the liquid offered him. "Where do you suffer?" asked the doctor.

"Everywhere. I feel cramps over my whole body."

"Do you find any dazzling sensation before the eyes?"

"Yes."

"Any noise in the ears?"

"Frightful."

"When did you first feel that?"

"Just now."

"Suddenly?"

"Yes, like a clap of thunder."

"Did you feel nothing of it yesterday or the day before?"

"Nothing."

"No drowsiness?"

"None."

"What have you eaten to-day?"

"I have eaten nothing; I only drank a glass of my master's
lemonade--that's all;" and Barrois turned towards Noirtier, who,
immovably fixed in his arm-chair, was contemplating this terrible scene
without allowing a word or a movement to escape him.

"Where is this lemonade?" asked the doctor eagerly.

"Down-stairs in the decanter."

"Whereabouts downstairs?"

"In the kitchen."

"Shall I go and fetch it, doctor?" inquired Villefort.

"No, stay here and try to make Barrois drink the rest of this glass of
ether and water. I will go myself and fetch the lemonade." D'Avrigny
bounded towards the door, flew down the back staircase, and almost
knocked down Madame de Villefort, in his haste, who was herself going
down to the kitchen. She cried out, but d'Avrigny paid no attention to
her; possessed with but one idea, he cleared the last four steps with
a bound, and rushed into the kitchen, where he saw the decanter about
three parts empty still standing on the waiter, where it had been left.
He darted upon it as an eagle would seize upon its prey. Panting with
loss of breath, he returned to the room he had just left. Madame de
Villefort was slowly ascending the steps which led to her room. "Is this
the decanter you spoke of?" asked d'Avrigny.

"Yes, doctor."

"Is this the same lemonade of which you partook?"

"I believe so."

"What did it taste like?"

"It had a bitter taste."

The doctor poured some drops of the lemonade into the palm of his hand,
put his lips to it, and after having rinsed his mouth as a man does when
he is tasting wine, he spat the liquor into the fireplace.

"It is no doubt the same," said he. "Did you drink some too, M.
Noirtier?"

"Yes."

"And did you also discover a bitter taste?"

"Yes."

"Oh, doctor," cried Barrois, "the fit is coming on again. Oh, do
something for me." The doctor flew to his patient. "That emetic,
Villefort--see if it is coming." Villefort sprang into the passage,
exclaiming, "The emetic! the emetic!--is it co