to occur, Murphy will soon be convalescent."

"My dear David, may I indeed believe you?"

"You may, indeed, my lord."

"Hear me. You know the high opinion I entertain of your ability and
knowledge, and that, from the hour in which you were attached to my
household, you have possessed my most unbounded confidence,--never, for
one instant, have I doubted your great skill and perfect acquaintance
with your profession; but I conjure you, if a consultation be
necessary--"

"My lord, that would have been my first thought, had I seen the
slightest reason for such a step; but, up to the present moment, it
would be both useless and unnecessary. And, besides, I should be
somewhat tenacious of introducing strangers into the house until I knew
whether your orders of yesterday--"

"But how has all this happened?" said Rodolph, interrupting the black.
"Who saved me from drowning in that horrid cellar? I have a confused
recollection of having heard the Chourineur's voice there; was I
mistaken?"

"Not at all mistaken, my lord. But let the brave fellow, to whom all
praise is due, relate the affair in which he was the principal actor
himself."

"Where is he? Where is he?"

The doctor looked about for the recently elected sick-nurse, and at
length found him, thoroughly silenced and shamed by his late tumble,
ensconced behind the curtains of the bed.

"Here he is," said the doctor; "he looks somewhat shamefaced."

"Come forward, my brave fellow!" said Rodolph, extending his hand to his
preserver.

The confusion of the poor Chourineur was still further increased from
having, when behind his curtain, heard the black doctor address Rodolph
continually as "my lord," or "your royal highness."

"Approach, my friend,--my deliverer!" said Rodolph, "and give me your
hand."

"I beg pardon, sir,--I mean, my lord,--no, highness,--no--"

"Call me M. Rodolph, as you used to do; I like it better."

"And so do I,--it comes so much easier to one. But be so good as to
excuse my hand; I have done so much work lately, that--"

"Your hand, I tell you,--your hand!"

Overcome by this kind and persevering command, the Chourineur timidly
extended his black and horny palm, which Rodolph warmly shook.

"Now, then, sit down, and tell me all about it,--how you discovered the
cellar. But I think I can guess. The Schoolmaster?"

"We have him in safety," said the black doctor.

"Yes, he and the Chouette, tied together like two rolls of tobacco.