"Good, and what did you answer him?"
"Hang it all, you understand that it was very difficult for me to abandon the poor fellow in the state he was in, especially after what I had done for him."
"Good, good; what then?"
"Well then, I promised to cure him."
"Nothing else?"
"Well no."
"And you only promised him this?"
"No, I pledged my word."
The adventurer gave a start of impatience.
"But supposing he recovers," he continued, "which between ourselves seems rather doubtful; when he is in a good state of health, will you consider yourself entirely free from him?"