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A bitter smile hovered upon the lips of the third doctor, Maugredie, a man of acknowledged ability, but a Pyrrhonist and a scoffer, with the scalpel for his one article of faith. He would consider, as a concession to Brisset, that a man who, as a matter of fact, was perfectly well was dead, and recognize with Cameristus that a man might be living on after his apparent demise.
"I should very much like to be a witness of the coincidence of its retrenchment with your wish," he said to the Marquis. "Where is the use?" cried Brisset. "Where is the use?" echoed Cameristus. "Ah, you are both of the same mind," replied Maugredie. "The contraction is perfectly simple," Brisset went on. "It is supernatural," remarked Cameristus.
With this despatch there came also to Florian, as commandant, a warrant to arrest Cazeneau, the late commandant, on certain charges of fraud, peculation, and malversation in office, under the late ministry. De Brisset also had orders to bring Cazeneau back to France in the Vengeur. These documents were shown to the officers, who were very earnest in their congratulations to Florian.
Another system the use of mild remedies while Nature exerts her powers lies between the extremes of theory of Brisset and Cameristus, but one ought to have known the patient for some ten years or so to obtain a good result on these lines. Negation lies at the back of all medicine, as in every other science.
Raphael gave way before their custom, thinking that he could slip into a passage adjoining, whence he could easily overhear the medical conference in which the three professors were about to engage. "Permit me, gentlemen," said Brisset, as they entered, "to give you my own opinion at once. I neither wish to force it upon you nor to have it discussed.
All this time had been spent by Florian on board, where he had much to say to De Brisset, and much to ask of him and also of Margot. At length a boat came ashore. In the boat were Florian, De Brisset, and Margot. On landing, these three went up to the citadel; and on their way De Brisset was stopped by several of the officers, who were old acquaintances, and were anxious to learn the latest news.
"And that is the cause of the milk in the cocoanut," said Raphael, with a smile, as he led Horace into his study to pay the fees for this useless consultation. "Their conclusions are logical," the young doctor replied. "Cameristus feels, Brisset examines, Maugredie doubts. Has not man a soul, a body, and an intelligence?
"May I not be present during the discussion, gentlemen?" Valentin had asked them, but Brisset and Maugredie protested against this, and, in spite of their patient's entreaties, declined altogether to deliberate in his presence.
"You are assuming a terrible responsibility. What! the duke is as ill as you say, ps ps ps. See no one? No consultation?" The Irishman threw up his arms as if to say: "What's the use?" The other insisted. It was absolutely essential that Brisset, Jousselin, Bouchereau, all the great men should be called in. "But you will frighten him to death."
"There is his everlasting system of medicine, arbitrary, monarchical, and pious," muttered Brisset. "Gentlemen," Maugredie broke in hastily, to distract attention from Brisset's comment, "don't let us lose sight of the patient." "What is the good of science?" Raphael moaned.
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