The clock struck half-past seven.

"Come, gentlemen," said Dr. Griffon, and he commenced his visits, followed
by a numerous train.

On arriving at the first bed of the range of the night, of which the
curtains were closed, the sister said to the doctor,

"Sir, number one died this morning at half-past four."

"So late? that surprises me; yesterday morning I would not have given her
the day: has the body been claimed?"

"No, doctor."

"So much the better--we can proceed with the autopsy; I can make some one
happy;" then, addressing one of the students, the doctor added, "My dear
Dunnoyer, you have wished for a subject for a long time; you are the first
on the list; this one is yours."

"Ah! sir, how kind you are!"

"I could wish oftener to recompense your zeal, my dear friend; but mark the
subject, and take possession."

And the doctor passed on. The student, with the aid of a scalpel, cut very
delicately on the arm of the actress an F and a D, in order to take
possession, as the doctor said.

"La Lorraine," whispered Jeanne Duport to her neighbor, "who are all these