“Sir,” she says with a kind smile, “I have often heard speak of your family. I think, even, that I have met at Madame Lezant’s, madame, your mother, during my last journey to Paris; you are welcome here.”
We talked a long time; I, somewhat embarrassed, covering with my képi the spot on my neck; she trying to persuade me to accept some money, which I refuse.
She says to me at last: “I desire with all my heart to be useful to you. What can I do?” I reply: “Heavens, Madame, if you could get them to send me back to Paris, you would render me a great service; communications will be interrupted very soon, if the newspapers are to be believed; they talk of another coup d’état, or the overthrow of the Empire; I have great need of seeing my mother again; and especially of not letting myself be taken prisoner here if the Prussians come.”
In the mean while Monsieur de Fréchêdé enters. In two words he is made acquainted with the situation.
“If you wish to come with me to the doctor of the hospital,” he says, “you have no time to lose.”
To the doctor! Good heavens! and how account to him for my absence from the hospital? I dare not breathe a word; I follow my protector, asking myself how it will all end. We arrive; the doctor looks at me with a stupefied air. I do not give him time to open his mouth, and I deliver with prodigious volubility a string of jeremiads over my sad position.
Monsieur de Fréchêdé in his turn takes up the argument, and asks him, in my favor, to give me a convalescent’s leave of absence for two months.
“Monsieur is, in fact, sick enough,” says the doctor, “to be entitled to two months’ rest; if my colleagues and if the General look at it as I do your protégé will be able in a few days to return to Paris.”
“That’s good,” replies Monsieur de Fréchêdé. “I thank you, doctor; I will speak to the General myself to-night.”
We are in the street; I heave a great sigh of relief; I press the hand of that excellent man who shows so kindly an interest in me. I run to find Francis again. We have but just time to get back; we arrive at the gate of the hospital; Francis rings; I salute the sister. She stops me: “Did you not tell me this morning that you were going to the commissariat?”