ThisamputationofthethighbyDoctorCanivetwasagreateventinthevillage。Onthatdayalltheinhabitantsgotupearlier，andtheGrandeRue，althoughfullofpeople，hadsomethinglugubriousaboutit，asifanexecutionhadbeenexpected。Atthegrocer’stheydiscussedHippolyte’sillness；theshopsdidnobusiness，andMadameTuvache，themayor’swife，didnotstirfromherwindow，suchwasherimpatiencetoseetheoperatorarrive。
Hecameinhisgig，whichhedrovehimself。Butthespringsoftherightsidehavingatlengthgivenwaybeneaththeweightofhiscorpulence，ithappenedthatthecarriageasitrolledalongleanedoveralittle，andontheothercushionnearhimcouldbeseenalargeboxcoveredinredsheep-leather，whosethreebrassclaspsshonegrandly。
Afterhehadenteredlikeawhirlwindtheporchofthe“Liond’Or，“thedoctor，shoutingveryloud，orderedthemtounharnesshishorse。Thenhewentintothestabletoseethathewaseatinghisoatsallright；foronarrivingatapatient’shefirstofalllookedafterhismareandhisgig。Peopleevensaidaboutthis——
“Ah!MonsieurCanivet’sacharacter!“
Andhewasthemoreesteemedforthisimperturbablecoolness。Theuniversetothelastmanmighthavedied，andhewouldnothavemissedthesmallestofhishabits。