"It seemed to me an age--it really was but an hour--before Stabb returned. He was accompanied by Louis. It was the great Louis whose skill as a physician, and especially in the treatment of fevers, is world renowned. I had 'followed' him during the whole of your absence; had become, as a matter of course, one of his warmest admirers; and was fortunate enough to secure his friendship. He also knew Dervilly. Hearing them enter, I stepped into the principal room, to meet him. '_Mon Dieu! Monsieur Partridge, quel est le mal?_' said Louis, with great feeling. 'Monsieur Dervilly was at the hospital in the morning, and I met him as late as six o'clock this afternoon, passing into the _Jardin des Plants_.' "'God only knows,' I replied. 'Something horrible has suddenly befallen him.' And I gave an account of what had occurred since Dervilly came to his rooms. Louis was silent for a moment, and then began to question me very minutely about him, while Stabb went in to keep watch over the poor fellow.--Among other things, I mentioned his love affair; and believing it to be my duty to do so, I told Louis, briefly, all Dervilly had confided to me. He listened with great attention, and after I had concluded, we passed into the little chamber where Dervilly lay. He started up with violence as we came in, as if a severe paroxysm were about to follow. He stared wildly on seeing Louis, and seizing his hand, he exclaimed, 'Ah, _mon Professeur_, you are a very great man, and you are very kind to come to me, but your knowledge avails nothing here,' touching his forehead. Suddenly he extended his finger, and cried again, '_La Morgue--La Morgue._' "'What see you in _La Morgue_?' said Louis, tenderly. "'See? _Her, her!_' screamed Dervilly. "'Who, _mon enfant_? said the Professor, very gently. "'Who, but the fiend--the fiend! She has my soul--lost, lost for ever.' "'You should not speak so harshly of Mademoiselle de Coigny,' continued Louis, in a soothing tone. "'Pronounce not that name: a bait, a trap, a wile of Satan; repeat it, and I will tear you piecemeal!' cried the maniac. "'But, _mon pauvre enfant_, what does she at La Morgue?' "'_She?_ the fiend--the fiend--sits perched on the top of the wooden rail all night, watching--watching--and when some of the corpses show signs of life, sails down, and sits upon, and strangles them. Keep me away from there. Ah, _mon Professeur_, do not let me go there, to lie on the board, and have her bending over me, eyeing me, watching me, ready to strangle me. There again! keep those glazed eyes away--keep them away, I say--' "All this time Louis was making a minute examination of Dervilly's symptoms.