yed. He
gathered up the garments strewn over the floor, and eventually drew a
key from one of the waistcoat pockets. Mademoiselle Marguerite took it
from him, and then in a determined tone, exclaimed: "A hammer."

It was brought; whereupon, to the profound amazement of the physician,
she knelt down beside the fireplace, laid the key upon one of the
andirons, and with a heavy blow of the hammer, broke it into fragments.
"Now," said she, quietly, "my mind will be at rest. I am certain," she
added, turning toward the servants, "that M. de Chalusse would approve
what I have done. When he recovers, he will have another key made."

The explanation was superfluous. All the servants understood the motive
that had influenced her, and were saying to themselves, "Mademoiselle is
right. It would not do to touch the escritoire of a dying man. Who knows
but what there are millions in it? If anything were missed, why any of
us might be accused. But if the key is destroyed, it will be impossible
to suspect any one."

However, the physician's conjectures were of an entirely different
nature. "What can there be in that escritoire which she desires to
conceal?" he thought.

But there was no excuse for prolonging his visit. Once more he examined
the sick man, whose condition remained unchanged; and then, after
explaining what was to be done in his absence, he declared that he must
leave at once, as he had a number of important visits to make; he added,
however, that he would return about midnight.

"Madame Leon and I will watch over M. de Chalusse," replied Mademoiselle
Marguerite; "that is sufficient assurance, monsieur, that your orders
will be obeyed to the letter. Only--you will not take offence, I trust,
if I ask the count's regular physician to meet you in consultation."

Such a proposal was anything but pleasing to M. Jodon, who had met with
the same misfortune in this aristocratic neighborhood several times
before. When an accident happened, he was summoned because he chanced
to be close at hand, but just as he was flattering himself that he
had gained a desirable patient, he found himself in presence of some
celebrated physician, who had come from a distance in his carriage.
Accustomed to such disappointments, he knew how to conceal his
dissatisfaction.

"Were I in your place, mademoiselle, I should do precisely what you
suggest," he answered, "and should you think it unnecessary for me to
call, I----"

"Oh! monsieur, on