“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.”