"Let us see, my dear abbé," replied he, "what service can you render me?" "You have sometimes spoken to me of your sister's numerous children, whom you have raised (notwithstanding your faults, wicked man) with paternal tenderness, after the early death of their parents." "Go on, abbé," said the doctor, fixing a penetrating gaze on the saintly man, "go on." "I was altogether ignorant that one of your nephews served in the navy, and had been made captain. His name is Horace Brémont, is it not?" At the name of Horace, the doctor started, imperceptibly; his gaze seemed to penetrate to the depth of the abbé's heart, and he replied, coldly: "I have a nephew who is captain in the navy and his name is Horace." "And he is now in Paris?" "Or elsewhere, abbé." "For God's sake, let us talk seriously, my dear doctor, the time is precious. See here what has been written to me and you will judge of the importance of the letter. * * * * * "'M. ABBÉ:--I know that you are very intimate with the celebrated Doctor Gasterini; you can render him a great service. His nephew, Captain Horace, is compromised in a very disagreeable affair; although he has succeeded in hiding himself up to this time, his retreat has been discovered and perhaps, at the moment that I am writing to you, his person has been seized.'" * * * * * The abbé stopped and looked attentively at the doctor. The doctor remained impassible. Surprised at this indifference, the abbé said, in a pathetic tone: "Ah, my poor doctor, what cruel suffering for you! But what has this unfortunate captain done?" "I know nothing about it, abbé, continue." Evidently the saintly man expected another result of the reading of his letter. However, not allowing himself to be disconcerted, he continued: "'Perhaps at this moment his person has been seized,'" repeated he, laying stress on these words, and going on with the letter. "'But there remains one chance of saving this young man who is more thoughtless than culpable; you must, upon the reception of this letter, send some one immediately to Doctor Gasterini.'" And, stopping again, the abbé added: "As I told you, doctor, Providence sent you here." "It has never done anything else for my sake," coldly replied the doctor. "Go on, abbé." "'You must, upon the reception of this letter, send immediately to Doctor Gasterini,'" repeated the abbé, more and more surprised at the impassibility of the physician, and his indifference to the misfortune which threatened his nephew. "'The doctor must send some person in whom he has confidence, without losing a minute, to warn Captain Horace to leave his retreat. Perhaps in this way he may get the start of the officers about to arrest this unfortunate young man.'