"Some patient, perhaps," said Monte-Leone. "Go at once. A doctor should always be prompt to attend such calls."
"But," said d'Harcourt, "what if it be an officer?"
"Then there is an additional reason for answering the bell," said Monte-Leone.
Von Apsberg left the room, closing the door after him and hurrying into the anteroom, saw before him Mlle. Celestine Crepineau. The three friends listened at the door Von Apsberg had closed, to ascertain who called.
"Excuse me, Doctor," said Mlle. Crepineau, "but the matter was so urgent."
"What?"
"This note, which a very pleasant person, fair as you are, but not so handsome, asked me to deliver at once."
"Very well," said the Doctor, who took the note and shut the door in Mlle.'s face.
"Now that is not polite," said she. "After all, though, he may have been engaged in some operation when I rang, and he may have been very much annoyed by the interruption."
Von Apsberg read the letter which had been given him hurriedly and uttered an exclamation of joy. When he rejoined his friends, he said, "God has come to our assistance."