　receives　the　secrets　and　disclosures　of　his
  patients；　and　lets　not　a　word　of　them　pass　his　lips。　But；　in　order
  that　you　may　take　courage；　I　will　first　prove　to　you　that　I　put
  confidence　in　you；　by　showing　you　that　I　understand　you。　I　will　tell
  you　what　the　disease　is　that　you　are　suffering　from；　and　also　its
  locality。　Jeanne　Marie　Simon；　you　are　enduring　that　with　which　no
  pains　of　the　body　can　be　compared。　Your　sickness　has　its　seat　in　the
  conscience；　and　its　name　is　remorse　and　despair。〃
  Jeanne　Marie　uttered　a　heart…rending　cry；　and　sprang　like　an
  exasperated　tiger　from　her　bed。　〃You　lie！〃　she　said；　seizing　the
  doctor's　arm　with　both　hands；　〃that　is　a　foul；　damnable　calumny；
  that　you　have　thought　out　me