My heart was beginning to beat rapidly--without my knowing why.
"Mr.Nugent Dubourg," I said, "what have you got in your mind about Lucilla ?" "Madame Pratolungo," he replied, "I have got something in my mind which was put into it by a friend of mine whom I met in America." "The friend you mentioned in your letter to your brother ?" "The same." "The German gentleman whom you propose to introduce to Oscar and Lucilla ?" "Yes." "May I ask who he is ?" Nugent Dubourg looked at me attentively; considered with himself for the second time; and answered in these words: "He is the greatest living authority, and the greatest living operator, in diseases of the eye." The idea in his mind burst its way into my mind in a moment.
"Gracious God!" I exclaimed, "are you mad enough to suppose that Lucilla's sight can be restored, after a blindness of one-and-twenty years ?" He suddenly held up his hand, in sign to me to be silent.
At the same moment the door opened; and Lucilla (followed by Oscar) entered the room..