For nine days I had no idea who was nursing me; I neither heard nor saw anything. Not until the end of that time was the crisis safely passed; I was saved, my delirium disappeared; all that I needed was good care, quiet, and rest.
I half opened my eyes and looked about me with difficulty, trying to collect my thoughts. I saw Madame Dupont by my side.
“Have I been delirious long?” I asked.
“Nine days, monsieur; oh! you’ve been very sick; you almost died! But, thank heaven! you’re saved; all you need now is patience and plenty of rest. I was sure you’d be sick. The idea of going out in such a storm! and all in a sweat, too! And when you came back, why, your eyes were starting out of your head! But young men will never listen to advice! And then, think of going to sleep with a nosegay under your nose! that’s very bad—very unhealthy!”
“What has been done with that bouquet?”
“It’s in the other room there; never fear, you’ll find it all right.”
“Who has nursed me since I have been sick?”
“I have, and—your neighbor.”
“My neighbor!”
“Yes, the lady on your landing. Oh! she has taken the best possible care of you. As soon as she heard you was sick, she insisted on being your nurse, and, my word! if she’d been nursing sick folks all her life, she couldn’t have done better.”