The Argosy — page 318: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

304 Featherston’s Story’. The doctor did not seem to come very quickly. Captain Fennel at length made his appearance and said M. Dupuis would be there in a minute or two. ‘‘I am content to hear that,” remarked M. Gustave in reply. ‘I was just about to despatch my brother for the first doctor he could find.” ** Never had such trouble in ringing up a doctor before,” returned Captain Fennel. ‘I suppose the old man sleeps too soundly to be easily aroused ; many elderly people do.” ‘“‘ IT fear she is dying,” whispered M. Gustave. ** No, no, surely not!” cried Captain Fennel, recoiling a step at the words. ‘What can it possibly be? What causes the attacks ?” Whilst M. Gustave was shaking his head at this difficult question, M. Dupuis arrived. M. Emile, anxious to make himself useful, was requested by Mariette to go to Flore’s domicile and ring her up. Flore seemed to have been sleeping with her clothes on, for they came back together. M. Dupuis could do nothing for his patient. He strove to administer drops of medicinal remedies ; he caused her to be nearly smothered in scalding-hot flannels—all in vain. He despatched M. Emile Sauvage to bring in another doctor, M. Podevin, who lived near. Allin vain. Lavinia died. Just at one o’clock in the morning, before the cocks had begun to crow, Lavinia Preen died. The shock to those in the house was great. It seemed to stun them, one and all. The brothers Sauvage, leaving a few words of heartfelt sympathy with Captain Fennel, withdrew silently to their own home. Mariette stayed. The two doctors, shut up in the salon, talked with one another, endeavouring to account for the death. ‘ Inflammation, no doubt,” observed M. Dupuis; “ but even so, the death has been too speedy.” ** More like poison,” rejoined the younger man, M. Podevin. He was brother to the proprietor of the Hétel des Princes, and was much respected by bis fellow-citizens as a safe and skilful prac- tilioner. “The thought of poison naturally occurred to me on Sunday, when I was first called to her,” returned M. Dupuis, “ but it could not be borne out. You see she had partaken of nothing, either in food or drink, but what the other inmates had taken; absolutely nothing. This was assured me by them all, herself included.” ‘She seems to have taken nothing to-day either that could in any way harm her,” said M. Podevin. ‘Nothing. She took a cup of tea at five o’clock, which the servant, Flore, prepared and also partook of herself—a cup out of the same tea-pot. Later, when the poor lady went to bed, her sister made her a basin of arrowroot, and made herself one at the same time.” ECOMICOOOKS. CO