"To leave your chamber now would be to expose your life. Give me but four days; and if you have no more money, I will charge myself with the medicines."
"You!" cried the Countess, looking up with astonishment.
"And why not me?" said the young Doctor. "You shall return it to me some time—when you will."
"You! who have not often a dinner for yourself!"
"Who says that?" asked the Doctor, blushing involuntarily.
"All the house says it."
"Miserable stuff!" he replied; "will you accept what I offer? If I promise, you may be sure I can perform."
The old woman looked at him with surprise, and at length consented to accept his offer and take his remedies.
The young Doctor hastened to his chamber, shut fast the door, and looked round him, with his arms folded—"What is there here," said he, "that I can sell?"
What he found to sell I do not know. Enough that he supplied the Countess with a sum sufficient to procure her the necessary medicines, and to relieve her from care as to the wants of life for some short time. The case proceeded favourably.