"Whenever you choose, Monsieur Cherami; you are an excellent doctor, and I feel better already for your medicine." "Au revoir, then, monsieur le comte! follow my prescription carefully." "Oh! I shall take good care not to forget it." Cherami took his leave, saying to himself: "It can't possibly hurt him; it will warm him up a little, that's all; and he needs it, he was turning to pulp." LIX WHAT WAS SURE TO HAPPEN The young widow was preparing to call on the count on the day following that on which she had sent Cherami to him, being very curious to know if he had already improved her fiance's health, when her maid announced Monsieur de la Beriniere. Fanny could not restrain a cry of surprise when the count entered her apartment as briskly as before his duel. It was the second day of the chartreuse treatment, and the count had taken three glasses before leaving home; that liqueur, which is really very strengthening when used with moderation, had restored his vigor; it had revived his mental powers; and Monsieur de la Beriniere, overjoyed at a change which he took as evidence of a return to his normal condition, had determined to go in person to inform the young widow of it. Fanny expressed all the joy she felt at finding him restored to health. "Yes, I am feeling very well," said Monsieur de la Beriniere. "My strength is coming back with a rapidity that surprises me. Would you believe, dear lady, that our good friend Monsieur Cherami is the one to whom I owe it all?" "Can it be? Is he a doctor?" "No; but he has a potion left him by an old cousin, which restores convalescents to full health in a twinkling. I have been taking it only two days, and I am a different man. To-morrow, Tuesday, I shall finish the bottle; and at the end of the week, I will lead you to the altar. I will make all my arrangements accordingly." "Oh! how happy I am to have you entirely well again! You have recovered your former amiability, your merry humor." "Yes, I have recovered a lot of things; and when I have taken the rest of my elixir, you'll have a husband of twenty-five!" "Indeed, you seem hardly more than that to-day." "Really, you are too kind! I preferred to come myself to tell you of this blessed change. Now I must leave you, to go to my banker's. I must make him give me a lot of money, for I propose to cover you with jewelry and fine clothes." "Oh! monsieur le comte, don't be foolish, I beg!" "It's not foolish, simply to try to please you. Ah! to-morrow, what quantities of things I will buy, and perhaps I shall not have the pleasure of seeing you; but expect me the day after to-morrow, about noon, with all my little gewgaws." "You are always welcome, monsieur le comte." Monsieur de la Beriniere took his leave after kissing the young widow's hand; while she abandoned herself without reserve to the most intense delight.