"But more than that I discovered from the lady herself?" said the
surgeon.
"From the lady? What do you mean?" asked General Bezan, most
earnestly.
"Why she visited you during your illness, and though she came in
disguise, I discovered her."
"In disguise?"
"Yes."
"How did you discover her? I pray you tell me all, if you are my
friend."
"By a tear!"
"A tear!"
"Yes, because I knew no servant or lady's maid sent to execute her
mistress's bidding would have been so affected, and that led me to
watch for further discovery."
"Did she weep?"
"One tear fell from her eyes upon your hands as she bent over you,
and it told me a story that I have since sometimes thought you
should know."
"A tear!" mused General Bezan, to himself, rising and walking up and
down his room in haste; "that must have come from the heart. Smiles
are evanescent; kind words, even, cost nothing; but tears, they are
honest, and come unbidden by aught save the heart itself. Tears, did
you say?" he continued, pausing before the surgeon.
"As I have said, general."
"And she bathed my forehead, you say?"
"She did, and further, left with me a purse to be devoted to
supplying your wants.
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