The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-14
CHAPTER III.

III DidHCUUu IcCblNcu u6 CU. tdlll6l
before any other patient, although even al
9 o'clock the great mans waiiing-room was
crowded. He had met his patient often il
society and received him as a friend.
My dear st. Waller, l have to eongratu.
late you upon the improvement in your ap-
pearance. You look ten years younger
since you were last in this room. In wnai
Medea's cauldron have you been stewing2'
My only Medea is my wife. My only
medicine has been year and half Of su.
preme happiness"
''Ah, that is a kind of physic we often
prescribe, but there are no chemists who
make it up. And SO you have come to tel
me how well you are, and to get little
friendly advice that will enable you TO be-
come centenarian," concluded BianchoI
laughiugly.
A consulting physician has SO often occa.
sion to look grave that he gladly Snatches
any excuse for being cheerful.
L nave come to ask you to make thor
ough examination and to find out il there Is
any hidden mischief in my constitution"
DO you suspect anythingT asked the
doctor, with his keen look-a look which
suggested that for him the outward SEM
blance OF man, coat and waistcoat in
cluded, was but glass case through which
he saw the inner machinery.
NO; never felt better in my life."
And you deliver yourself over of your
own accord to the stethoscope and the
sphygmometer! Prudent man. Kindly take
off your coat aud waistcoat."
DR.. Biauchon made most StudiOus eX-
animation of his patient, sounded. raped
and listened, and then, with smile, gave
him clean bill of health.
Your pulse is capital, so we wont trouble
the sphygmometer, which l find very USE
ful with my alcoholic PATIENTS" said the
doctor. Il told yon when you were here
last that there was nothing organically
wrong. can tell you now. in all good faith
ha mad
well-looking without-no whited sepulchrs
here, mon ami, with friendly tap on the
patients chest
''And there is no fear Of my dying sud.
denly-within the next three or four days ?'
Not unless yon get yourself under the
some clever friend who will scramble
through hedge with the muzzle of his CUR
pointed at your ribs. Death by internal
disease You have no need to fear; your
lungs are as sound as bell"
Thu nix God" exclaimed Maxine, fer
vently.
What put these fears into your head
for you must have felt nervous about your.
self. or you would hardly have come all The
way from your country. place to see me?"
A foolish fancy. l am too happy in my
surroundings not to fear. Good-by: come
and see me at ST. Waller if ever you can
find time"
That is just the thing never can find
but should like to spend . couple of days
at your chateau when all Paris is out Of
town. Unfortunately, when all Paris Is
away, there are generally some very inter-
eSting cases at the hospitals, and l take tina,
opportunity to go on with my education"
Ma kline and his wife possessed pied-a-
terre in the Rue de Varennes. 1t had been
Lucie's house during her widowhood-a
dainty little house entire cour ct jardin, and
here couple of old servants kept all things
in order while their master and mistress
We're in the country. Maxine had sent his
servant on before him, and found cem.
Portable breakfast neatly set out in the we'll
furnished library, which his wife had given
him as his own den.
Small as the house was, and although all
things in it were in perfect order, the rooms
b ad an aspect which weighed upon Max
ines spirits. There was an atmosphere OF
emptiness and desolation. lie was glad tC
put on his hat and go out and wander aim.
lessly about Paris, finding his way to the
Champs Elysees, and the Bots. counting the
hours till the o'clock Rapide would take
him southwark
He had engaged places in the sleeping-cal
1or himself and valet. He was at the term
mus half an hour before the train started
tired out with his rambles about Paris, and
with the wakeful night in the express; so ht
LOOK OIL coat and boots, and laid himself
down under q fur rug, which his servant ar
ranged for him, and was soon asleep.
nc huSt nave Slept some hours, Tor 1t wa!
the voice of the porters shouting Tonnerrt
that awoke him, and most of the traveller.
we're getting out for supper. He did no
care to eat or drink-felt weary In limb.
and head, and composed himself to sleer
again; but this time sleep did not answer
his call. Two men in berths near his were
gessping in subdued murmur, which wa.
more exasperating to St Valier's nerve.
than the loudest talking might have been,
Know him?" said one of the speakers
II should think did know him-much bet.
ter than he knows the women he pretends
to analytic in those sickly novels of his.
tell you he is lump of vanities thinks him.
self irresistible; thinks that where he i,
concerned there is no such thing as virtue