"Frederick," exclaimed the young mother, hastily wiping away her tears, "my son, it is your new tutor, M. David. I implore you--" But she could not finish the sentence, for Doctor Dufour entered, accompanied by Henri David. The latter bowed low to Madame Bastien, but as he raised his head he saw traces of recent tears on the lady's face. He noticed, too, Frederick's livid pallor and his gloomy and defiant air, so he would have had no trouble in divining what had just taken place, even if an imploring look from Madame Bastien had not still further enlightened him. "Madame, I have the honour to present my friend, M. Henri David," began the doctor. Madame Bastien was so overwhelmed with emotion, that she could only rise from her chair, into which she sank back again after bowing to David, who said: "I shall endeavour to be worthy of the confidence you have manifested in me, madame." "My son," said Marie Bastien, in a voice she tried hard to steady, "I hope you will not disappoint the expectations of M. David, who has kindly consented to assume the direction of your studies." "Monsieur," said Frederick, looking his new tutor full in the face, "you come here in spite of me. You will leave here on account of me." "_Mon Dieu!_" murmured Madame Bastien, with a despairing sob, and, overcome with shame and confusion, she dared not even lift her eyes to Henri David's face. "You will regret those words when you learn to know me better," said Henri David, with a look of infinite compassion. Frederick burst into a shrill, sardonic laugh, and rushed out of the room. "Don't leave him alone, doctor, I implore you," exclaimed the mother. But this entreaty had not passed her lips before M. Dufour started after Frederick. CHAPTER XX. Left alone with Madame Bastien, Henri David remained silent for several minutes as if to collect his thoughts, then, turning to his companion, he said, earnestly: "I wish, madame, that you could see in me a physician who is devoting himself to a dangerous but by no means hopeless case. I should like to receive from you a full account of all the events which have taken place since you first noticed the change in your son's character which distresses you so much. Our friend, Doctor Dufour, has already given me some information on the subject. But what you can tell me, madame, will doubtless enlighten me still more." Marie complied with his request, but when she came to the description of the scene in the forest, she hesitated and turned pale, and her distress was so apparent that Henri David exclaimed: "What is the matter, madame? This emotion, these tears--" "Ah, monsieur, I should be unworthy of your generous aid if I concealed any portion of the truth from you, no matter how terrible it may be." "What do you mean, madame?" "Ah, monsieur," murmured Madame Bastien, with eyes downcast, "in a paroxysm of fever, or delirium, or I know not what, he lost his senses completely and went at night--" "At night?"