"Sir, number one died this morning at half-past four."
"So late? that surprises me; yesterday morning I would not have given her the day: has the body been claimed?"
"No, doctor."
"So much the better--we can proceed with the autopsy; I can make some one happy;" then, addressing one of the students, the doctor added, "My dear Dunnoyer, you have wished for a subject for a long time; you are the first on the list; this one is yours."
"Ah! sir, how kind you are!"
"I could wish oftener to recompense your zeal, my dear friend; but mark the subject, and take possession."
And the doctor pa.s.sed on. The student, with the aid of a scalpel, cut very delicately on the arm of the actress an F and a D, in order to take possession, as the doctor said.
"La Lorraine," whispered Jeanne Duport to her neighbor, "who are all these people that follow the doctor?"
"They are pupils and students."
"Oh! will all these young men be there when he examines me?"
"Alas! yes."
"But it is on my chest I am injured. Will they examine me before all these men?"
"Yes, yes, it must be so--they wish it. I wept enough the first time--I was dying with shame; I resisted, they threatened to turn me away; I was obliged to summit, but it affected me so much that I was worse. Judge, then, almost naked before so many people--it is very painful."
"Before the physician alone--I comprehend that--if it is necessary--and even that costs much. But why before all these young men?"
"They are learning; they teach them with us. What would we have? we are here for that; it is on this condition that we are received here."
"Ah! I comprehend," said Jeanne Duport, with bitterness; "they do not give us something for nothing. But yet, there are occasions where this could not be. Thus, if my poor daughter Catharine, who is but fifteen, should come to a hospital, would they dare before all these young men? Oh! no, I think I would prefer to see her die at home."
"If she came here, she would have to obey the rules, like you, like me."
"Hush, La Lorraine; if this poor little lady who is opposite should hear us--she who was rich, who perhaps has never before left her mother--it is going to be her turn--judge how confused and unhappy she will be."
"It is true, it is true; I shudder when I think of it, poor child!"
"Silence, Jeanne, here is the doctor!" said La Lorraine.
CHAPTER XIX.
CLAIRE DE FERMONT.
After having rapidly visited several patients whose cases presented no great interest, the doctor at length reached the bed of Jeanne Duport.
At the sight of the eager crowd, who, anxious to see and to know, to understand and to learn, pressed around her bed, the unhappy woman, seized with a tremor of fear and shame, wrapped herself closely in the covering.
The severe and intelligent face of Dr. Griffon, his penetrating look, his brow habitually contracted, his rough manner of speaking, augmented still more the alarm of Jeanne.
"A new subject!" said the doctor, casting his eye on the card where was inscribed the nature of the malady of the new-comer. He preserved a profound silence, while his a.s.sistants, imitating the prince of science, fixed their eyes on the patient with curiosity. She, to throw aside as much as possible all the painful emotions caused by so many spectators, looked steadily at the doctor, with deep anguish.
After an examination of several minutes, the doctor, remarking something anomalous in the yellowish tint of the eyeball, approached nearer to her, and with the end of his finger pushing back the eyelid, he examined the crystalline lens. Then several students, answering to a kind of mute invitation of their professor, went, in turn, to observe the appearance of the eye. Afterward the doctor proceeded to this interrogatory: "Your name?"
"Jeanne Duport," murmured the patient, more and more alarmed.
"Your age?"
"Thirty-six and a half."
"Louder. Born in--"
"Paris."
"Your occupation?"
"Fringe-maker."
"Married?"
"Alas! yes, sir," answered Jeanne, with a deep sigh.
"How long since?"
"Eighteen years."
"Any children?" Here, instead of answering, the unhappy mother gave vent to her tears, for a long time restrained.
"We do not want tears, but an answer. Have you any children?"
"Yes, sir, two little boys and a girl."
"How long have you been sick?"
"For four days, sir," said Jeanne, wiping her eyes.
"Tell me how you became sick."
"Sir, there are so many people, I do not dare."
"Where do you come from, my dear?" said the doctor, impatiently. "Would you not like me to bring a confessional here? Come, speak, and be quick. Be composed, we are quite a family party--quite a large family, as you see,"
added the prince of science, who was on that day in a gay humor. "Come, let us finish."
More and more intimidated, Jeanne said, stammering and hesitating at each word, "I had, sir, a quarrel with my husband, on the subject of my children; I mean to say, of my eldest daughter. He wished take her away.
I--you comprehend, sir,--I did not wish it, on account of a vile woman, who might give bad advice to my child; then my husband, who was drunk--oh! yes, sir, except for that he would not have done it--my husband pushed me very hard; I fell, and--then, a short time after, I began to throw up blood."