Page:The Specimen Case.djvu/59

50 "Only my right arm," replied Raoul heroically; "but of that the skin was destroyed from finger-tip to shoulder."

"That would entail a very serious wound," mused Celestine. "You must possess a marvellous constitution, my Raoul, for the arm about my waist is as firm and vigorous as ever."

"That is due to the skill of the doctors who so cleverly patched me up. But why talk of these trifles? You, my Célestine, upon the honour of my name, you are looking more bewitching than ever."

Did Célestine's rapid intuition perceive a cautionary signal in this reluctance on her lover's part to talk about himself and his achievements? At all events she said:

"But naturally I am much interested in this latest adventure of yours. How was so speedy a recovery effected?"

"Um, well," stammered Raoul uneasily; "I suppose as you say, that my constitution"

"You have made use of the expression 'patch up,' my friend," interposed Celestine with icy firmness. "Did they then, these skilful surgeons, employ tissue grafting?"

"Why, yes; I believe that there was some little detail of the sort," admitted Raoul. "But you have not yet told me how the old place was looking and if the new curé"

"All in good time, my poor sufferer; you naturally demand my first thoughts. Who was the kind friend who so nobly submitted to the inconvenience of having pieces of his skin removed in order to supply your need?"

"I was—er—unconscious at the time," prevaricated the unhappy Raoul. His evasion would not have deceived a Siamese cat, let alone Célestine Bon.

"But assuredly you would have learned his name after-