登陆注册
5168500000361

第361章

THE CONSULTATION.

It is night.It has just struck nine.It is the evening of that day on which Mdlle.de Cardoville first found herself in the presence of Djalma.

Florine, pale, agitated, trembling, with a candle in her hand, had just entered a bedroom, plainly but comfortably furnished.This room was one of the apartments occupied by Mother Bunch, in Adrienne's house.They were situated on the ground-floor, and had two entrances.One opened on the garden, and the other on the court-yard.From this side came the persons who applied to the workgirl for succor; an ante-chamber in which they waited, a parlor in which they were received, constituted Mother Bunch's apartments, along with the bedroom, which Florine had just entered, looking about her with an anxious and alarmed air, scarcely touching the carpet with the tips of her satin shoes, holding her breath, and listening at the least noise.

Placing the candle upon the chimney-piece, she took a rapid survey of the chamber, and approached the mahogany desk, surmounted by a well-filled bookcase.The key had been left in the drawers of this piece of furniture, and they were all three examined by Florine.They contained different petitions from persons in distress, and various, notes in the girl's handwriting.This was not what Florine wanted.Three cardboard boxes were placed in pigeon-holes beneath the bookcase.These also were vainly explored, and Florine, with a gesture of vexation, looked and listened anxiously; then, seeing a chest of drawers, she made therein a fresh and useless search.Near the foot of the bed was a little door, leading to a dressing-room.Florine entered it, and looked--at first without success--into a large wardrobe, in which were suspended several black dresses, recently made for Mother Bunch, by order of Mdlle.de Cardoville.Perceiving, at the bottom of this wardrobe, half hidden beneath a cloak, a very shabby little trunk, Florine opened it hastily, and found there, carefully folded up, the poor old garments in which the work-girl had been clad when she first entered this opulent mansion.

Florine started--an involuntary emotion contracted her features; but considering that she had not liberty to indulge her feelings, but only to obey Rodin's implacable orders, she hastily closed both trunk and wardrobe, and leaving the dressing-room, returned into the bed-chamber.

After having again examined the writing-stand, a sudden idea occurred to her.Not content with once more searching the cardboard boxes, she drew out one of them from the pigeon-hole, hoping to find what she sought behind the box: her first attempt failed, but the second was more successful.She found behind the middle box a copy-book of considerable thickness.She started in surprise, for she had expected something else;

yet she took the manuscript, opened it, and rapidly turned over the leaves.After having perused several pages, she manifested her satisfaction, and seemed as if about to put the book in her pocket; but after a moment's reflection, she replaced it where she had found it, arranged everything in order, took her candle, and quitted the apartment without being discovered--of which, indeed, she had felt pretty sure, knowing that Mother Bunch would be occupied with Mdlle.de Cardoville for some hours.

The day after Florine's researches, Mother Bunch, alone in her bed-

chamber, was seated in an arm-chair, close to a good fire.A thick carpet covered the floor; through the window-curtains could be seen the lawn of a large garden; the deep silence was only interrupted by the regular ticking of a clock, and the crackling of the wood.Her hands resting on the arms of the chair, she gave way to a feeling of happiness, such as she had never so completely enjoyed since she took up her residence at the hotel.For her, accustomed so long to cruel privations, there was a kind of inexpressible charm in the calm silence of this retreat--in the cheerful aspect of the garden, and above all, in the consciousness that she was indebted for this comfortable position, to the resignation and energy she had displayed, in the thick of the many severe trials which now ended so happily.An old woman, with a mild and friendly countenance, who had been, by express desire of Adrienne, attached to the hunchback's service, entered the room and said to her:

"Mademoiselle, a young man wishes to speak to you on pressing business.

He gives his name as Agricola Baudoin."

At this name, Mother Bunch uttered an exclamation of surprise and joy, blushed slightly, rose and ran to the door which led to the parlor in which was Agricola.

"Good-morning, dear sister," said the smith, cordially embracing the young girl, whose cheeks burned crimson beneath those fraternal kisses.

"Ah, me!" cried the sempstress on a sudden, as she looked anxiously at Agricola; "what is that black band on your forehead? You have been wounded!"

"A mere nothing," said the smith, "really nothing.Do not think of it.I will tell you all about that presently.But first, I have things of importance to communicate."

"Come into my room, then; we shall be alone," Mother Bunch, as she went before Agricola.

Notwithstanding the expression of uneasiness which was visible on the countenance of Agricola, he could not forbear smiling with pleasure as he entered the room and looked around him.

"Excellent, my poor sister! this is how I would always have you lodged.

I recognize here the hand of Mdlle.de Cardoville.What a heart! what a noble mind!--Dost know, she wrote to me the day before yesterday, to thank me for what I had done for her, and sent me a gold pin (very plain), which she said I need not hesitate to accept, as it had no other value but that of having been worn by her mother! You can't tell how much I was affected by the delicacy of this gift!"

"Nothing must astonish you from a heart like hers," answered the hunchback."But the wound--the wound?"

同类推荐
  • 鉴诫录

    鉴诫录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 山中道士

    山中道士

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 东海渔歌

    东海渔歌

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 略诸经论念佛法门往生净土集卷上

    略诸经论念佛法门往生净土集卷上

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说兴起行经

    佛说兴起行经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 前妻,我错了

    前妻,我错了

    当初无情的离开她,逼她离婚,让她成了无人不知的弃妇!为什么现在还要染指她?他是将她当成无聊时消遣的玩具吗?为什么想了很多办法去躲开他,却还是被她的前夫抓到?居然还夜探她家。好啊!既然这样,那就好好的招待他......。让他知道什么叫‘悔不该当初’
  • 起信论疏笔削记

    起信论疏笔削记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 宅府恩怨:嫡妻归来爷当心

    宅府恩怨:嫡妻归来爷当心

    相濡以沫,比不得妖艳颜色。贤惠良妻成下堂,狐媚娥子踩房梁。惊鸿不曾预想过,从小长大的情谊,竟也是这般凉薄。燕尔之期刚过,夫君就有了纳妾的心思。大宋之制,糟糠之妻不下堂,贫贱之友不可忘。她以为本分过这一生,也便就是了,怨不得,求不得。可是世事不如意,她守着一方宅院,也得不到一寸净土。争宠、陷害、夺爱、谋杀。大家宅之中的腥风血雨,背后又是谁的阴谋?夫妻情谊尽了之后,又是谁朝她伸出了手?我心匪石,不可转也。我心匪席,不可卷也。心门一闭难再开,请君且带真心来。
  • 民调局异闻录

    民调局异闻录

    1987年,大火后的大兴安岭发现一具长着獠牙的活焦尸,解放军官兵在付出巨大代价后才将其制服,由沈辣的三叔沈援朝负责押送回北京。运送途中,焦尸再次复活,危急之时,一名神秘白发人出现,轻松便把复活的焦尸消灭掉。十几年后,天生阴阳眼的沈辣参军,被选入特种部队。在一次随队追剿毒枭的任务中,误入云南边境的一个神秘山洞;山洞内远古祭祀干尸纷纷复活,向沈辣小队发动疯狂攻击。这时,神秘白发人再次出现,将沈辣等人救出。“干尸复活”事件后,沈辣被调入一个叫“民俗事务调查研究局”的神秘机构,开始接触到一系列用科学无法解释的神秘离奇案件,这些超自然事件背后究竟隐藏着怎样的秘密?
  • 有事就联系,没事各忙各的

    有事就联系,没事各忙各的

    2016年天湖小舟的作品《有事就联系,没事各忙各的》被人民日报、经济日报、十点读书、慈怀读书会全国2000多家媒体转载,此文他的公众号阅读量超过了100万,全国总阅读量超过50000万。此后,他的多篇文章不断被各种媒体转载,成为网红作家。着眼生活点滴,发现生活之美,天湖小舟用文字记录着他所能感悟到的一切美好。从爱情,到友情,再到亲情,他的视角独特,触觉灵敏。读小舟文章,从他的此书《有事就联系,没事各忙各的》开始吧!
  • 在一拳超人的世界打野

    在一拳超人的世界打野

    看着街上一头3米多高的犀牛直立走过,在坚硬的路面上留下了一个个脚印,惊慌失措的人群中,一个黑衣男子回头,手中,隐约闪烁着蓝色的光芒……呔,吃我大惩戒!!
  • 战天梯

    战天梯

    混沌初开,天地分人、仙、神三界,三界内由天梯所链通。相传只要登上天梯,便可进入另一个神秘的世界,但是古往今来无数能人异士,无不纷纷陨落在了天梯那无尽的威能之下。神界决天族神皇萧易寒,为了突破桎节决然登上天梯,岂料关键时刻被宿敌所害,神魂俱灭陨落人界,决天族也因此受到了毁灭性的打击,支离破碎……“翎儿,上天给了我一个重生的机会,这次我一定不会再放开你的手!神界那些杂碎,洗干净脖子等着小爷我重归神界吧!三界之主除我萧易寒谁能担得!”调动着脑海中静静躺着的墨石,萧易寒的身上涌现出一股无尽的霸气。
  • 重生之钟鸣鼎食

    重生之钟鸣鼎食

    美食做刀貌做斧,杀尽重生拦路虎。这是一个重生后靠美食征服吃货,靠美貌征服颜控的爽文!
  • 校草喜欢她

    校草喜欢她

    他叫白博文是学校的校草,可以说是学校百分之99女生心里的男神很多女生都为了和他同一班去转班他又特别喜欢和女生玩成绩又很好待人又好谁都喜欢和他玩神秘的她出现了
  • 鹰隼突击:空中武器

    鹰隼突击:空中武器

    本书从战斗机、攻击机、轰炸机、直升机、运输机、侦察机、预警机、反潜机、加油机九个方面详细地介绍了每种飞机的用途和它们的代表机型。书中介绍的每一种战机都具有鲜明特色,力求让喜爱现代军事的读者获得视觉和阅读的双重享受。同时,本书也加入了与之相关的一些趣闻阅读和知识链接,详细介绍军用飞机漫长的发展史,同时详细解读隐身技术、变后掠翼技术、矢力推量技术等现代军用飞机的高端技术,目的是增加阅读的趣味性,旨在让青少年走进科学殿堂,探索航空知识。