I knew that it would be of no use to tell him the story of a fall, and I said at once: "'Monsieur, I believe doctors are like confessors, and that they keep the secrets of their patients.' "He smiled.
"'Monsieur has a secret, then ?' "'I have,' I said.

'I have had my arm broken by a musket ball--it does not matter how or when, does it ?' "'In no way,' he said; 'my business is simply to do what I can for you.' "'It is seven days old,' I said, 'and is horribly painful and inflamed.' "He examined the wound.
"'The bone is badly broken,' he said.

'It is well for you that it has been bound up with some skill, and that these rough splints have kept it in its place.

Of course, what you require is rest and quiet.

Without cutting down to the bone I cannot tell how badly it is splintered and, in the state of inflammation that it is now in, I could not venture upon that.