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 Causes Cettbres. going to seek quarters for themselves, as there were no vacant chambers in the Fleurde-Lys. After a short search, Du Coudray found, in the Rue de l'Orangerie, an inn of modest appearance, kept by a cooper. He entered and asked if they could prepare a chamber with two beds for his nephew and himself. The cooper, Pecquet, called his wife, who conducted the traveller to a room situated just above the shop. While examining the chamber, Du Cou dray said to Pecquet's wife: " My name is Beaupre; I reside in Commercy; I have come to Versailles to establish my nephew in a situation in the War Department." Having made all necessary arrangements concerning the apartment, the little man departed for the Avenue de Sceaux and presently re turned with his pretended nephew. Young De la Motte was very pale and hardly able to stand. " Come, my dear child," said Du Coudray, " you must rouse yourself. I will take you to see the royal garden; that will distract your attention and dissipate this slight indisposition caused by the journey." La Motte allowed himself to be led from the house. A quarter of an hour later the two returned to the inn. " You have not taken much of a walk," said the innkeep er's wife. " No," replied Du Coudray; " my nephew is not feeling well, he is suffering from an attack of nausea. I am going to make him lie down for a while; " and he added in a low tone : " I am afraid it may be small-pox; nothing could be more unfortu nate, for I am expecting his mother, who is to present him to the Minister of War." Du Coudray — or Beauprc.as he now called himself — and the young man then shut them selves up in their chamber. Toward even ing Beaupre descended. " He has been seized with an, attack of vomiting," he said to the innkeeper's wife. " What a misfor tune if this illness should result seriously! I am expecting his poor mother at any mo ment. By the way, if the boy should ask for his mother, you will tel) him that she has 4'

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arrived, that she saw him while he was asleep, and that she is now occupied with matters concerning his situation in the War Department." The next morning Beaupre came down, and said : " Send and buy me two ounces of manna and some saltpetre. My nephew is no better; however, I hope that his sick ness will not prove serious. I am going to prepare, a dose of medicine for him." Pecquet's wife went up to the chamber, and saw that the young man had vomited profusely. Beaupre had washed the floor. "Why, Monsieur," exclaimed the woman, "the boy looks very sick to me. Had you not better send for a physician? " " It would be useless, my good woman," said Beaupre. "I am a physician myself, and I understand his complaint perfectly." Pecquet's little daughter brought the drugs, and Beaupre prepared the medicine. Young De La Motte, in a feeble voice, asked for his mother. The innkeeper's wife repeated the lesson taught her by Beaupre, and the sick youth sighed. A little later Beaupre went down and breakfasted in the dining-room. Madame Pecquet served him; she seemed sad and preoccupied. " What is the matter, my good woman?" asked Beaupre. "One would think that something was worrying you." The innkeeper's wife, won by his kindly words, then confided to him that she had to pay ten crowns the next day, and had not a single crown wherewith to meet the debt. "Is that all? " cried Beaupre; " I see that my nephew's illness will probably detain me here some days, and my bill will doubtless amount to more than that sum. Take these ten crowns and credit them to my account." Madame Pecquet overwhelmed him with thanks, and to prove her gratitude, went up several times to care for the sick youth. He no longer spoke, and seemed to be in a sort of stupor. The next day (Wednesday) Beaupre sent for more drugs. " I really begin to feel