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secret； had I not had one to entrust you with； of a still more painful
nature。 Yours is cruel； but mine is humiliating。 Oh； my sister！〃 added
Mdlle。 de Cardoville； in a tone impossible to describe； 〃misfortune； you；
see； blends and confounds together what are called distinctions of rank
and fortuneand often those whom the world envies are reduced by
suffering far below the poorest and most humble； and have to seek from
the latter pity and consolation。〃
Then； drying her tears； which nosy flowed abundantly； Mdlle。 de
Cardoville resumed； in a voice of emotion： 〃Come； sister！ courage；
courage！ let us love and sustain each other。 Let this sad and mysterious
bond unite us forever。〃
〃Oh； lady！ forgive me。 But now that you know the secret of my life；〃
said the workgirl； casting down her eyes； and unable to vanquish her
confusion； 〃it seems to me； that I can never look at you without
blushing。〃
〃And why？ because you love Agricola？〃 said Adrienne。 〃Then I must die of
shame before you； since； less courageous than you； I had not the strength
to suffer and be resigned； and so conceal my love in the depths of my
heart。 He that I love； with a love henceforth deprived of hope； knew of
that love and despised itpreferring to me a woman； the very choice of
whom was a new and grievous insult； if I am not much deceived by
appearances。 I sometimes hope that I am deceived on this point。 Now
tell meis it for you to blush？〃
〃Alas； lady！ who could tell you all this？〃
〃Which you only entrusted to your journal？ Well； thenit was the dying
Florine who confessed her misdeeds。 She had been base enough to steal
your papers； forced to this odious act； by the people who had dominion
over her。 But she had read your journaland as every good feeling was
not dead within her； your admirable resignation； your melancholy and
pious love； had left such an impression on her mind； that she was able to
repeat whole passages to me on her death bed； and thus to explain the
cause of your sudden disappearancefor she had no doubt that the fear of
seeing your love for Agricola divulged had been the cause of your
flight。〃
〃Alas！ it is but too true； lady。〃
〃Oh； yes！〃 answered Adrienne； bitterly； 〃those who employed the wretched
girl to act as she did； well knew the effect of the blow。 It was not
their first attempt。 They reduced you to despair； they would have killed
you； because you were devoted to me； and because you had guessed their
intentions。 Oh！ these black…gowns are implacable； and their power is
great！〃 said Adrienne； shuddering。
〃It is fearful； lady。〃
〃But do not be alarmed； dear child； you see； that the arms of the wicked
have turned against themselves； for the moment I knew the cause of your
flight； you became dearer to me than ever。 From that time I made every
exertion to find out where you were； after long efforts； it was only this
morning that the person I had employed succeeded in discovering that you
inhabited this house。 Agricola was with me when I heard it； and
instantly asked to accompany me。〃
〃Agricola！〃 said Mother Bunch； clasping her hands； 〃he came〃
〃Yes； my childbe calm。 Whilst I attended to you； he was busy with your
poor sister。 You will soon see him。〃
〃Alas； lady！〃 resumed the hunchback； in alarm。 〃He doubtless knows〃
〃Your love！ No； no； be satisfied。 Only think of the happiness of again
seeing your good and worthy brother。〃
〃Ah； lady！ may he never know what caused me so much shame； that I was
like to die of it。 Thank God； he is not aware of it！〃
〃Then let us have no more sad thoughts； my child。 Only remember； that
this worthy brother came here in time to save us from everlasting
regretsand you from a great fault。 Oh！ I do not speak of the
prejudices of the world； with regard to the right of every creature to
return to heaven a life that has become too burdensome！I only say that
you ought not to have died； because those who love you； and whom you
love； were still in need of your assistance。〃
〃I thought you happy； Agricola was married to the girl of his choice； who
will； I am sure； make him happy。 To whom could I be useful？〃
〃First； to myself； as you seeand then； who tells you that Agricola will
never have need of you？ Who tells you； that his happiness； or that of
his family； will last forever； and will not be tried by cruel shocks？
And even if those you love had been destined to be always happy； could
their happiness be complete without you？ And would not your death； with
which they would perhaps have reproached themselves； have left behind it
endless regrets？〃
〃It is true； lady；〃 answered the other； 〃I was wrongthe dizziness of
despair had seized mefrightful misery weighed upon uswe had not been
able to find work for some dayswe lived on the charity of a poor woman；
and her the cholera carried off。 To…morrow or next day； we must have
died of hunger。〃
〃Die of hunger！and you knew where I lived！〃
〃I had written to you； lady； and receiving no answer； I thought you
offended at my abrupt departure。〃
〃Poor； dear child！ you must have been； as you say； seized with dizziness
in that terrible moment； so that I have not the courage to reproach you
for doubting me a single instant。 How can I blame you？ Did I not myself
think of terminating my life？〃
〃You； lady！〃 cried the hunchback。
〃Yes； I thought of itwhen they came to tell me； that Florine； dying；
wished to speak to me。 I heard what she had to say； her revelations
changed my projects。 This dark and mournful life which had become
insupportable to me； was suddenly lighted up。 The sense of duty woke
within me。 You were no doubt a prey to horrible misery； it was my duty
to seek and save you。 Florine's confessions unveiled to me the new plots
of the enemies of my scattered family； dispersed by sorrows and cruel
losses； it was my duty to warn them of their danger； and to unite them
against the common enemy。 I had been the victim of odious manoeuvres： it
was my duty to punish their authors； for fear that； encouraged by
impunity； these black…gowns should make other victims。 Then the sense of
duty gave me strength； and I was able to rouse myself from my lethargy。
With the help of Abbe Gabriel； a sublime； oh！ a sublime priestthe ideal
of a true Christianthe worthy brother of AgricolaI courageously
entered on the struggle。 What shall I say to you； my child？ The
performance of these duties； the hope of finding you again； have been
some relief to me in my trouble。 If I was not consoled； I was at least
occupied。 Your tender friendship； the example of your resignation； will
do the restI think soI am sure soand I shall forget this fatal
love。〃
At the moment Adrienne pronounced these words； rapid footsteps were heard
upon the stairs； and a young； clear voice exclaimed： 〃Oh！ dear me； poor
Mother Bunch！ How lucky I have come just now！ If only I could be of some
use to her！〃
Almost immediately； Rose…Pompon entered the garret with precipitation。
Agricola soon followed the grisette； and pointing to the open window；
tried to make Adrienne understand by signs； that she was not to mention
to the girl the deplorable end of the Bacchanal Queen