of the month, my girl, tell the butcher
to send my bill apart. And don't fear; you are not going to be asked for
any of your money to settle it with; your sous may lie sleeping."

This was an allusion to Martine's little personal fortune. In thirty
years, with four hundred francs wages she had earned twelve thousand
francs, from which she had taken only what was strictly necessary for
her wants; and increased, almost trebled, by the interest, her savings
amounted now to thirty thousand francs, which through a caprice, a
desire to have her money apart, she had not chosen to place with M.
Grandguillot. They were elsewhere, safely invested in the funds.

"Sous that lie sleeping are honest sous," she said gravely. "But
monsieur is right; I will tell the butcher to send a bill apart, as all
the brains are for monsieur's cookery and not for mine."

This explanation brought a smile to the face of Clotilde, who was always
amused by the jests about Martine's avarice; and the breakfast ended
more cheerfully. The doctor desired to take the coffee under the plane
trees, saying that he felt the need of air after being shut up all
the morning. The coffee was served then on the stone table beside the
fountain; and how pleasant it was there in the shade, listening to the
cool murmur of the water, while around, the pine wood, the court, the
whole place, were glowing in the early afternoon sun.

The doctor had complacently brought with him the vial of nerve
substance, which he looked at as it stood on the table.

"So, then, mademoiselle," he resumed, with an air of brusque pleasantry,
"you do not believe in my elixir of resurrection, and you believe in
miracles!"

"Master," responded Clotilde, "I believe that we do not know
everything."

He made a gesture of impatience.

"But we must know everything. Understand then, obstinate little girl,
that not a single deviation from the invariable laws which govern the
universe has ever been scientifically proved. Up to this day there has
been no proof of the existence of any intelligence other than the human.
I defy you to find any real will, any reasoning force, outside of life.
And everything is there; there is in the world no other will than
this force which impels everything to life, to a life ever broader and
higher."

He rose with a wave of the hand, animated by so firm a faith that she
regarded him in surprise, noticing how youthful he looked in spite of
his white hair.

"Do yo