FATHER D'AIGRIGNY'S SECRETARY.
Hardly had the magistrate and Dr.Baleinier disappeared, than Mdlle.de Cardoville, whose countenance was beaming with joy, exclaimed, as she looked at Rodin with a mixture of respect and gratitude, "At length, thanks to you, sir, I am free--free! Oh, I had never before felt how much happiness, expansion, delight, there is in that adorable word--
liberty!"
Her bosom rose and fell, her rosy nostrils dilated, her vermilion lips were half open, as if she again inhaled with rapture pure and vivifying air.
"I have been only a few days in this horrible place," she resumed, "but I have suffered enough from my captivity to make me resolve never to let a year pass without restoring to liberty some poor prisoners for debt.
This vow no doubt appears to belong a little to the Middle Ages," added she, with a smile; "but I would fain borrow from that noble epoch something more than its old windows and furniture.So, doubly thanks, sir!--for I take you as a partner in that project of deliverance, which has just (you see) unfolded itself in the midst of the happiness I owe to you, and by which you seem so much affected.Oh! let my joy speak my gratitude, and pay you for your generous aid!" exclaimed the young girl with enthusiasm.
Mdlle.de Cardoville had truly remarked a complete transfiguration in the countenance of Rodin.This man, lately so harsh, severe, inflexible, with regard to Dr.Baleinier, appeared now under the influence of the mildest and most tender sentiments.His little, half-veiled eyes were fixed upon Adrienne with an expression of ineffable interest.Then, as if he wished to tear himself from these impressions, he said, speaking to himself, "Come, come, no weakness.Time is too precious; my mission is not fulfilled.My dear young lady," added he, addressing himself to Adrienne, "believe what I say--we will talk hereafter of gratitude--but we have now to talk of the present so important for you and your family.
Do you know what is taking place?"
Adrienne looked at the Jesuit with surprise, and said, "What is taking place, sir?"
"Do you know the real motive of your imprisonment in this house? Do you know what influenced the Princess de Saint-Dizier and Abbe d'Aigrigny?"
At the sound of those detested names, Mdlle.de Cardoville's face, now so full of happiness, became suddenly sad, and she answered with bitterness, "It is hatred, sir, that no doubt animated Madame de Saint-Dizier against me."
"Yes, hatred; and, moreover, the desire to rob you with impunity of an immense fortune."
"Me, sir! how?"
"You must be ignorant, my dear young lady, of the interest you had to be in the Rue Saint-Francois on the 13th February, for an inheritance?"
"I was ignorant, sir, of the date and details: but I knew by some family papers, and thanks to an extraordinary circumstance, that one of our ancestors--"
"Had left an enormous sum to be divided between his descendants; is it not so?"
"Yes, sir."
"But what unfortunately you did not know, my dear young lady, was that the heirs were all bound to be present at a certain hour on the 13th February.This day and hour once past, the absent would forfeit their claim.Do you now understand why you have been imprisoned here, my dear young lady?"
"Yes, yes; I understand it," cried Mdlle.de Cardoville; "cupidity was added to the hatred which my aunt felt for me.All is explained.
Marshal Simon's daughters, having the same right as I had have, like me, been imprisoned."
"And yet," cried Rodin, "you and they were not the only victims."
"Who, then, are the others, sir?"
"A young East Indian."
"Prince Djalma?" said Adrienne, hastily.
"For the same reason he has been nearly poisoned with a narcotic."
"Great God!" cried the young girl, clasping her hands in horror."It is fearful.That young prince, who was said to have so noble and generous a character! But I had sent to Cardoville Castle--"
"A confidential person, to fetch the prince to Paris--I know it, my dear young lady; but, by means of a trick, your friend was got out of the way, and the young Oriental delivered to his enemies."
"And where is he now?"
"I have only vague information on the subject.I know that he is in Paris, and do not despair of finding him.I shall pursue my researches with an almost paternal ardor, for we cannot too much love the rare qualities of that poor king's son.What a heart, my dear young lady!
what a heart! Oh, it is a heart of gold, pure and bright as the gold of his country!"
"We must find the prince, sir," said Adrienne with emotion; "let me entreat you to neglect nothing for that end.He is my relation--alone here--without support--without assistance."
"Certainly," replied Rodin, with commiseration."Poor boy!--for he is almost a boy--eighteen or nineteen years of age--thrown into the heart of Paris, of this hell--with his fresh, ardent, half-savage passions--with his simplicity and confidence--to what perils may he not be exposed?"
"Well, we must first find him, sir," said Adrienne, hastily; "and then we will save him from these dangers.Before I was confined here, I learned his arrival in France, and sent a confidential person to offer him the services of an unknown friend.I now see that this mad idea, with which I have been so much reproached, was a very sensible one.I am more convinced of it than ever.The prince belongs to my family, and I owe him a generous hospitality.I had destined for him the lodge I occupied at my aunt's."
"And you, my dear young lady?"
