"Well, my little signor," he said, in French, picturesquely intermingled with Italian, "how is the health this morning?"
"Oh yes! famous, Antonio, famous!" and the Italian sought to repeat the intonation of my voice. "I believe you, my dear patient, but that will not prevent you taking this draught the doctor, my master, has sent you."
"I am willing; but, indeed, this medicine is becoming unnecessary, for I now feel that I shall soon be restored to health, and then I shall only have to thank you and your master for your attention to me, and pay him the expenses caused by my illness."
"What are you talking about?" Antonio said. "Do you think of leaving us? Oh, I hope not."
"You are right, Antonio; I am not thinking of it to-day, but I must consider of it so soon as I am in a condition to leave. You must see, my friend, that, in spite of all the pain our separation will cause me, I must make up my mind to it before long, for I am anxious to return to Blois and reassure my family, who must feel most uncomfortable about me."
"Your family cannot be uncomfortable, as, in order to calm your father, you wrote to him that your illness, having had no dangerous results, you had proceeded to Angers to look for work."
"But, but," Antonio interrupted me, "you have no good reason to offer. I repeat, you cannot quit us. Besides," he added, lowering his voice, "if I told you something, I am sure you would be of my opinion."
Antonio stopped, appeared to struggle for a moment against the desire he felt to confide in me, then, making up his mind, said, resolutely, "Ah, bah! as it is necessary, I cannot hesitate. You were talking just now about paying my master. Do you know that he is, I fancy, in your debt?"
"Well, listen to me, my dear friend," Antonio said, with a mysterious air; "I will explain myself. You are not ignorant that our poor Torrini is afflicted by a very grave malady that touches him here (and Antonio laid his hand on his forehead); now, since you have been with us, and he fancies he can trace some resemblance to his son, my master is gradually losing his sorrow, and even indulges in gaiety now and then. Yesterday, for instance, during his performance, you saw him make his audience laugh twice or thrice, which has not occurred for a long time.