result of some sudden shock. He looked like a man struck by
lightning."

"But if you account for the change in his appearance in that way, why
look for symptoms of something wrong with his liver?"

"Ah! this is not the first time I have seen symptoms of that," replied
Madame de l'Estorade. "But you know when sick people don't complain, we
forget about their illness. See," and she pointed to a volume lying open
beside her; "just before you came in, I found in this medical dictionary
that persons who suffer from diseases of the liver are apt to be morose,
irritable, impatient. Well, for some time past, I have noticed a great
change in my husband's disposition. You yourself mentioned it to me
the other day. Besides, the scene Monsieur de Camps has just
witnessed--which is, I may truly say, unprecedented in our household--is
enough to prove it."

"My dear love, you are like those unpleasant persons who are resolved
to torture themselves. In the first place, you have looked into medical
books, which is the very height of imprudence. I defy you to read a
description of any sort of disease without fancying that either you or
some friends of yours have the symptoms of it. In the next place, you
are mixing up things; the effects of fear and of a chronic malady are
totally different."

"No, I am not mixing them up; I know what I am talking about. You don't
need to be told that if in our poor human machine some one part gets out
of order, it is on _that_ that any strong emotion will strike."

"Well," said Madame de Camps, not pursuing the medical discussion, "if
the letter of that unhappy madman has really fallen into the hands of
your husband, the peace of your home is seriously endangered; that is
the point to be discussed."

"There are not two ways to be followed as to that," said Madame de
l'Estorade. "Monsieur de Sallenauve must never set foot in this house
again."

"That is precisely what I came to speak about to-day. Do you know that
last night I did not think you showed the composure which is so marked a
trait in your character?"

"When?" asked Madame de l'Estorade.

"Why, when you expressed so effusively your gratitude to Monsieur de
Sallenauve. When I advised you not to avoid him, for fear it would
induce him to keep at your heels, I never intended that you should
shower your regard upon his head in a way to turn it. The wife of so
zealous a dynastic partisan as Monsieur de l'Estorade ought to know what
the