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?" asked 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, Andre 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.
361
