Onrising，thedoctor，surethatnoonehadcrossedthethresholdofhishousesincehere-enteredit，proceededbutnotwithoutextremetrepidationtoverifyhisfacts。Hewashimselfignorantofanydifferenceinthebank-notesandalsoofthemisplacementofthePandectvolumes。Thesomnambulistwasright。ThedoctorrangforLaBougival。
“TellUrsulatocomeandspeaktome，“hesaid，seatinghimselfinthecenterofhislibrary。
Thegirlcame；sheranuptohimandkissedhim。Thedoctortookheronhisknee，whereshesatcontentedly，minglinghersoftfaircurlswiththewhitehairofheroldfriend。
“Doyouwantsomething，godfather？“
“Yes；butpromiseme，onyoursalvation，toanswerfrankly，withoutevasion，thequestionsthatIshallputtoyou。“