There was no known cure, and the Little Chemist could only watch the swift progress of the fever, and use simple remedies to allay the suffering.

Parpon knew that the disease had seized upon Valmond the night of the burial of Gabriel.

He remembered now the sickly, pungent air that floated past, and how Valmond, weak from the loss of blood in the fight at the smithy, shuddered, and drew his cloak about him.

A few days would end it, for good or ill.
Madame Chalice heard the news with consternation, and pity would have sent her to Valmond's bedside, but that she found Elise was his faithful nurse and servitor.

This fixed in her mind the belief that if Valmond died, he would leave both misery and shame behind; if he lived, she should, in any case, see him no more.