Bruno! Catherine well knew how to touch Firmin’s jealousy. For a month she had listened to his advances half condescendingly, but Bruno’s name always strangely affected him. Was Bruno his rival? At any rate, her way of exasperating him was successful. “The gamekeeper shall die before to-morrow morning!” said he desperately. “Nonsense!” “I swear it! And it will be so much the worse for you.” “So much the worse for me! How so?” she inquired, trying to appear unconcerned and succeeding only in looking terribly in earnest. Without answering her question Firmin, after a brief hesitation, held out his hand. “Is it agreed?” he asked with a significant look. In reply Catherine raised her hand and the compact was sealed. “In order to accomplish my purpose, he must remain out to-night.” “He shall do so.” “When you hear a gunshot----” He stopped. It was useless to continue or to explain, and as his consultation with Monsieur Eugène was now objectless, he left the house. Catherine, however, was not yet ready to make her adieus. Her errand was still to be performed. [Illustration] [Illustration] CHAPTER XIII. THE CONSULTATION. Scarcely had the outer door closed upon Firmin when Monsieur Eugène finished his interview with the land-owner, and presently Catherine was asked to come into his office. A strange man was Monsieur Eugène. He was rich in many good qualities, but he had one fault, or rather an unfortunate failing, which had practically destroyed those gifts of nature which would have made him a great success had he but devoted himself to one profession or one art. Having received a liberal education in other branches, Eugène Bertier went to Paris to study medicine. For three years he applied himself to this science with an unusual enthusiasm. Not a student in the college could compare with him in diligence or knowledge. He was held up as an example to the other students, and was very popular among the foremost surgeons in the institution. One day a little child, a girl of fourteen, was brought to the hospital. She was a winsome, intelligent little thing who had been cruelly burned in a fire while attempting to save a baby brother. From the first moment he saw her Eugène gained an affection almost paternal for the little girl--his No. 17, as he called her, being his seventeenth patient. The principal doctor said to him: “Monsieur Bertier, I place this little girl in your charge. I believe that you can cure her.” Eugène accepted the trust, saying: “Yes, I am sure of it.”