At the sight of the doctor, Madame Bastien said to her servant:
"Well, how are you?" said the doctor, when they were left alone.
"This cough pains me and tears my chest, my good doctor; my sleep has been disturbed by dreadful dreams, the effect of the fever, no doubt, but, we will not speak of that," added Marie with an accent of angelic resignation. "I wish to consult you upon important matters, good doctor, and I must hurry, for, two or three times since I awoke, I have felt my thoughts slipping away from me."
"Do not distress yourself about that, for it belongs to the weak state which almost always follows the excitement of fever."
"I wished to speak to you first, to you alone, before asking M. David and my son to come in, as we will have all three to confer together afterward."
"You know my husband came home yesterday evening."
"I know it," said the doctor, unable to restrain a shudder of indignation.
"I had a long and painful discussion with him on the subject of my son. In spite of my claims and my prayer, M. Bastien is resolved to enter Frederick with M. Bridou as a bailiff's clerk. That would make it necessary for me to thank M. David for his care, and separate myself from my son."
"So long as there is a spark of life left in me, I will defend my right to my child. As to him, you know the firmness of his character. Never will he be willing to leave me or forsake M. David and enter the house of M. Bridou. M. Bastien will soon return, and he is going to claim the right to take away my son."
Marie, overcome by the emotion she was trying to combat, was obliged to pause a moment, and was attacked by such a dangerous fit of coughing, united to such a painful oppression in the chest, that the doctor involuntarily raised his eyes to Heaven with grief. After taking a drink prepared by the doctor, Marie continued:
"Such is our position, my dear doctor, and before the return of M. Bastien, we must resolve upon something decisive, or--" and Marie became deathly pale--"or something terrible will happen here, for you know how violent M. Bastien is, and how resolute Frederick is; and as to me, I feel that, sick as I am, to take away my son is to strike me with death."
"Madame, the moments are precious; permit me first to appeal to your sincerity and frankness."