oiscoran?"

But the magistrate pretended not to hear; and, when they were about to
leave the room, he said to the doctor,--

"You know that I expect your report, doctor?"

"In forty-eight hours I shall have the honor to hand it to you," replied
the latter.

But as he went off, he said half aloud,--

"And that report is going to give you some trouble, my good man."

The report was ready then, and his reason for not giving it in, was
that he thought, the longer he could delay it, the more chance he would
probably have to defeat the plan of the prosecution.

"As I mean to keep it two days longer," he thought on his way home, "why
should I not show it to this Paris lawyer who has come down with the
marchioness? Nothing can prevent me, as far as I see, since that poor
Galpin, in his utter confusion, has forgotten to put me under oath."

But he paused. According to the laws of medical jurisprudence, had he
the right, or not, to communicate a paper belonging to the case to the
counsel of the accused? This question troubled him; for, although
he boasted that he did not believe in God, he believed firmly in
professional duty, and would have allowed himself to be cut in pieces
rather than break its laws.

"But I have clearly the right to do so," he growled. "I can only be
bound by my oath. The authorities are clear on that subject. I have in
my favor the decisions of the Court of Appeals of 27 November, and 27
December, 1828; those of the 13th June, 1835; of the 3d May, 1844; of
the 26th June, 1866."

The result of this mediation was, that, as soon as he had breakfasted,
he put his report in his pocket, and went by side streets to M. de
Chandore's house. The marchioness and the two aunts were still at
church, where they had thought it best to show themselves; and there was
no one in the sitting-room but Dionysia, the old baron, and M. Folgat.
The old gentleman was very much surprised to see the doctor. The latter
was his family physician, it is true; but, except in cases of sickness,
the two never saw each other, their political opinions were so very
different.

"If you see me here," said the physician, still in the door, "it is
simply because, upon my honor and my conscience, I believe M. Boiscoran
is innocent."

Dionysia would have liked to embrace the doctor for these words of his;
and with the greatest eagerness she pushed a large easy-chair towards
him, and said in her sweetest voice,--

"Pray sit down, my d