you?" he said.

The bone-setter smiled obsequiously.

"Yes, Monsieur, quite at your service."

"You have been listening, eh?"

"Oh, as to that, I was waiting to see if Madame Courtois had any
commands for me."

A sudden reflection occurred to M. Plantat; the expression of his
eye changed. He winked at M. Lecoq to call his attention, and
addressing the bone-setter in a milder tone, said: "Come here,
Master Robelot."

Lecoq had read the man at a glance. Robelot was a small,
insignificant-looking man, but really of herculean strength. His
hair, cut short behind, fell over his large, intelligent forehead.
His eyes shone with the fire of covetousness, and expressed, when
he forgot to guard them, a cynical boldness. A sly smile was always
playing about his thin lips, beneath which there was no beard. A
little way off, with his slight figure and his beardless face, he
looked like a Paris gamin--one of those little wretches who are
the essence of all corruption, whose imagination is more soiled
than the gutters where they search for lost pennies.

Robelot advanced several steps, smiling and bowing. "Perhaps,"
said he, "Monsieur has, by chance, need of me?"

"None whatever, Master Robelot, I only wish to congratulate you on
happening in so apropos, to bleed Monsieur Courtois. Your lancet
has, doubtless, saved his life."

"It's quite possible."

"Monsieur Courtois is generous--he will amply recompense this
great service."

"Oh, I shall ask him nothing. Thank God, I want nobody's help.
If I am paid my due, I am content."

"I know that well enough; you are prosperous--you ought to be
satisfied."

M. Plantat's tone was friendly, almost paternal. He was deeply
interested, evidently, in Robelot's prosperity.

"Satisfied!" resumed the bone-setter. "Not so much as you might
think. Life is very dear for poor people."

"But, haven't you just purchased an estate near d'Evry?"

"Yes."

"And a nice place, too, though a trifle damp. Happily you have
stone to fill it in with, on the land that you bought of the widow
Frapesle."

Robelot had never seen the old justice of the peace so talkative,
so familiar; he seemed a little surprised.

"Three wretched pieces of land!" said he.

"Not so bad as you talk about. Then you've also bought something
in the way of mines, at auction, haven't you?"

"Just a bunch of nothing at all."

"True, but it pays well. It isn't so bad, you see, to be a doctor
without a diploma."