When the liquid has effected its work, which will be in ten minutes, I shall remove it, and apply an ointment, another invention of my own, to the wound; then I shall restore Paul to his senses, and go to dinner." Mascarin rubbed his hands with delight.
"But you forget that a certain space of time is required to give a scar the appearance of not having been recent," objected Catenac.
"Let me speak," broke in the doctor.

"If we only needed time--six months, say, or a year--we should postpone our concluding act until then; but I, Hortebise, assure you that in two months, thanks to another discovery of my own--will show you a scar that will pass muster, not perhaps before a fellow-practitioner, but certainly before the Duke." Catenac's sunken eyes blazed as he thought of the prospective millions.
"May the devil fly away with all scruples!" cried he.

"My friends, I am yours soul and body; you may rely on your devoted Catenac." The doctor and Mascarin exchanged a look of triumph.
"Of course we share and share alike," observed the lawyer.

"It is true that I come in rather late; but the part I play is a delicate and an important one, and you can do nothing without me." "You shall have your share," answered Mascarin evasively.
"One word more," said the lawyer.

"Do you think that the Duke has kept nothing back?
The infant was hardly seen by him or the Duchess; but Jean saw it, and he, though very old and infirm, would come forward at any moment to defend the name and honor of the Champdoce family." "Well, and what then ?" "Jean, you know, was against the substitution of another child.