Le collier de la reine. English

by Alexandre Dumas

  CHAPTER XLIX.

  IN WHICH WE FIND DR. LOUIS.

  Perhaps our readers, remembering in what a position we left M. deCharny, will not dislike to return with us to that little ante-chamber atVersailles into which this brave seaman, who feared neither men norelements, had fled, lest he should show his weakness to the queen. Oncearrived there, he felt it impossible to go further; he stretched out hisarms, and was only saved from falling to the ground by the aid of thosearound. He then fainted, and was totally ignorant that the queen hadseen him, and would have run to his assistance had Andree not preventedher, more even from a feeling of jealousy than from regard forappearances. Immediately after the king entered, and seeing a man lyingsupported by two guards, who, unaccustomed to see men faint, scarcelyknew what to do, advanced, saying, "Some one is ill here."

  At his voice the men started and let their burden fall.

  "Oh!" cried the king, "it is M. de Charny. Place him on this couch,gentlemen." Then they brought him restoratives, and sent for a doctor.

  The king waited to hear the result. The doctor's first care was to openthe waistcoat and shirt of the young man to give him air, and then hesaw the wound.

  "A wound!" cried the king.

  "Yes," said M. de Charny, faintly, "an old wound, which has reopened;"and he pressed the hand of the doctor to make him understand.

  But this was not a court doctor, who understands everything; so,willing to show his knowledge, "Old, sir! this wound is not twenty-fourhours old."

  Charny raised himself at this, and said, "Do you teach me, sir, when Ireceived my wound?" Then, turning round, he cried, "The king!" andhastened to button his waistcoat.

  "Yes, M. de Charny, who fortunately arrived in time to procure youassistance."

  "A mere scratch, sire," stammered Charny, "an old wound."

  "Old or new," replied Louis, "it has shown me the blood of a brave man."

  "Whom a couple of hours in bed will quite restore," continued Charny,trying to rise; but his strength failed him, his head swam, and he sankback again.

  "He is very ill," said the king.

  "Yes, sire," said the doctor, with importance, "but I can cure him."

  The king understood well that M. de Charny wished to hide some secretfrom him, and determined to respect it. "I do not wish," said he, "thatM. de Charny should run the risk of being moved; we will take care ofhim here. Let M. de Suffren be called, this gentleman recompensed, andmy own physician, Dr. Louis, be sent for."

  While one officer went to execute these orders, two others carriedCharny into a room at the end of the gallery. Dr. Louis and M. deSuffren soon arrived. The latter understood nothing of his nephew'sillness. "It is strange," said he; "do you know, doctor, I never knew mynephew ill before."

  "That proves nothing," replied the doctor.

  "The air of Versailles must be bad for him."

  "It is his wound," said one of the officers.

  "His wound!" cried M. de Suffren; "he never was wounded in his life."

  "Oh, excuse me," said the officer, opening the shirt, covered withblood, "but I thought----"

  "Well," said the doctor, who began to see the state of the case, "donot let us lose time disputing over the cause, but see what can be doneto cure him."

  "Is it dangerous, doctor?" asked M. de Suffren, with anxiety.

  "Not at all," replied he.

  M. de Suffren took his leave, and left Charny with the doctor. Fevercommenced, and before long he was delirious. Three hours after thedoctor called a servant, and told him to take Charny in his arms, whouttered doleful cries. "Roll the sheet over his head," said the doctor.

  "But," said the man, "he struggles so much that I must ask assistancefrom one of the guards."

  "Are you afraid of a sick man, sir? If he is too heavy for you, you arenot strong enough for me. I must send you back to Auvergne." This threathad its effect. Charny, crying, fighting, and gesticulating, was carriedby the man through the guards.

  Some of the officers questioned the doctor.

  "Oh! gentlemen," said he, "this gallery is too far off for me; I musthave him in my own rooms."

  "But I assure you, doctor, we would all have looked after him here. Weall love M. de Suffren."

  "Oh yes, I know your sort of care! The sick man is thirsty, and you givehim something to drink, and kill him."

  "Now there remains but one danger," said the doctor to himself, as hefollowed Charny, "that the king should want to visit him, and if he hearhim---- Diable! I must speak to the queen." The good doctor, therefore,having bathed the head and face of his patient with cold water, and seenhim safe in bed, went out and locked the door on him, leaving hisservant to look after him. He went towards the queen's apartments, andmet Madame de Misery, who had just been despatched to ask after thepatient.

  "Come with me," he said.

  "But, doctor, the queen waits for intelligence."

  "I am going to her."

  "The queen wishes----"

  "The queen shall know all she wishes. I will take care of that."