Hehadraisedhiseyestothedoctorwithagentle，supplicatoryexpression，andtakingthepearsfromthepocketofhisworn，mendedjacket，hegavethemtothephysician。
Thenhappenedsomethingwhich，hadSimonenteredtheroomjustthen，wouldprobablyhavefilledhimwithexasperation。IthappenedthattheproudandcelebratedDr。Naudin，thedirectorandfirstphysicianoftheHotelDieu，sankonhiskneebeforethispoorboyinthepatchedjacket，whohadnothingtogivebuttwopears，andthathewassoovercome，eitherbyinwardpainorbyreverence，thatwhiletakingthepearshecouldonlywhisper，withafaintvoice：“I
thankyourmajesty。Ihaveneverreceivedanoblerormorepreciousgiftthanthisfruit，whichmyunfortunatekinggivesme，andI
sweartoyouthatIwillbeyourdevotedandfaithfulservant。“
IthappenedfurtherthatDr。Naudinpressedtohislipsthehandthatreachedhimthepreciousgift，andthatuponthishandtwotearsfellfromtheeyesofthephysician，longaccustomedtolookuponhumanmiseryandpain，andwhichhadnotforyearsbeensuffusedwithmoisture。
Justthen，approachingstepsbeingheardinthecorridor，thedoctorrosequickly，concealedthepearsinhispocket，andenteredthechamberofthesickwomanatthesameinstantwhenSimonreturnedfromhisvisitabove-stairs。
Tneboyslipped，withthedoctor，intothesick-room，andasnoonepaidanyattentiontohim，hestolesoftlyintohisroom，croucheddownuponhisstrawbed，withflutteringheart，tothinkoverallhehadexperiencedordreamedofthatday。
“Andhowisitwithoursickoneto-day？“askedDoctorNaudin，sittingdownnearthebed，andgivingafriendlynodtoSimontodothesame。
“Itgoesbadlywithme，“moanedMistressSimon。“Myheartseemstobeonfire，andIhavenorestdayornight。Ibelievethatitisalloverwithme，andthatIshalldie，andthatisthebestthingforme，forthenIshallbefreeagain，andnothavetoendurethetormentsthatIhavehadtoundergointhisdreadfuldungeon。“
“Whatkindofpainsarethey？“askedthedoctor。“Wheredoyousuffer？“
“Iwilltellyou，citizendoctor，“criedSimon，impatiently。“Herpainsareeverywhere，ineverycornerofthislonelyandcursedbuilding；andifitgoesonsolong，weshallhavetopackandmove。
Theauthoritieshavedoneusbothagreathonor，fortheyhavehadconfidenceenoughinustogivethelittleCapetintoourcharge；
butitisourmisfortunetobesohonored，andweshallbothdieofit。For，nottomakealongstoryofit，webothcannotenduretheairoftheprison，thestillnessandsolitude，anditisadreadfulthingforustoseenothingelsethewholedaythanthestupidfaceofthisyoungster，alwayslookingatmesodreadfullywithhisgreatblueeyes，thatitreallyaffectsone。Weareneitherofususedtosuchanidle，uselesslife，anditwillbethedeathofus，citizendoctor。Mywife，JeanneMarie，whomyouseelyingtheresopaleandstill，usedtobetheliveliestandmostnimblewomanabout，andcoulddoasmuchwithherstrongarmsandbrownhandsasfourotherwomen。Andthenshewasthebravestandmostoutrageousrepublicanthateverwas，whenitcametobattlingforthepeople。WebothhelpedtostormtheBastile，bothwenttoVersaillesthattime，andafterwardtookthewolf’sbroodfromtheTuileriesandbroughtthemtotheConvention。AfterwardJeanneMariewasalwaysthefirstontheplatformneartheguillotine；andwhenSamsonandhisassistantsmountedthescaffoldinthemorning，andwaitedforthecars，thefirstthingtheydidwastolookovertothetribunetoseeifMistressSimonwastherewithherknitting，foritusedtoseemtothemthattheworkofhewingoffheadswentmorebrisklyonifJeanneMariewasthereandkepttheaccountinherstocking。Samsonhimselftoldmethis，andsaidtomethatJeanneMariewasthebravestofallthewomen，andthatshenevertrembled，andthathereyesneverturnedaway，howevermanyheadsfellintothebasket。AndshewastheretoowhentheAustrian——“
“Hush!“criedJeanneMarie，risinguphastilyinbed，andmotioningtoherhusbandtobesilent。“Donotspeakofthat，lesttheyoungsterhearit，andturnhisdreadfuleyesuponus。Donotspeakofthatfearfulday，foritwasthenthatmysicknessbegan，andI
believethattherewaspoisoninthebrandythatwedrankthatevening。Yes，yes，therewaspoisoninit，andfromthatcomesthefirethatburnsinmyheart，andIshalldieofit!Oh!Ishallburntodeathwithit!“
Sheputherhandsbeforeherfaceandsankbackuponthepillows，sobbing。Simonshookhisheadandheavedadeepsigh。“Itisnotthat，“murmuredhe；“itisnotfromthat，doctor!Thethingis，thatJeanneMariehasnoworkandnoexercise，andthatsheisgoingtowreck，becausewearecompelledtolivehereaskingsandaristocratsusedtolive，withoutlaborandoccupation，andwithoutdoinganymorethantonurseourfancies。Weshallalldieofthis，Itellyou!“
“Butifyouknowthis，citizen，whydoyounotgiveupyoursituation？Whydoyounotpetitiontheauthoritiestodismissyoufromthisservice，andgiveyousomethingelsetodo？“
“Ihavedonethattwicealready，“answeredSimon，bringinghisfistdownuponthetablenearthebedsoviolentlythatthebottlesofmedicinestandingtherewerejerkedhighintotheair。“TwicealreadyhaveItriedtobetransferredtosomeotherduty，andtheanswerhasbeensentback，thatthecountryordersmetostandatmypost，andthatthereisnoonewhocouldtakemyplace。“
“Thatisveryhonorableandflattering，“remarkedthephysician。
“Yes，butveryburdensomeanddisagreeable，“answeredSimon。“Weareprisonerswhileholdingthesehonorableandflatteringposts。WecannomoreleavetheTemplethanCapetcan，for，sincehisfatherdied，andthecrazylegitimistsbegantocallhimKingLouisXVII。，thechiefmagistrateandtheConventionhavebeenveryanxious。Theyareafraidofsecretconspiracies，andconsideritpossiblethatthelittleprisonermaybetakenawayfromherebyintrigue。Wehavetowatchhimdayandnight，therefore，andareneverallowedtoleavetheTemple，lestweshouldmeetwithotherpeople，andlestthelegitimistsshouldmaketheattempttogetintoourgoodgraces。
Wouldyoubelieve，citizendoctor，thattheydidnotevenallowmetogotothegrandfestivalwhichthecityofParisgaveinhonorofthetakingofToulan!Whileallthepeoplewereshouting，andhavingagoodtime，JeanneMarieandIhadtostayhereinthisgood-for-
nothingTemple，andseeandhearnothingofthefinedoings。Andthisdrivesthegallintomyblood，anditwillmakeusbothsick，anditispastendurance!“
“Ibelievethatyouareright，citizen，“saidthephysician，thoughtfully。“Yes，thewholetroubleofyourwifecomesfromthefactthatsheishereintheTemple，andifshemustbeshutupherealwaysshewillcontinuetosuffer。“
“Yes，tosufferalways，tosufferdreadfully，“groanedJeanneMarie。
Then，allatonce，sheraisedherselfupandturnedwithacommandingbearingtoherhusband。“Simon，“shesaid，“thedoctorshallknowallthatIsuffer。Heshallexaminemybreast，andtheplacewhereIhavethegreatestpain；butinyourpresenceIshallsaynothing。“
“Well，well，Iwillgo，“growledSimon。“ButIthinkthoseareprettymanners!“
“Theyarethemannersofarespectableandhonorablewoman，“saidthedoctor，gravely——“awomanwhodoesnotshowthepainsandailmentsofherbodytoanyoneexceptingherphysician。Go，go，CitizenSimon，andyouwillesteemyourgoodwifenonethelessfornotlettingyouhearwhatshehastosaytoheroldphysician。“
“No，certainlynot，“answeredSimon，“andthatyoumaybothseethatIamnotcurioustohearwhatyouhavetosaytooneanother，Iwillgowiththeyoungsteruptotheplatformandremainawholehourwithhim。“
“Youwillbeathimagain，andIshallhearhim，“saidJeanneMarie，weeping。“IheareverythingnowthatgoesonintheTemple，andwheneveryoustrike，theyoungster，Ifeeleveryblowinmybrain，andthatgivesmepainenoughtodrivemetodistraction。“
“Ipromiseyou，JeanneMarie，thatIwillnotstrikehim，andwillnottroublemyselfabouthimatall。Hecanplaywithhisball——
Halloa，Capet!Come!Wearegoingupontheplatform。Takeyourballandanythingelseyoulike，foryoushallplayto-dayandhaveagoodtime。“
Thechildstoleoutofhisroomwithhisball，notlookingparticularlydelighted，andtheprospectof“playing“didnotgivewingstohissteps，norcallasmiletohisswollenface。Helefttheroomnoiselessly，andSimonslammedthedoorsviolentlybehindhim。
“Andnowwearealone，“saidDoctorNaudin，“andyoucantellmeaboutyoursickness，andabouteverythingthattroublesyou。“
“Ah，doctor，Idonotdareto，“shewhispered。“Iamoverpoweredbyadreadfulfear，andIthinkyouwillbetrayme，andbringmyhusbandandmyselftothescaffold。“
“Iamnobetrayer，“answeredthedoctor，solemnly。“Thephysicianislikeapriest；hereceivesthesecretsanddisclosuresofhispatients，andletsnotawordofthempasshislips。But，inorderthatyoumaytakecourage，IwillfirstprovetoyouthatIputconfidenceinyou，byshowingyouthatIunderstandyou。Iwilltellyouwhatthediseaseisthatyouaresufferingfrom，andalsoitslocality。JeanneMarieSimon，youareenduringthatwithwhichnopainsofthebodycanbecompared。Yoursicknesshasitsseatintheconscience，anditsnameisremorseanddespair。“
JeanneMarieutteredaheart-rendingcry，andspranglikeanexasperatedtigerfromherbed。“Youlie!“shesaid，seizingthedoctor’sarmwithbothhands；“thatisafoul，damnablecalumny，thatyouhavethoughtoutmerelytobringmeundertheaxe。Ihavenothingtobesorryfor，andmyconsciencefillsmewithnoreproaches。“
“Andyetitisgnawingintoyouwithironteeth，whichhavebeenheatedblood-redinthefiresofhell，“saidthedoctor，withacompassionatelookatthepale，quiveringfaceofthewoman。“Donotraiseanyquarrel，butquietlylistentome。Wehaveanhour’stimetotalktogether，andwewanttouseit。Butletusspeaksoftly，softly，together；forwhatwehavetosaytoeachotherthedeafwallsthemselvesoughtnottohear。“
Simonhadnotreturnedfromtheplatformwiththeboy，whenDoctorNaudinendedhislongandearnestconversation，andpreparedtoleavehispatient，whowasnowquietlylyinginherbed。
“Youknoweverythingnowthatyouhavetodo，“hesaid，extendinghishandtoher。“YoucanreckononmeasIreckononyou，andwewillbothgobravelyandcheerfullyon。Itisanobleworkthatwehaveundertaken，andifitsucceedsyourheartwillbelightagain，andGodwillforgiveyouyoursins，fortwomartyrswillstandandpleadinyourbehalfatthethroneofGod!Now，doeverythingexactlyasIhavetoldyou，andspeakwithyourhusbandto-night，butnotsooner，thatyoumaybesafe，andforfearthatinhisfirstpanichisfacewouldbetrayhim。“