Lemonade was a very bad thing for him."
"Grandpapa's bottle of lemonade was standing just by his side; poor Barrois was very thirsty, and was thankful to drink anything he could find." Madame de Villefort started.
Noirtier looked at her with a glance of the most profound scrutiny."He has such a short neck," said she."Madame,"said Villefort, "I ask where is M.d'Avrigny? In God's name answer me!""He is with Edward, who is not quite well," replied Madame de Villefort, no longer being able to avoid answering.
Villefort rushed up-stairs to fetch him."Take this," said Madame de Villefort, giving her smelling-bottle to Valentine."They will, no doubt, bleed him; therefore I will retire, for I cannot endure the sight of blood;" and she followed her husband up-stairs.Morrel now emerged from his hiding-place, where he had remained quite unperceived, so great had been the general confusion."Go away as quick as you can, Maximilian," said Valentine, "and stay till I send for you.Go."Morrel looked towards Noirtier for permission to retire.The old man, who had preserved all his usual coolness, made a sign to him to do so.The young man pressed Valentine's hand to his lips, and then left the house by a back staircase.At the same moment that he quitted the room, Villefort and the doctor entered by an opposite door.Barrois was now showing signs of returning consciousness.The crisis seemed past, a low moaning was heard, and he raised himself on one knee.
D'Avrigny and Villefort laid him on a couch."What do you prescribe, doctor?" demanded Villefort."Give me some water and ether.You have some in the house, have you not?""Yes."
"Send for some oil of turpentine and tartar emetic."Villefort immediately despatched a messenger."And now let every one retire.""Must I go too?" asked Valentine timidly.
"Yes, mademoiselle, you especially," replied the doctor abruptly.
Valentine looked at M.d'Avrigny with astonishment, kissed her grandfather on the forehead, and left the room.The doctor closed the door after her with a gloomy air."Look, look, doctor," said Villefort, "he is quite coming round again; I really do not think, after all, it is anything of consequence." M.d'Avrigny answered by a melancholy smile.
"How do you feel, Barrois?" asked he."A little better, sir.""Will you drink some of this ether and water?""I will try; but don't touch me."
"Why not?"
"Because I feel that if you were only to touch me with the tip of your finger the fit would return.""Drink."
Barrois took the glass, and, raising it to his purple lips, took about half of the liquid offered him."Where do you suffer?" asked the doctor.
"Everywhere.I feel cramps over my whole body.""Do you find any dazzling sensation before the eyes?""Yes."
"Any noise in the ears?"
"Frightful."
"When did you first feel that?"
"Just now."
"Suddenly?"
"Yes, like a clap of thunder."
"Did you feel nothing of it yesterday or the day before?""Nothing."
"No drowsiness?"
"None."
"What have you eaten to-day?"
"I have eaten nothing; I only drank a glass of my master's lemonade -- that's all;" and Barrois turned towards Noirtier, who, immovably fixed in his arm-chair, was contemplating this terrible scene without allowing a word or a movement to escape him.
"Where is this lemonade?" asked the doctor eagerly.
"Down-stairs in the decanter."
"Whereabouts downstairs?"
"In the kitchen."
"Shall I go and fetch it, doctor?" inquired Villefort.
"No, stay here and try to make Barrois drink the rest of this glass of ether and water.I will go myself and fetch the lemonade." D'Avrigny bounded towards the door, flew down the back staircase, and almost knocked down Madame de Villefort, in his haste, who was herself going down to the kitchen.She cried out, but d'Avrigny paid no attention to her; possessed with but one idea, he cleared the last four steps with a bound, and rushed into the kitchen, where he saw the decanter about three parts empty still standing on the waiter, where it had been left.He darted upon it as an eagle would seize upon its prey.Panting with loss of breath, he returned to the room he had just left.Madame de Villefort was slowly ascending the steps which led to her room."Is this the decanter you spoke of?" asked d'Avrigny.
"Yes, doctor."
"Is this the same lemonade of which you partook?""I believe so."
"What did it taste like?"
"It had a bitter taste."
The doctor poured some drops of the lemonade into the palm of his hand, put his lips to it, and after having rinsed his mouth as a man does when he is tasting wine, he spat the liquor into the fireplace.
"It is no doubt the same," said he."Did you drink some too, M.Noirtier?""Yes."
"And did you also discover a bitter taste?""Yes."
"Oh, doctor," cried Barrois, "the fit is coming on again.
Oh, do something for me." The doctor flew to his patient.