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hidden it there。 So make haste； for； in the confusion； nothing will be
noticed。 You have paid me well； and I wish you to succeed in what you
require。'〃
〃And what did the old Jew do with the coffin marked with the seven black
nails？〃
〃Two men accompanied him； my lord； bearing a covered litter； with
curtains drawn round it。 He lighted a lantern； and； followed by these
two men； went towards the place pointed out by the gravedigger。 A
stoppage； occasioned by the dead…carts； made me lose sight of the old
Jew； whom I was following amongst the tombs。 Afterwards I was unable to
find him。〃
〃It is indeed a strange affair。 What could this old Jew want with the
coffin？〃
〃It is said； my lord； that they use dead bodies in preparing their magic
charms。〃
〃Those unbelievers are capable of anythingeven of holding communication
with the Enemy of mankind。 However； we will look after this： the
discovery may be of importance。〃
At this instant a clock struck twelve in the distance。
〃Midnight！ already？〃
〃Yes； my lord。〃
〃I must be gone。 Good…byebut for the last time swear to me that；
should matters so turn out； as soon as you receive the other half of the
ivory crucifix I have just given you； you will keep your promise。〃
〃I have sworn it by Bowanee； my lord。〃
〃Don't forget that； to make all sure； the person who will deliver to you
the other half of the crucifix is to saycome； what is he to say？〃
〃He is to say； my lord： ‘There is many a slip 'twixt the cup and the
lip。'〃
〃Very well。 Adieu！ secrecy and fidelity！〃
〃Secrecy and fidelity； my lord；〃 answered the man in the cloak。
Some seconds after the hackney…coach started； carrying with it Cardinal
Malipieri； one of the speakers in the above dialogue。 The other； whom
the reader has no doubt recognized as Faringhea； returned to the little
garden…door of the house occupied by Djalma。 At the moment he was
putting the key into the lock； the door opened； to his great
astonishment； and a man came forth。 Faringhea rushed upon the unknown；
seized him violently by the collar； and exclaimed： 〃Who are you？ whence
came you？〃
The stranger evidently found the tone of this question anything but
satisfactory； for； instead of answering； he struggled to disengage
himself from Faringhea's hold； and cried out； in a loud voice： 〃Help！
Peter！〃
Instantly the carriage； which had been standing a few yards off； dashed
up at full speed； and Peter； the tall footman； seizing the half…breed by
the shoulders； flung him back several paces； and thus made a seasonable
diversion in favor of the unknown。
〃Now； sir；〃 said the latter to Faringhea； shaking himself； and still
protected by the gigantic footman； 〃I am in a state to answer your
questions； though you certainly have a very rough way of receiving an old
acquaintance。 I am Dupont； ex…bailiff of the estate of Cardoville； and
it was I who helped to fish you out of the water； when the ship was
wrecked in which you had embarked。〃
By the light of the carriage…lamps； indeed； the half…caste recognized the
good； honest face of Dupont； formerly bailiff； and now house…steward； to
Mdlle。 de Cardoville。 It must not be forgotten that Dupont had been the
first to write to Mdlle。 de Cardoville； to ask her to interest herself
for Djalma； who was then detained at Cardoville Castle by the injuries he
had received during the shipwreck。
〃But； sir； what is your business here？ Why do you introduce yourself
clandestinely into this house？〃 said Faringhea； in an abrupt and
suspicious tone。
〃I willjust observe to you that there is nothing clandestine in the
matter。 I came here in a carriage； with servants in the livery of my
excellent mistress； Mdlle。 de Cardoville； charged by her； without any
disguise or mystery； to deliver a letter to Prince Djalma； her cousin；〃
replied Dupont； with dignity。
On these words； Faringhea trembled with mute rage； as he answered： 〃And
why； sir； come at this late hour； and introduce yourself by this little
door？〃
〃I came at this hour； my dear sir； because such was Mdlle。 de
Cardoville's command； and I entered by this little gate because there is
every reason to believe that if I had gone around to the other I should
not have been permitted to see the prince。〃
〃You are mistaken； sir；〃 replied the half…caste。
〃It is possible： but as we knew that the prince usually passed a good
portion of the night in the little saloon； which communicates with the
greenhouse； and as Mdlle。 de Cardoville had kept a duplicate key of this
door； I was pretty certain； by taking this course； to be able to deliver
into the prince's own hands the letter from Mdlle。 de Cardoville； his
cousin； which I have now had the honor of doing； my dear sir； and I have
been deeply touched by the kindness with which the prince deigned to
receive me and to remember our last interview。〃
〃And who kept you so well informed； sir； of the prince's habits？〃 said
Faringhea； unable to control his vexation。
〃If I have been well informed as to his habits； my dear sir； I have had
no such correct knowledge of yours；〃 answered Dupont； with a mocking air；
〃for I assure you that I had no more notion of seeing you than you had of
seeing me。〃
So saying； M。 Dupont bowed with something like mock politeness to the
half…caste； and got into the carriage； which drove off rapidly； leaving
Faringhea in a state of the utmost surprise and anger。
CHAPTER XXXIX。
THE APPOINTMENT。
The morning afterDupont's mission to Prince Djalma； the latter was
walking with hasty and impatient step up and down the little saloon；
which communicated； as we already know； with the greenhouse from which
Adrienne had entered when she first appeared to him。 In remembrance of
that day； he had chosen to dress himself as on the occasion in question；
he wore the same tunic of white cashmere； with a cherry…colored turban；
to match with his girdle； his gaiters； of scarlet velvet； embroidered
with silver； displayed the fine form of his leg； and terminated in small
white morocco slippers； with red heels。 Happiness has so instantaneous；
and； as it were； material an influence upon young； lively； and ardent
natures； that Djalma； dejected and despairing only the day before； was no
longer like the same person。 The pale； transparent gold of his
complexion was no longer tarnished by a livid hue。 His large eyes； of
late obscured like black diamonds by a humid vapor； now shone with mild
radiance in the centre of their pearly setting； his lips； long pale； had
recovered their natural color； which was rich and soft as the fine purple
flowers of his country。
Ever and anon； pausing in his hasty walk； he stopped suddenly； and drew
from his bosom a little piece of paper； carefully folded； which he
pressed to his lips with enthusiastic ardor。 Then； unable to restrain
the expression of his full happiness； he uttered a full and sonorous cry
of joy； and with a bound he was in front of the plate…glass which
separated the saloon from the conservatory； in which he had first seen
Mdlle。 de Cardoville。 By a singular power of remembrance； or marvellous
hallucination of a mind possessed by a fixed idea； Djalm