"Will the health and happiness of the Marquise be endangered," said he, "if she continue longer in this condition?"
"Her heart alone will suffer, Monsieur," said the doctor, "neither her health nor her life is in danger."
"Go on, then, Monsieur," said the Prince, coldly, "for we speak of my son. On what the Marquise has said depends the repose of my life, her happiness, and the honor of my family."
"But," said Matheus, "my honor forbids me to follow up the excitement any longer. Know that the true apostles of the science I now practise before you, make it a rigid law never to make use of such phenomena as you have seen, to penetrate hidden secrets, or to read by force the consciences of those whom they submit to the exercise of their will."
"Monsieur," said the Prince, "we have around us here only honest hearts, which are also friendly. I, therefore, do not at all fear to initiate them into my family secrets. Besides this, vain curiosity exerts no influence over me, but a nobler thought, the possibility, perhaps, of preventing cruel misfortunes which I now apprehend, and which I would anticipate."
"See!" said the doctor to the Marquise. "I wish you to——"
"No, no!" said the somnambulist. "I have seen enough. Do not force me to follow out his wanderings—he has forgotten me—his father—his honor—his oath—himself!"
"See!" said the doctor, replacing his hand over the Marquise's eyes, "I wish it."
"Henri! Henri!" exclaimed she, "will nothing then restrain you?"
"What is he about, then?" said the doctor.