o justify your confidence in me, which
now induces you to confide so precious a trust to me. As an honest man I
think I am not deceived in the hope I expressed at my first visit, that
your daughter, from my system of action, will acquire that vital force
which will enable her to overcome her natural weakness, and thus reach
the period of life when, age coming to aid nature, she will acquire a
degree of health which will bid defiance to all the accidents of youth
and assure her a healthy life in future. I call God to witness that I
act with a heartfelt conviction and religious sincerity. I will, though,
swear, that if in a short time I see no evidence of the efficacy of my
remedy, I will inform you of the fact without delay."

"I am sure, sir, you will. I confide in your honor as I do in your
skill."

"Father," said the Vicomte, "you are right to do so. The doctor is a
brother to me, and looks on Marie almost as a sister."

Both the doctor and Marie now blushed. No one though remarked it, for
just then the Prince and _Marquise_ de Maulear were announced. The Duke
said:

"They are friends and need not disturb you."

Aminta loved Marie d'Harcourt. These two beautiful women had conceived a
deep affection for each other. Aminta, though, who was a few years older
than Marie, and had a right to more gravity, as a married woman,
matronized the young girl, and it was rather an amusing picture to see a
mother twenty years old, _chaperoning_ a daughter of seventeen and
explaining the peculiarities of a life they were equally ignorant of.

"Prince," said the Duke, "Doctor Matheus is a famous magnetist, who has
been serviceable to Marie already, and when you came in was about to
subject her again to the influence of the fluid."

"_Parbleu!_" said the Prince, "I would be glad to witness the
experiment. I am myself something of an adept, having known the Abbe
Foria in my youth. People used to laugh at him, but the court and the
people were present at his curious exhibitions. I, too, was magnetized,
drank magnetic water, and passed whole hours on the magnetic chair
surrounded by iron rings; all this was to cure me of a sciatica, which,
nevertheless, he did not do at all. He asserted that I had no faith, and
that I arrayed myself against the power of the fluid. I, however, only
ask to believe, and if the doctor can convert me, I am willing."

Without answering the Prince, Von Apsberg approached Marie d'Harcourt.
Aminta sat by t