"Nothing, son; but the movement of this man, the expression of his face--all this has frightened me. Pardon my weakness," added she, addressing the doctor, "I almost regret having yielded to my curiosity in accompanying my son." "Oh! for once, mother--there is nothing to regret." "Very sure am I that our good mother will never return here, nor we either, my little Germain," said Rigolette: "it is too affecting." "You are a little coward!" said Germain, smiling: "is not my wife a little coward, doctor?" "I confess," answered the doctor, "that the sight of this unhappy blind and dumb man has made a strong impression upon me--who have seen so much distress." "What a sight, old darling!" whispered Anastasia. "Well! in comparison with you, all men appear to me as ugly as this frightful madman. It is on this account that no one can boast of--you comprehend, my Alfred?" "Anastasia, I shall dream of that face, it is certain--I shall have the nightmare." "My friend," said the doctor to the Schoolmaster, "how do you find yourself?" The Schoolmaster remained mute. "Do you not hear me, then?" continued the doctor, striking him lightly on the shoulder. The Schoolmaster made no reply, but bowed his head. At the end of some moments, from his sightless eyes there fell a tear. "He weeps," said the doctor. "Poor man!" added Germain, with compassion. The Schoolmaster shuddered; he heard anew the voice of his son, who evinced for him a sentimental compassion. "What is the matter? What afflicts you?" demanded the doctor. The Schoolmaster buried his face in his hands. "We shall obtain nothing," said the doctor. "Let me try: I am going to console him," replied the learned madman. "I am going to demonstrate that all kinds of orthogonal surfaces in which the three systems are isothermal, are 1st, those of the superficies of the second order; 2nd, those of the ellipsoides of revolution around the small axis and the grand axis; 3rd, those--but no," said the madman, reflecting, "I will commence with him on the planetary system." Then, addressing the young lunatic, who was still kneeling before the Schoolmaster, "Take yourself off from there with your strawberries." "My boy," said the doctor to the young madman, "each one must have his turn with the old man. Let your comrade take your place." The young boy obeyed at once, arose, looked at the doctor timidly with his large blue eyes, showed his deference by a salute, made a parting sign to the Schoolmaster, and departed, repeating, in a plaintive voice, "Strawberries! strawberries!" The doctor, perceiving the painful effect this scene had produced upon Madame George, said to her, "Happily, madame, we are going to find Morel, and, if my hopes are realized, your heart will expand with joy on seeing this excellent man restored to the tenderness of his wife and daughter."