"Thanks, sister," said Crevel, taking advantage of the invitation; "I am really extremely tired."
He then took from under his poncho the two bottles, which he placed on the table.
"Be good enough, sister," he said, "to give these bottles to your Mother Superior, begging her not to forget me in her prayers."
"I will not fail, brother, I assure you."
"I am certain of it, sister; and stay," he added, drawing out a third bottle, "take this, which I brought for you, and which will do you good, for it is justly said in France that wine is the milk of aged people."
"That is true, brother, and I thank you; but tell me the nature of the illness you are suffering from."
"For some time past, sister, I have been subject to a sudden dizziness, and as your convent possesses a miraculous water which cures all diseases, I have come to buy a phial."
"With the greatest pleasure, brother," the sister porter replied. "I am sorry that I cannot make you a present of it; but this water is deposited in my hands, and is the property of the poor, to whom we must render an account of it."
We will remark parenthetically that the convents of Valparaíso willingly accept anything offered them, but never give anything away. Crevel was perfectly aware of this fact; hence, without offering the slightest observation, he drew four piastres from his pocket, which he placed in the sister's hand. The latter put them out of sight with a vivacity which astonished the banian himself: then running to a chest of drawers, the sole article of furniture which adorned the room, she opened it and took a small white glass bottle, carefully corked and sealed, which lay there along with some sixty others, and brought it to Crevel.
The landlord received it with marks of profound gratitude.