Part 53 (1/2)
”What physicians have you at Fontainebleau?” he inquired, after a long pause
”We have three, holy father”
”What are their nauet first”
”The next one?”
”A brother of the Carmelite order, named Brother Hubert”
”The next?”
”A secular member, named Grisart”
”Ah! Grisart?” murmured the monk, ”send for M Grisart immediately”
The landlord moved in prompt obedience to the direction
”Tell me what priests are there here?”
”What priests?”
”Yes; belonging to what orders?”
”There are Jesuits, Augustines, and Cordeliers; but the Jesuits are the closest at hand Shall I send for a confessor belonging to the order of Jesuits?”
”Yes, in of the cross which they had exchanged, the landlord and the invalid nized each other as two affiliated members of the well-known Society of Jesus Left to himself, the Franciscan drew from his pocket a bundle of papers, some of which he read over with the most careful attention The violence of his disorder, however, overcae; his eyes rolled in their sockets, a cold sweat poured down his face, and he nearly fainted, and lay with his head thrown backwards and his ar down on both sides of his chair For more than five minutes he reing with him the physician, whom he hardly allowed ti the roo of the door occasioned, restored the Franciscan to his senses He hurriedly seized hold of the papers which were lying about, and with his long and bony hand concealed them under the cushi+ons of the chair The landlord went out of the rooether
”Come here, Monsieur Grisart,” said the Franciscan to the doctor; ”approach closer, for there is no time to lose Try, by touch and sound, and consider and pronounce your sentence”
”The landlord,” replied the doctor, ”toldan affiliated brother”
”Yes,” replied the Franciscan, ”it is so Tell me the truth, then; I feel very ill, and I think I am about to die”
The physician took the erous fever”
”What do you call a dangerous fever?” inquired the Franciscan, with an imperious look
”To an affiliated member of the first or second year,” replied the physician, looking inquiringly at the monk, ”I should say-a fever that may be cured”
”But to me?” said the Franciscan The physician hesitated
”Look at ht,” he continued: ”look at the lines in one; I am a Jesuit of the eleventh year, Monsieur Grisart” The physician started, for, in fact, a Jesuit of the eleventh year was one of those men who had been initiated in all the secrets of the order, one of those for whom science has no more secrets, the society no further barriers to present-temporal obedience, nohim with respect, ”I am in the presence of a ly”
”And you wish to know?”
”My real state”
”Well,” said the physician, ”it is a brain fever, which has reached its highest degree of intensity”
”There is no hope, then?” inquired the Franciscan, in a quick tone of voice
”I do not say that,” replied the doctor; ”yet, considering the disordered state of the brain, the hurried respiration, the rapidity of the pulse, and the burning nature of the fever which is devouring you-”
”And which has thrice prostrated s considered, I shall call it a terrible attack But why did you not stop on your road?”
”I was expected here, and I was obliged to come”
”Even at the risk of your life?”
”Yes, at the risk of dying on the way”
”Very well Considering all the symptoms of your case, I must tell you that your condition is ale manner
”What you have just told me is, perhaps, sufficient for what is due to an affiliated member, even of the eleventh year; but for what is due to ht to demand more Come, then, let us beyour own confession to Heaven Besides, I have already sent for a confessor”
”Oh! I have hopes, however,” murmured the doctor
”Answer esture a golden ring, the stone of which had until that raved thereon the distinguishi+ng mark of the Society of Jesus
Grisart uttered loud exclaeneral!” he cried
”Silence,” said the Franciscan, ”you can now understand that the whole truth is all ineur,” murmured Grisart, ”send for the confessor, for in two hours, at the next seizure, you will be attacked by delirium, and will pass away in its course”
”Very well,” said the patient, for ahis eyebrows, ”I have still two hours to live then?”
”Yes; particularly if you take the potion I will send you presently”