"Your despair grievously affects me," said the matron; "but consider that for a woman of my calling it is a capital offence.""What are you talking about? Do not our mystery, our safety, and our credit come in first?
They can never get at you till after the death and dishonour of all that is dear to me in the world.""I might then, perhaps. But in this case you must insure me against legal complications, fines, and procure me a safe exit from the kingdom.""Ah! that is my affair. Take my whole fortune! Take my life!"And he threw the whole purse on the table.
"In this case, and solely to extricate you from the extreme danger in which I see you placed, I consent to give you a decoction, and certain instructions, which will instantly relieve the lady from her burden. She must use the greatest precaution, and study to carry out exactly what I am about to tell you. My God! only such desperate occasions as this one could induce me to---- Here----"She took a flask from the bottom of a cupboard, and continued--"Here is a liquor which never fails."
"Oh, madame, you save my honour, which is dearer to me than life!
But this is not enough: tell me what use I am to make of this liquor, and in what doses I am to administer it.""The patient," replied the midwife, "must take one spoonful the first day; the second day two; the third----""You will obey me to the minutest particular?""I swear it."
"Let us start, then."
She asked but for time to pack a little linen, put things in order, then fastened her doors, and left the house with the marquis.
A quarter of an hour later they were galloping through the night, without her knowing where the marquis was taking her.
The marquis reappeared three days later at the chateau, finding the count's family as he had left them--that is to say, intoxicated with hope, and counting the weeks, days, and hours before the accouchement of the countess. He excused his hurried departure on the ground of the importance of the business which had summoned him away; and speaking of his journey at table, he related a story current in the country whence he came, of a surprising event which he had all but witnessed. It was the case of a lady of quality who suddenly found herself in the most dangerous pangs of labour. All the skill of the physicians who had been summoned proved futile; the lady was at the point of death; at last, in sheer despair, they summoned a midwife of great repute among the peasantry, but whose practice did not include the gentry. From the first treatment of this woman, who appeared modest and diffident to a degree, the pains ceased as if by enchantment; the patient fell into an indefinable calm languor, and after some hours was delivered of a beautiful infant; but after this was attacked by a violent fever which brought her to death's door.
They then again had recourse to the doctors, notwithstanding the opposition of the master of the house, who had confidence in the matron. The doctors' treatment only made matters worse. In this extremity they again called in the midwife, and at the end of three weeks the lady was miraculously restored to life, thus, added the marquis, establishing the reputation of the matron, who had sprung into such vogue in the town where she lived and the neighbouring country that nothing else was talked about.
This story made a great impression on the company, on account of the condition of the countess; the dowager added that it was very wrong to ridicule these humble country experts, who often through observation and experience discovered secrets which proud doctors were unable to unravel with all their studies. Hereupon the count cried out that this midwife must be sent for, as she was just the kind of woman they wanted. After this other matters were talked about, the marquis changing the conversation; he had gained his point in quietly introducing the thin end of the wedge of his design.
After dinner, the company walked on the terrace. The countess dowager not being able to walk much on account of her advanced age, the countess and Madame de Bouille took chairs beside her. The count walked up and down with M. de Saint-Maixent. The marquis naturally asked how things had been going on during his absence, and if Madame de Saint-Geran had suffered any inconvenience, for her pregnancy had become the most important affair in the household, and hardly anything else was talked about.
"By the way," said the count, "you were speaking just now of a very skilful midwife; would it not be a good step to summon her?""I think," replied the marquis, "that it would be an excellent selection, for I do not suppose there is one in this neighbourhood to compare to her.""I have a great mind to send for her at once, and to keep her about the countess, whose constitution she will be all the better acquainted with if she studies it beforehand. Do you know where Ican send for her?"
"Faith," said the marquis, "she lives in a village, but I don't know which.""But at least you know her name?"
"I can hardly remember it. Louise Boyard, I think, or Polliard, one or the other.""How! have you not even retained the name?""I heard the story, that's all. Who the deuce can keep a name in his head which he hears in such a chance fashion?""But did the condition of the countess never occur to you?""It was so far away that I did not suppose you would send such a distance. I thought you were already provided.""How can we set about to find her?"
"If that is all, I have a servant who knows people in that part of the country, and who knows how to go about things: if you like, he shall go in quest of her.""If I like? This very moment."
The same evening the servant started on his errand with the count's instructions, not forgetting those of his master. He went at full speed. It may readily be supposed that he had not far to seek the woman he was to bring back with him; but he purposely kept away for three days, and at the end of this time Louise Goillard was installed in the chateau.