“It is a great pity that one of these flashes of intelligence did not enlighten him when he saw M. de Boiscoran make a fire and get ready to murder Count Claudieuse.” The countess leaned against the door-posts, as if about to faint. “But it is exactly to his excitement at the sight of the flames, and at hearing the shots fired, that I ascribe Cocoleu’s return to reason.” “May be,” said the doctor, “may be.” Then putting on his spectacles again, he added,-- “That is a question to be decided by the professional men who will have to examine the poor imbecile creature.” “What! Is he going to be examined?” “Yes, and very thoroughly, madam, I tell you. And now I have the honor of wishing you good-bye. However, I shall come back to-night, unless you should succeed during the day in finding lodgings in Sauveterre,--an arrangement which would be very desirable for myself, in the first place, and not less so for your husband and your daughter. They are not comfortable in this cottage.” Thereupon he lifted his hat, returned to town, and immediately asked M. Seneschal in the most imperious manner to have Cocoleu arrested. Unfortunately the gendarmes had been unsuccessful; and Dr. Seignebos, who saw how unfortunate all this was for Jacques, began to get terribly impatient, when on Saturday night, towards ten o’clock, M. Seneschal came in, and said,-- “Cocoleu is found.” The doctor jumped up, and in a moment his hat on his head, and stick in hand, asked,-- “Where is he?” “At the hospital. I have seen him myself put into a separate room.” “I am going there.” “What, at this hour?” “Am I not one of the hospital physicians? And is it not open to me by night and by day?” “The sisters will be in bed.” The doctor shrugged his shoulders furiously; then he said,-- “To be sure, it would be a sacrilege to break the slumbers of these good sisters, these dear sisters, as you say. Ah, my dear mayor! When shall we have laymen for our hospitals? And when will you put good stout nurses in the place of these holy damsels?” M. Seneschal had too often discussed that subject with the doctor, to open it anew. He kept silent, and that was wise; for Dr. Seignebos sat down, saying,-- “Well, I must wait till to-morrow.” VI. “The hospital in Sauveterre,” says the guide book, “is, in spite of its limited size, one of the best institutions of the kind in the department. The chapel and the new additions were built at the expense of the Countess de Maupaison, the widow of one of the ministers of Louis Philippe.”