“But the lady I wish to ask you about is in her household—— ”
“Do you mean Mdlle. de Taverney?”
“Precisely.”
“Aha,” said the doctor quickly, examining the young captain.
“I am afraid she is very bad, for she went off into a swoon more than once while I was speaking to her this afternoon.”
“Oh, you seem to take this to heart?”
“I love Mdlle. de Taverney more than my life.”
He spoke the words with such exalted brotherly affection that the doctor was deceived.
“Oh, so it is you who is the lover?” he exclaimed.
Philip fell two steps back, carrying his hand to his brow and becoming pale as death.