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regarded it as a duty to accomplish this project。 In a struggle with
such dangerous and powerful adversaries as Rodin； Father d'Aigrigny； and
the Princess de Saint…Dizier； and their allies； Adrienne saw not only the
praiseworthy and perilous task of unmasking hypocrisy and cupidity； but
also； if not a consolation； at least a generous diversion in the midst of
terrible sorrows。
From this moment； a restless； feverish activity took the place of the
mournful apathy in which the young lady had languished。 She called round
her all the members of her family capable of answering the appeal； and；
as had been mentioned in the secret note delivered to Father d'Aigrigny；
Cardoville House soon became the centre of the most active and unceasing
operations； and also a place of meeting； in which the modes of attack and
defence were fully discussed。 Perfectly correct in all points； the
secret note of which we have spoken stated； as a mere conjecture； that
Mdlle。 de Cardoville had granted an interview to Djalma。 This fact was
untrue； but the cause which led to the supposition will be explained
hereafter。 Far from such being the case； Mdlle。 de Cardoville scarcely
found； in attending to the great family interests now at stake； a
momentary diversion from the fatal love； which was slowly undermining her
health； and with which she so bitterly reproached herself。
The morning of the day on which Adrienne； at length discovering Mother
Bunch's residence； came so miraculously to rescue her from death；
Agricola Baudoin had been to Cardoville House to confer on the subject of
Francis Hardy； and had begged Adrienne to permit him to accompany her to
the Rue Clovis； whither they repaired in haste。
Thus； once again； there was a noble spectacle； a touching symbol！ Mdlle。
de Cardoville and Mother Bunch； the two extremities of the social chain；
were united on equal termsfor the sempstress and the fair patrician
were equal in intelligence and heartand equal also； because the one was
the ideal of riches； grace； and beauty； and the other the ideal of
resignation and unmerited misfortuneand does not a halo rest on
misfortune borne with courage and dignity？ Stretched on her mattress；
the hunchback appeared so weak； that even if Agricola had not been
detained on the ground floor with Cephyse； now dying a dreadful death；
Mdlle。 de Cardoville would have waited some time； before inducing Mother
Bunch to rise and accompany her to her carriage。 Thanks to the presence
of mind and pious fraud of Adrienne； the sewing…girl was persuaded that
Cephyse had been carried to a neighboring hospital； to receive the
necessary succors； which promised to be crowned with success。 The
hunchback's faculties recovering slowly from their stupor； she at first
received this fable without the least suspicionfor she did not even
know that Agricola had accompanied Mdlle。 de Cardoville。
〃And it is to you； lady； that Cephyse and I owe our lives；〃 said she；
turning her mild and melancholy face towards Adrienne； 〃you； kneeling in
this garret； near this couch of misery； where I and my sister meant to
diefor you assure me； lady； that Cephyse was succored in time。〃
〃Be satisfied！ I was told just now that she was recovering her senses。〃
〃And they told her I was living； did they not； lady？ Otherwise； she
would perhaps regret having survived me。〃
〃Be quite easy； my dear girl！〃 said Adrienne； pressing the poor hands in
her own； and gazing on her with eyes full of tears； 〃they have told her
all that was proper。 Do not trouble yourself about anything； only think
of recoveringand I hope you will yet enjoy that happiness of which you
have known so little； my poor child。〃
〃How kind you are； lady！ After flying from your houseand when you must
think me so ungrateful！〃
〃Presently； when you are not so weak； I have a great deal to tell you。
Just now； it would fatigue you too much。 But how do you feel？〃
〃Better； lady。 This fresh airand then the thought； that； since you are
comemy poor sister will no more be reduced to despair； for I will tell
you all； and I am sure you will have pity on Cephysewill you not； lady？〃
〃Rely upon me； my child； answered Adrienne； forced to dissemble her
painful embarrassment； 〃you know I am interested in all that interests
you。 But tell me；〃 added Mdlle。 de Cardoville； in a voice of emotion；
〃before taking this desperate resolution； did you not write to me？〃
〃Yes； lady。〃
〃Alas！〃 resumed Adrienne； sorrowfully； 〃and when you received no answer
how cruel； how ungrateful you must have thought me！〃
〃Oh！ never； lady； did I accuse you of such feelings； my poor sister will
tell you so。 You had my gratitude to the last。〃
〃I believe youfor I knew your heart。 But how then did you explain my
silence？〃
〃I had justly offended you by my sudden departure； lady。〃
〃Offended！Alas！ I never received your letter。〃
〃And yet you know that I wrote to you； lady。〃
〃Yes； my poor girl； I know； also； that you wrote to me at my porter's
lodge。 Unfortunately； he delivered your letter to one of my women； named
Florine； telling her it came from you。〃
〃Florine！ the young woman that was so kind to me！〃
〃Florine deceived me shamefully； she was sold to my enemies； and acted as
a spy on my actions。〃
〃She！Good Heavens！〃 cried Mother Bunch。 〃Is it possible？〃
〃She herself；〃 answered Adrienne； bitterly； 〃but； after all； we must pity
as well as blame her。 She was forced to obey by a terrible necessity；
and her confession and repentance secured my pardon before her death。〃
〃Then she is deadso young！ so fair！〃
〃In spite of her faults； I was greatly moved by her end。 She confessed
what she had done； with such heart…rending regrets。 Amongst her avowals；
she told me she had intercepted a letter； in which you asked for an
interview that might save your sister's life。〃
〃It is true； lady； such were the terms of my letter。 What interest had
they to keep it from you？〃
〃They feared to see you return to me； my good guardian angel。 You loved
me so tenderly； and my enemies dreaded your faithful affection； so
wonderfully aided by the admirable instinct of your heart。 Ah！ I shall
never forget how well…deserved was the horror with which you were
inspired by a wretch whom I defended against your suspicions。〃
〃M。 Rodin？〃 said Mother Bunch； with a shudder。
〃Yes；〃 replied Adrienne； 〃but we will not talk of these people now。
Their odious remembrance would spoil the joy I feel in seeing you
restored to lifefor your voice is less feeble； your cheeks are
beginning to regain a little color。 Thank God！ I am so happy to have
found you once more；if you knew all that I hope； all that I expect from
our reunionfor we will not part againpromise me that； in the name of
our friendship。〃
〃Iyour friend！〃 said Mother Bunch； timidly casting down her eyes。
〃A few days before your departure from my house； did I not call you my
friend； my sister？ What is there changed？ Nothing； nothing；〃 added
Mdlle。 de Cardoville； with deep emotion。 〃One might say； on the
contrary； that a fatal resemblance in our positions renders your
friendship even dearer to me。 And I shall have it； shall I