"Ah," said Ambroise Paré, "you give me my reward before I have done anything to merit it. How have I deserved so great a favor?"
"By being what you are, my friend," said La Renaudie. "I knew that you would win their hearts at the first stroke."
"Oh, thank you, thank you a thousand times!" Ambroise responded. "But," he added, "I regret to say that I must leave you, there are so many patients awaiting me."
"Go, go!" said Théodore de Bèze; "your reasons are too sacred for us to try to keep you. Go! Do what is right as you believe what is true."
"But as you leave us," Coligny interposed, "rest assured that you leave none behind you but friends, or, as we say of those of our religion, 'brothers.'"
Thus they took leave of him heartily and cordially; and Gabriel, warmly pressing his hand, was not behindhand in this friendly parting.
Ambroise Paré went his way, with joy and pride in his heart.
"Truly one of the elect!" cried Théodore de Bèze.
"What scorn for the commonplace!" said La Renaudie.
"What uncalculating, unreserved devotion to the cause of humanity!" said Coligny.