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what did I ever desire more？ And yet shame and fear； joined with that
dizziness of the brain which extreme misery produces； drove me to
suicide！But then some allowance must be made for the suspicions of a
poor creature； who has been the subject of ridicule from her cradle。 So
my secret was to die with me； unless some unforeseen accident should
reveal it to you； and； in that case； you are rightsure of myself； sure
of you； I ought to have feared nothing。 But I may claim some indulgence；
mistrust； cruel mistrust of one's self makes one doubt others also。 Let
us forget all that。 Agricola； my generous brother； I will say to you； as
you said to me just now； ‘Look at me； you know my countenance cannot lie。
Look at me： see if I shun your gaze； see if； ever in my life； I looked so
happy'and yet； even now； I was about to die！〃
She spoke the truth。 Agricola himself could not have hoped so prompt an
effect from his words。 In spite of the deep traces which misery； grief；
and sickness had imprinted on the girl's features； they now shone with
radiant happiness and serenity； whilst her blue eyes； gentle and pure as
her soul； were fixed； without embarrassment； on those of Agricola。
〃Oh！ thanks； thanks！〃 cried the smith； in a rapture of delight： 〃when I
see you so calm； and so happy； Magdalen； I am indeed grateful。〃
〃Yes； I am calm； I am happy；〃 replied she； 〃and happy I shall be； for I
can now tell you my most secret thoughts。 Yes； happy； for this day；
which began so fatally； ends like a divine dream。 Far from being afraid；
I now look at you with hope and joy。 I have again found my generous
benefactress； and I am tranquil as to the fate of my poor sister。 Oh！
shall we not soon see her？ I should like her to take part in this
happiness。〃
She seemed so happy； that the smith did not dare to inform her of the
death of Cephyse； and reserved himself to communicate the same at a more
fitting opportunity。 Therefore he answered： 〃Cephyse； being the
stronger； has been the more shaken； it will not be prudent； I am told； to
see her to…day。〃
〃I will wait then。 I can repress my impatience； I have so much to say to
you。〃
〃Dear； gentle Magdalen！〃
〃Oh； my friend！〃 cried the girl； interrupting Agricola； with tears of
joy： 〃I cannot tell you what I feel； when I hear you call me Magdalen。
It is so sweet； so soothing； that my heart expands with delight。〃
〃Poor girl！ how dreadfully she must have suffered！〃 cried the smith； with
inexpressible emotion； 〃when she displays so much happiness； so much
gratitude； at being called by her own poor name！〃
〃But consider； my friend； that word in your mouth contains a new life for
me。 If you only knew what hopes； what pleasures I can now see gleaming
in the future！ If you knew all the cherished longings of my tenderness！
Your wife； the charming Angela； with her angel face and angel…souloh！
in my turn； I can say to； you； ‘Look at me； and see how sweet that name
is to my lips and heart！' Yes； your charming； your good Angela will call
me Magdalenand your children； Agricola； your children！dear little
creatures！to them also I shall be Magdalentheir good Magdalenand
the love I shall bear them will make them mine； as well as their
mother'sand I shall have my part in every maternal careand they will
belong to us three； will they not； Agricola？Oh！ let me； let me weep！
These tears without bitterness do me so much good； they are tears that
need not be concealed。 Thank heaven！ thank you； my friend！ those other
tears are I trust dried forever。〃
For some seconds； this affecting scene had been overlooked by an
invisible witness。 The smith and Mother Bunch had not perceived Mdlle。
de Cardoville standing on the threshold of the door。 As Mother Bunch had
said； this day； which dawned with all under such fatal auspices； had
become for all a day of ineffable felicity。 Adrienne； too； was full of
joy； for Djalma had been faithful to her； Djalma loved her with passion。
The odious appearances； of which she had been the dupe and victim；
evidently formed part of a new plot of Rodin； and it only remained for
Mdlle。 de Cardoville to discover the end of these machinations。
Another joy was reserved for her。 The happy are quick in detecting
happiness in others； and Adrienne guessed； by the hunchback's last words；
that there was no longer any secret between the smith and the sempstress。
She could not therefore help exclaiming； as she entered： 〃Oh！ this
will be the brightest day of my life； for I shall not be happy alone！〃
Agricola and Mother Bunch turned round hastily。 〃Lady；〃 said the smith；
〃in spite of the promise I made you； I could not conceal from Magdalen
that I knew she loved me！〃
〃Now that I no longer blush for this love before Agricola； why should I
blush for it before you； lady； that told me to be proud of it； because it
is noble and pure？〃 said Mother Bunch； to whom her happiness gave
strength enough to rise； and to lean upon Agricola's arm。
〃It is well； my friend；〃 said Adrienne； as she threw her arms round her
to support her； 〃only one word； to excuse the indiscretion with which you
will perhaps reproach me。 If I told your secret to M。 Agricola〃
〃Do you know why it was； Magdalen？〃 cried the smith； interrupting
Adrienne。 〃It was only another proof of the lady's delicate generosity。
‘I long hesitate to confide to you this secret；' said she to me this
morning； ‘but I have at length made up my mind to it。 We shall probably
find your adopted sister； you have been to her the best of brothers： but
many times； without knowing it； you have wounded her feelings cruelly
and now that you know her secret； I trust in your kind heart to keep it
faithfully； and so spare the poor child a thousand pangspangs the more
bitter； because they come from you； and are suffered in silence。 Hence；
when you speak to her of your wife； your domestic happiness； take care
not to gall that noble and tender heart。'Yes； Magdalen； these were the
reasons that led the lady to commit what she called an indiscretion。〃
〃I want words to thank you now and ever；〃 said Mother Bunch。
〃See； my friend；〃 replied Adrienne； 〃how often the designs of the wicked
turn against themselves。 They feared your devotion to me； and therefore
employed that unhappy Florine to steal your journal〃
〃So as to drive me from your house with shame； lady； When I supposed my
most secret thoughts an object of ridicule to all。 There can be no doubt
such was their plan；〃 said Mother Bunch。
〃None； my child。 Well！ this horrible wickedness； which nearly caused
your death； now turns to the confusion of the criminals。 Their plot is
discoveredand； luckily； many other of their designs；〃 said Adrienne； as
she thought of Rose…Pompon。
Then she resumed； with heartfelt joy： 〃At last； we are again united；
happier than ever； and in our very happiness we shall find new resources
to combat our enemies。 I say our enemiesfor all that love me are
odious to these wretches。 But courage； the hour is come； and the good
people will have their turn。〃
〃Thank heaven； lady；〃 said the smith； 〃or my part； I shall not be wanting
in zeal。 What delight to strip them of their mask！