By an almost providential chance, at the moment when the cries of Mlle. de Fermont made the old Count de Saint-Remy spring from his chair, for he recognised the voice, the door of the apartment opened, and a young lady, dressed in mourning, entered very hastily, accompanied by the governor of the hospital; this lady was the Marquise d'Harville. "I beg of you, sir," she said to him, "to lead me to Mlle. de Fermont." "Be so kind as to follow me," he replied, respectfully; "the young lady is in No. 17." "Unhappy girl! Here--here!" said Madame d'Harville, drying her tears. "Ah, this is really frightful!" The marquise, preceded by the governor, rapidly approached the group assembled beside the bed of Mlle. de Fermont, when they heard these words uttered with indignation: "I tell you it is infamous murder; you will kill her, sir!" "But, my dear Saint-Remy, do pray hear me!" "I repeat, sir, that your conduct is atrocious! I consider Mlle. de Fermont as my daughter, and I forbid you going near her; I will have her immediately removed hence." "But, my dear friend, it is a case of slow nervous fever, very rare; I am desirous of trying phosphorus. It is a unique occasion. Promise me, at least, that I shall have the care of her, and take her where you like, since you are determined to deprive us of so valuable a clinical subject." "If you were not a madman, you would be a monster!" replied the count. Clemence listened to these words with increasing anguish, but the crowd was so dense around the bed that the governor was obliged to say, in a loud voice: "Make way, if you please, for the Marquise d'Harville, who has come to see No. 17." At these words, the pupils made way with equal haste and respectful admiration when they saw Clemence's lovely face, which was radiant with so much emotion. "Madame d'Harville!" exclaimed the Count de Saint-Remy, pushing the doctor rudely aside, and going hastily towards Clemence. "Ah, it is God who sends one of his angels here! Madame, I knew you took an interest in these two unfortunate beings, and, more happy than me, you have found them, whilst it was chance only that led me hither, to be present at a scene of unparalleled barbarity. Unhappy child! See, madame; and you, gentlemen, in the name of your sisters and daughters, have pity, I entreat, on a girl of sixteen, and leave her alone with madame and these good sisters; when she recovers her senses, I will have her conveyed hence." "Very well, let it be so; I will sign her discharge!" exclaimed the doctor; "but I will not lose sight of her; she is a subject of mine, and I will attend her, do what you will. I'll not risk the phosphorus, I promise that; but I will pass my nights, if needs be, as I passed them with you, ungrateful Saint-Remy, for this fever is as curious as yours was; they are two sisters, who have an equal right to my interest."