"Ah! Sir," replied Andréas in a mournful voice, "I cannot tell you what has caused this illness, which compels me to keep my bed; all I know is, that I suffer horribly in my head. I have unhappily every reason to fear, from the symptoms, a return of a brain fever, of which I have already had several attacks."
"Calm yourself," said the doctor, "we will try and ward off the evil, this time, by bleeding you copiously."
"Do so, if you please," responded the rascal, "I place myself in your hands."
Andréas was accordingly bled, and soon afterwards declared he already felt better.
"I will come again, and see you to-morrow," said the doctor, on taking leave of the sham invalid.
"Oh! pray come back again to-day, for I feel I require incessant watching and care."
The doctor promised, and returned in fact some hours later.
He felt the pulse of the patient, and found it still so high, that he recommended a severe regimen, and the most absolute quiet and repose.
No sooner was the doctor gone, than Andréas proceeded to take off a ligature, which he had bound round his arm to increase the beating of his pulse, and, whilst waiting for the return of his victim, made a hearty meal.
Several days passed in this manner, during which, Raymond never quitted the bedside of his friend; he was as devoted as a Sister of Charity. It was thought advisable under such serious circumstances, to send for two other members of the family, who were introduced to the doctor as nephews of the sick man, but who were, in reality, nothing more nor less than two sharpers, who were brought from Paris to suit the purposes of the two schemers, and were paid ten francs a day for their services.