He sent up his name, and one of the surgeons came down.
"Monsieur de la Vallee is very ill," he said, "although his wound is not necessarily mortal.

This morning we succeeded in extracting the ball, but he is in a terribly weak state.

He is unable to speak above a whisper, and does not seem to care to make any effort.

It would appear that he even does not wish to live." "I have news that will put fresh life into him." "Then by all means go in and see him, sir.

We have thought that he is fast sinking; but if the news you bring can rouse him into making an effort to live, he may yet recover.