As for the incarceration, I will put
him in the Conciergerie."
"Thank you, monsieur," said the unhappy Bourlac.
With the words he fell rigid on the snow, and rolled into one of the
hollows round the trees of the boulevard.
The commissary of police called for help, and Nepomucene ran up,
together with Madame Vauthier. The old man was carried to his room,
and Madame Vauthier begged the commissary to call on his way in the
rue d'Enfer, and send Doctor Berton as soon as possible.
"What is the matter with my grandfather?" asked poor Auguste.
"He is out of his head. You see what it is to steal," said the
Vauthier.
Auguste made a movement as though he would dash out his brains. The
two agents caught him.
"Come, young man, be calm," said the commissary of police; "you have
done wrong, but it may not be irreparable--"
"Monsieur, will you tell that woman my grandfather hasn't had anything
to ear for twenty-four hours?"
"Oh! the poor things!" exclaimed the commissary under his breath.
He stopped the coach, which had started, and said a word in the ear of
one of his agents, who got out and ran to Madame Vauthier, and then
returned.
When Dr. Berton arrived he declared that Monsieur Bernard (he knew him
only under that name) had a high fever of great intensity. After
hearing from Madame Vauthier all the events which had brought on this
crisis (related after the manner of such women) he informed Monsieur
Alain the next morning, at Saint-Jacques du Haut-Pas, of the present
state of affairs; on which Monsieur Alain despatched a note in pencil
by a street messenger to Monsieur Joseph.
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