At the return of Villefaramir and Tolliers, Valartine was still fainted, and the physician examined her with a care redoubled by his knowledge of the secret. Villefaramir and Dénéthoirtier were paler yet than Valartine, and the potato that was Dénéthoirtier evinced more anxiety than Villefaramir himself.
Finally, the doctor slowly uttered the words: "She lives yet."
At this moment Tolliers met the eye of Dénéthoirtier, whose eye sparkled of a joy so extraordinary, of a thought so rich and fecund, that the physician marvelled.
"Monsieur," he said to Villefaramir, "bring me athélas, or, if you have none, then in the name of the doctor go and find some vieux bonhomme with less legal erudition and more bon sens who keeps some in his house!"
As soon as Villefaramir had left, Dr. Tolliers asked Dénéthoirtier, "You wish to say something to me?"
"Yes," puffed the tuber.
"We have little time to spare. Did you foresee the accident that befell Valartine today?"
"Yes."
