More and more alarmed, Jeanne, stammering and hesitating at each moment, said: "I had--a quarrel with my husband--about the children; I mean my eldest daughter, that he wanted to take away; and I wouldn't agree, because of a wicked woman he lived with, and who might give bad advice to my daughter. So then, my husband, who was tipsy,--yes, sir,--for if not, he'd never have done it,--my husband gave me a very hard push, and I fell; and then, soon after, I began to vomit blood." "Pooh, pooh, pooh! Your husband pushed you, and you fell; you describe it very nicely! Why, he did more than push you; he must have struck you in the stomach; perhaps trampled on you, or kicked you? Come, answer,--let's have the truth." "Oh, sir, I assure you that he was tipsy; but for that he would never have been so wicked." "Good or wicked, drunk or sober, it is not to the purpose, my good woman. I am not a public officer, and only want a fact accurately described. Now, were you not knocked down, and trampled under foot?" "Yes!" said Jeanne, weeping; "and yet I never gave him any cause of complaint. I worked as long as I could, and--" "The epigastrium must be very painful. Don't you feel great heat around that region?--uneasiness, lassitude, nausea?" "Yes, sir. I was quite worn out when I gave up, if not, I should never have left my children; and then, my Catherine! Oh, if you--" "Put out your tongue," said the doctor, again interrupting the patient. This appeared so strange to Jeanne, who thought to excite the doctor's pity, that she did not reply immediately, but looked at him with alarm. "Show me your tongue, which you know so well how to use," said the doctor, with a smile; and he pushed down Jeanne's lower jaw with the end of his finger. After having had his pupils successively, and for some time, feel and examine the subject's tongue, in order to ascertain its colour and dryness, Jeanne, overcoming her fear for a moment, said, in a tremulous voice: "Sir, I was going to say to you, my neighbours, who are as poor as myself, have been so kind as to take care of my children for a week only, which is a great deal; so at the end of that time I must be back home again. So I beg of you, in God's name, to cure me as quickly as you can, or nearly so, that I may return to work; and I have but a week before me,--for--"