“I gave them the money, bowed and left.
“The next day Chouquet came to me and said brusquely:
“'That woman left her wagon here—what have you done with it?'
“'Nothing; take it if you wish.'
“'It's just what I wanted,' he added, and walked off. I called him back and said:
“'She also left her old horse and two dogs. Don't you need them?'
“He stared at me surprised: 'Well, no! Really, what would I do with them?'
“'Dispose of them as you like.'
“He laughed and held out his hand to me. I shook it. What could I do? The doctor and the druggist in a country village must not be at enmity. I have kept the dogs. The priest took the old horse. The wagon is useful to Chouquet, and with the money he has bought railroad stock. That is the only deep, sincere love that I have ever known in all my life.”
The doctor looked up. The marquise, whose eyes were full of tears, sighed and said: