I burned with impatience to question Reigart about the affairs of the
plantation,--about Eugenie and Aurore. I could not,--we were not alone.
The landlord of the hotel and a negro attendant had entered the room,
and were assisting the doctor in his operations. I could not trust
myself to speak on such a subject in their presence. I was forced to
nurse my impatience until all was over, and both landlord and servant
had left us.
"Now, doctor, this news of Mademoiselle Besancon?"
"Do _you_ not know all?"
"Only what I have heard this moment from those gossips outside the
room."