CHAPTER X. DR JOHN.

native,myhandwasalreadyextendedtodowhatwasrequisite.IwasanticipatedMadameBeckhadputoutherownhand:herswassteadywhileminetrembled. “Cavaudramieux,”saidthedoctor,turningfrommetoher. Heshowedwisdominhischoice.Minewouldhavebeenfeignedstoicism,forcedfortitude.Herswasneitherforcednorfeigned. “Merci,Madametrèsbien,fortbien!”saidtheoperatorwhenhehadfinished.“Voilàunsang-froidbienopportun,etquivautmilleélansdesensibilitédéplacée.” Hewaspleasedwithherfirmness,shewithhiscompliment.Itwaslikely,too,thathiswholegeneralappearance,hisvoice,mien,andmanner,wroughtimpressionsinhisfavour.Indeed,whenyoulookedwellathim,andwhenalampwasbroughtin—foritwaseveningandnowwaxingdusk—yousawthat,unlessMadameBeckhadbeenlessthanwoman,itcouldnotwellbeotherwise.Thisyoungdoctor(hewasyoung)hadnocommonaspect.Hisstaturelookedimposinglytallinthatlittlechamber,andamidstthatgroupofDutch-madewomenhisprofilewasclear,fineandexpressive:perhapshiseyeglancedfromfacetofacerathertoovividly,tooquickly,andtoooftenbutithadamostpleasantcharacter,andsohadhismouthhischinwasfull,cleft,Grecian,andperfect.Astohissmile,onecouldnotinahurrymakeupone’smindastothedescriptiveepithetitmeritedtherewassomethinginitthatpleased,butsomethingtoothatbroughtsurgingupintothemindallone’sfoiblesandweakpoints:allthatcouldlayoneopentoalaugh.YetFifinelikedthisdoubtfulsmile,andthoughttheownergenial:muchashehadhurther,sheheldoutherhandtobidhimafriendlygood-night.Hepattedthelittlehandkindly,andthenheandMadamewentdown-stairstogethershetalkinginherhighesttideofspiritsandvolubility,helisteningwithanairofgood-naturedamenity,dashedwiththatunconsciousroguisharchnessIfinditdifficulttodescribe. InoticedthatthoughhespokeFrenchwell,hespokeEnglishbetterhehad,too,anEnglishcomplexion,eyes,andform.Inoticedmore.Ashepassedmeinleavingtheroom,turninghisfaceinmydirectiononemoment—nottoaddressme,buttospeaktoMadame,yetsostanding,thatIalmostnecessarilylookedupathim—arecollectionwhichhadbeenstrugglingtoforminmymemory,sincethefirstmomentIheardhisvoice,startedupperfected.ThiswastheverygentlemantowhomIhadspokenatthebureauwhohadhelpedmeinthematterofthetrunkwhohadbeenmyguidethroughthedark,wetpark.Listening,ashepasseddownthelongvestibuleoutintothestreet,Irecognisedhisverytread:itwasthesamefirmandequalstrideIhadfollowedunderthedrippingtrees. Itwastobeconcludedthatthisyoungsurgeon-physician’sfirstvisittotheRueFossettewouldbethelast.TherespectableDr.Pillulebeingexpectedhomethenextday,thereappearednoreasonwhyhistemporarysubstituteshouldagainrepresenthimbuttheFateshadwrittentheirdecreetothecontrary. Dr.Pillulehadbeensummonedtoseearicholdhypochondriacattheantiqueuniversityto