and water vapor in variable quantity. These are the ordinary proportions."
"Good, doctor, good!" replied Ygene. “The experiment will be made on a large scale, and will be decisive."
"And if it is decisive," added Doctor Ox triumphantly, "we shall reform the world!"
CHAPTER V.
In Which the Burgomaster and the Counselor Pay a Visit to Doctor Ox, and What Follows
The Counselor Niklausse and the Burgomaster van Tricasse at last knew what it was to have an agitated night. The grave event which had taken place at Doctor Ox's house actually kept them awake. What consequences was this affair destined to bring about? They could not imagine. Would it be necessary for them to come to a decision? Would the municipal authority, whom they represented, be compelled to interfere? Would they be obliged to order arrests to be made, that so great a scandal should not be repeated? All these doubts could not but trouble these soft natures; and on that evening, before separating, the two notables had "decided" to see each other the next day.
On the next morning, before dinner, the Burgomaster van Tricasse proceeded in person to the Counselor Niklausse's house. He found his friend more calm. He himself had recovered his equanimity.
"Nothing new?" ask van Tricasse.
"Nothing new since yesterday," replied Niklausse.
"And the doctor, Dominique Custos?"
"I have not heard anything, either of him or of the advocate, André Schut."
After an hour's conversation, which consisted of three remarks which it is needless to repeat, the counselor and the burgomaster had resolved to pay a visit to Doctor Ox, so as to draw from him, without seeming to do so, some details of the affair.
Contrary to all their habits, after coming to this decision the two notables set about putting it into execution forthwith. They left the house and directed their steps towards Doctor Ox's laboratory, which was situated outside the town, near the Oudenarde gate—the gate whose tower threatened to fall in ruins.
They did not take each other's arms, but walked side by side, with a slow and solemn step, which took them forward but thirteen inches per second. This was, indeed, the ordinary gait of the Quiquendonians, who had never, within the memory of man, seen anyone run across the streets of their town.
From time to time the two notables would stop at some calm and tranquil crossway, or at the end of a quiet street, to salute the passers by.
"Good morning, Monsieur the burgomaster," said one.
"Good morning, my friend," responded van Tricasse.
"Anything new, Monsieur the counselor?" asked another.
"Nothing new," answered Niklausse.
A Visit to Dr. Ox’s Laboratory
But by certain agitated motions and questioning looks, it was evident that the altercation of the evening before was known throughout the town. Observing the direction taken by van Tricasse, the most obtuse Quiquendonians guessed that the burgomaster was on his way to take some important step. The Custos and Schut affair was talked of everywhere, but the people had not yet come to the point of taking the part of one or the other. The Advocate Schut, having never had occasion to plead in a town where attorneys and bailiffs only existed in tradition, had, consequently, never lost a suit. As for the Doctor Custos, he was an honorable practitioner, who, after the example of his fellow-doctors, cured all the illnesses of his patients, except those of which they died—a habit unhappily acquired by all the members of all the faculties in whatever country they may practice.
On reaching the Oudenarde gate, the counselor and the burgomaster prudently made a short detour, so as not to pass within reach of the tower, in case it should fall; then they turned and looked at it attentively.
"I think that it will fall," said van Tricasse.
"I think so too," replied Niklausse.
"Unless it is propped up," added van Tricasse.
"But must it be propped up?" That is the question."
"That is—in fact—the question."
Some moments after, they reached the door of the gas-works.
"Can we see Doctor Ox?" they asked.
Doctor Ox could always be seen by the first authorities of the town, and they were at once introduced into the celebrated physiologist's study.
Perhaps the two notables waited for the doctor for about an hour; at least it is reasonable to suppose so, as the burgomaster—never has this happened in his life before—betrayed a certain amount of impatience, from which his companion was not exempt.
Doctor Ox came in at last, and began to excuse himself for having kept them waiting; he had to approve a plan for the gasometer, rectify some of the machinery—But every thing was going on well! The pipes intended for the oxygen were already laid. In a few months the town would be splendidly lighted. The two notables might even now see the orifices of the pipes which were laid on in the laboratory.
Then the doctor begged to know to what he was indebted for the honor of this visit.
"Only to see you, doctor; to see you," replied van Tricasse. "It is long since we have had the pleasure. We go abroad but little in our good town of Quiquendone. We count our steps and measure our walks. We are happy when nothing disturbs the uniformity of our habits."
Niklausse looked at his friend. His friend had never said so much at once—at least, without taking time, and giving long intervals between his sentences. It seemed to him that van Tricasse expressed himself with a certain volubility, which was by no means common with him. Niklausse himself experienced a kind of irresistible desire to talk.
As for Doctor Ox, he looked at the burgomaster with sly attention.
Van Tricasse, who never argued until he had snugly ensconced himself in a spacious armchair, had risen to his feet. I know not what nervous ex-
