"You think this man is completely cured?" said Madame George to the doctor, who was conducting her to the principal entrance of Bicetre.
"I think so, madame, and I have expressly left him under the happy influence of this family meeting. I should have feared to separate them. I shall go and see him every day until his cure is perfectly established; for, not only does he interest me very much, but he was particularly recommended to me, on his first entrance here, by the charge d'affaires of the Grand Duchy of Gerolstein."
Germain and his mother exchanged glances.
"I thank you, sir," said Madame George, "for the kindness with which you have allowed me to visit this fine establishment; and I congratulate myself at having witnessed a touching scene, which your knowledge and skill had foreseen and predicted."
"And I, madame, doubly congratulate myself upon the success which has restored so excellent a man to the arms of his family."
Some moments afterward, Madame George, Rigolette and Germain had left
Bicetre, as well as the Pipelets.
Just as Dr. Herbin returned to the courts, he met one of the superior officers of the house, who said to him, "Ah! my dear M. Herbin, you cannot imagine what a scene I have just witnessed. For an observer like you it would have been an inexhaustible source of—"
"How then? What scene?"
"You know that we have here two women who are condemned to death—the mother and daughter—who are to be executed to-morrow?"
"Doubtless."