English
AndnowletusleaveMademoiselleDanglarsandherfriendpursuingtheirwaytoBrussels,andreturntopoorAndreaCavalcanti,soinopportunelyinterruptedinhisrisetofortune.
Notwithstandinghisyouth,MasterAndreawasaveryskilfulandintelligentboy.
Wehaveseenthatonthefirstrumorwhichreachedthesalonhehadgraduallyapproachedthedoor,andcrossingtwoorthreeroomsatlastdisappeared.
Butwehaveforgottentomentiononecircumstance,whichneverthelessoughtnottobeomitted;inoneoftheroomshecrossed,thetrousseauofthebride–electwasonexhibition.
Therewerecasketsofdiamonds,cashmereshawls,Valencienneslace,Englishveilings,andinfactallthetemptingthings,thebarementionofwhichmakestheheartsofyounggirlsboundwithjoy,andwhichiscalledthe“corbeille.”
[*]Now,inpassingthroughthisroom,Andreaprovedhimselfnotonlytobecleverandintelligent,butalsoprovident,forhehelpedhimselftothemostvaluableoftheornamentsbeforehim.
Furnishedwiththisplunder,Andrealeapedwithalighterheartfromthewindow,intendingtoslipthroughthehandsofthegendarmes.
Tallandwellproportionedasanancientgladiator,andmuscularasaSpartan,hewalkedforaquarterofanhourwithoutknowingwheretodirecthissteps,actuatedbythesoleideaofgettingawayfromthespotwhereifhelingeredheknewthathewouldsurelybetaken.
HavingpassedthroughtheRueMontBlanc,guidedbytheinstinctwhichleadsthievesalwaystotakethesafestpath,hefoundhimselfattheendoftheRueLafayette.
Therehestopped,breathlessandpanting.
Hewasquitealone;ononesidewasthevastwildernessoftheSaint–Lazare,ontheother,Parisenshroudedindarkness.“AmItobecaptured?”
hecried;“no,notifIcanusemoreactivitythanmyenemies.
Mysafetyisnowamerequestionofspeed.”
AtthismomenthesawacabatthetopoftheFaubourgPoissonniere.
Thedulldriver,smokinghispipe,wasploddingalongtowardthelimitsoftheFaubourgSaint–Denis,wherenodoubtheordinarilyhadhisstation.“Ho,friend!”saidBenedetto.
*Literally,“thebasket,”becauseweddinggiftswere
originallybroughtinsuchareceptacle.
“Whatdoyouwant,sir?”askedthedriver.
“Isyourhorsetired?”
“Tired?oh,yes,tiredenough—hehasdonenothingthewholeofthisblessedday!
Fourwretchedfares,andtwentysousover,makinginallsevenfrancs,areallthatIhaveearned,andIoughttotaketentotheowner.”
“Willyouaddthesetwentyfrancstothesevenyouhave?”
“Withpleasure,sir;twentyfrancsarenottobedespised.TellmewhatIamtodoforthis.”
“Averyeasything,ifyourhorseisn’ttired.”
“Itellyouhe’llgolikethewind,—onlytellmewhichwaytodrive.”
“TowardstheLouvres.”
“Ah,Iknowtheway—yougetgoodsweetenedrumoverthere.”
“Exactlyso;Imerelywishtoovertakeoneofmyfriends,withwhomIamgoingtohuntto–morrowatChapelle–en–Serval.
Heshouldhavewaitedformeherewithacabriolettillhalf–pasteleven;itistwelve,and,tiredofwaiting,hemusthavegoneon.”
“Itislikely.”
“Well,willyoutryandovertakehim?”
“NothingIshouldlikebetter.”
“IfyoudonotovertakehimbeforewereachBourgetyoushallhavetwentyfrancs;ifnotbeforeLouvres,thirty.”
“Andifwedoovertakehim?”
“Forty,”saidAndrea,afteramoment’shesitation,attheendofwhichherememberedthathemightsafelypromise.“That’sallright,”saidtheman;“hopin,andwe’reoff!Who–o–o–p,la!”
Andreagotintothecab,whichpassedrapidlythroughtheFaubourgSaint–Denis,alongtheFaubourgSaint–Martin,crossedthebarrier,andthreadeditswaythroughtheinterminableVillette.
Theyneverovertookthechimericalfriend,yetAndreafrequentlyinquiredofpeopleonfootwhomhepassedandattheinnswhichwerenotyetclosed,foragreencabrioletandbayhorse;andasthereareagreatmanycabrioletstobeseenontheroadtotheLowCountries,andasnine–tenthsofthemaregreen,theinquiriesincreasedateverystep.
Everyonehadjustseenitpass;itwasonlyfivehundred,twohundred,onehundredstepsinadvance;atlengththeyreachedit,butitwasnotthefriend.
Oncethecabwasalsopassedbyacalashrapidlywhirledalongbytwopost–horses.
“Ah,”saidCavalcantitohimself,“ifIonlyhadthatbritzska,thosetwogoodpost–horses,andaboveallthepassportthatcarriesthemon!”Andhesigheddeeply.
ThecalashcontainedMademoiselleDanglarsandMademoiselled’Armilly.“Hurry,hurry!”
saidAndrea,“wemustovertakehimsoon.”
Andthepoorhorseresumedthedesperategallopithadkeptupsinceleavingthebarrier,andarrivedsteamingatLouvres.
“Certainly,”saidAndrea,“Ishallnotovertakemyfriend,butIshallkillyourhorse,thereforeIhadbetterstop.
Herearethirtyfrancs;IwillsleepattheRedHorse,andwillsecureaplaceinthefirstcoach.Good–night,friend.”
AndAndrea,afterplacingsixpiecesoffivefrancseachintheman’shand,leapedlightlyontothepathway.
Thecabmanjoyfullypocketedthesum,andturnedbackonhisroadtoParis.
AndreapretendedtogotowardstheRedHorseinn,butafterleaninganinstantagainstthedoor,andhearingthelastsoundofthecab,whichwasdisappearingfromview,hewentonhisroad,andwithalustystridesoontraversedthespaceoftwoleagues.
Thenherested;hemustbenearChapelle–en–Serval,wherehepretendedtobegoing.
ItwasnotfatiguethatstayedAndreahere;itwasthathemightformsomeresolution,adoptsomeplan.
Itwouldbeimpossibletomakeuseofadiligence,equallysotoengagepost–horses;totraveleitherwayapassportwasnecessary.
ItwasstillmoreimpossibletoremaininthedepartmentoftheOise,oneofthemostopenandstrictlyguardedinFrance;thiswasquiteoutofthequestion,especiallytoamanlikeAndrea,perfectlyconversantwithcriminalmatters.
Hesatdownbythesideofthemoat,buriedhisfaceinhishandsandreflected.
Tenminutesafterheraisedhishead;hisresolutionwasmade.
Hethrewsomedustoverthetopcoat,whichhehadfoundtimetounhookfromtheante–chamberandbuttonoverhisballcostume,andgoingtoChapelle–en–Servalheknockedloudlyatthedooroftheonlyinnintheplace.Thehostopened.
“Myfriend,”saidAndrea,“IwascomingfromMontefontainetoSenlis,whenmyhorse,whichisatroublesomecreature,stumbledandthrewme.
ImustreachCompiegneto–night,orIshallcausedeepanxietytomyfamily.Couldyouletmehireahorseofyou?”
Aninn–keeperhasalwaysahorsetolet,whetheritbegoodorbad.
Thehostcalledthestable–boy,andorderedhimtosaddle“Whitey,”thenheawokehisson,achildofsevenyears,whomheorderedtoridebeforethegentlemanandbringbackthehorse.
Andreagavetheinn–keepertwentyfrancs,andintakingthemfromhispocketdroppedavisitingcard.
ThisbelongedtooneofhisfriendsattheCafedeParis,sothattheinnkeeper,pickingitupafterAndreahadleft,wasconvincedthathehadlethishorsetotheCountofMauleon,25RueSaint–Dominique,thatbeingthenameandaddressonthecard.
“Whitey”wasnotafastanimal,buthekeptupaneasy,steadypace;inthreehoursandahalfAndreahadtraversedthenineleagueswhichseparatedhimfromCompiegne,andfouro’clockstruckashereachedtheplacewherethecoachesstop.
ThereisanexcellenttavernatCompiegne,wellrememberedbythosewhohaveeverbeenthere.
Andrea,whohadoftenstayedthereinhisridesaboutParis,recollectedtheBellandBottleinn;heturnedaround,sawthesignbythelightofareflectedlamp,andhavingdismissedthechild,givinghimallthesmallcoinhehadabouthim,hebeganknockingatthedoor,veryreasonablyconcludingthathavingnowthreeorfourhoursbeforehimhehadbestfortifyhimselfagainstthefatiguesofthemorrowbyasoundsleepandagoodsupper.
Awaiteropenedthedoor.
“Myfriend,”saidAndrea,“IhavebeendiningatSaint–Jean–au–Bois,andexpectedtocatchthecoachwhichpassesbyatmidnight,butlikeafoolIhavelostmyway,andhavebeenwalkingforthelastfourhoursintheforest.
Showmeintooneofthoseprettylittleroomswhichoverlookthecourt,andbringmeacoldfowlandabottleofBordeaux.”
Thewaiterhadnosuspicions;Andreaspokewithperfectcomposure,hehadacigarinhismouth,andhishandsinthepocketofhistopcoat;hisclotheswerefashionablymade,hischinsmooth,hisbootsirreproachable;helookedmerelyasifhehadstayedoutverylate,thatwasall.
Whilethewaiterwaspreparinghisroom,thehostessarose;Andreaassumedhismostcharmingsmile,andaskedifhecouldhaveNo.3,whichhehadoccupiedonhislaststayatCompiegne.
Unfortunately,No.3wasengagedbyayoungmanwhowastravellingwithhissister.
Andreaappearedindespair,butconsoledhimselfwhenthehostessassuredhimthatNo.7,preparedforhim,wassituatedpreciselythesameasNo.3,andwhilewarminghisfeetandchattingaboutthelastracesatChantilly,hewaiteduntiltheyannouncedhisroomtobeready.
AndreahadnotspokenwithoutcauseoftheprettyroomslookingoutuponthecourtoftheBellTavern,whichwithitstriplegallerieslikethoseofatheatre,withthejessamineandclematistwiningroundthelightcolumns,formsoneoftheprettiestentrancestoaninnthatyoucanimagine.
Thefowlwastender,thewineold,thefireclearandsparkling,andAndreawassurprisedtofindhimselfeatingwithasgoodanappetiteasthoughnothinghadhappened.
Thenhewenttobedandalmostimmediatelyfellintothatdeepsleepwhichissuretovisitmenoftwentyyearsofage,evenwhentheyaretornwithremorse.
Now,hereweareobligedtoownthatAndreaoughttohavefeltremorse,butthathedidnot.
Thiswastheplanwhichhadappealedtohimtoaffordthebestchanceofhissecurity.
Beforedaybreakhewouldawake,leavetheinnafterrigorouslypayinghisbill,andreachingtheforest,hewould,underpretenceofmakingstudiesinpainting,testthehospitalityofsomepeasants,procurehimselfthedressofawoodcutterandahatchet,castingoffthelion’sskintoassumethatofthewoodman;then,withhishandscoveredwithdirt,hishairdarkenedbymeansofaleadencomb,hiscomplexionembrownedwithapreparationforwhichoneofhisoldcomradeshadgivenhimtherecipe,heintended,byfollowingthewoodeddistricts,toreachthenearestfrontier,walkingbynightandsleepinginthedayintheforestsandquarries,andonlyenteringinhabitedregionstobuyaloaffromtimetotime.
Oncepastthefrontier,Andreaproposedmakingmoneyofhisdiamonds;andbyunitingtheproceedstotenbank–noteshealwayscarriedaboutwithhimincaseofaccident,hewouldthenfindhimselfpossessorofabout50,000livres,whichhephilosophicallyconsideredasnoverydeplorableconditionafterall.
Moreover,hereckonedmuchontheinterestoftheDanglarstohushuptherumoroftheirownmisadventures.
Thesewerethereasonswhich,addedtothefatigue,causedAndreatosleepsosoundly.
Inorderthathemightawakenearlyhedidnotclosetheshutters,butcontentedhimselfwithboltingthedoorandplacingonthetableanunclaspedandlong–pointedknife,whosetemperhewellknew,andwhichwasneverabsentfromhim.
AboutseveninthemorningAndreawasawakenedbyarayofsunlight,whichplayed,warmandbrilliant,uponhisface.
Inallwell–organizedbrains,thepredominatingidea—andtherealwaysisone—issuretobethelastthoughtbeforesleeping,andthefirstuponwakinginthemorning.
Andreahadscarcelyopenedhiseyeswhenhispredominatingideapresenteditself,andwhisperedinhisearthathehadslepttoolong.
Hejumpedoutofbedandrantothewindow.Agendarmewascrossingthecourt.
Agendarmeisoneofthemoststrikingobjectsintheworld,eventoamanvoidofuneasiness;butforonewhohasatimidconscience,andwithgoodcausetoo,theyellow,blue,andwhiteuniformisreallyveryalarming.
“Whyisthatgendarmethere?”askedAndreaofhimself.
Then,allatonce,hereplied,withthatlogicwhichthereaderhas,doubtless,remarkedinhim,“Thereisnothingastonishinginseeingagendarmeataninn;insteadofbeingastonished,letmedressmyself.”
AndtheyouthdressedhimselfwithafacilityhisvaletdechambrehadfailedtorobhimofduringthetwomonthsoffashionablelifehehadledinParis.
“Nowthen,”saidAndrea,whiledressinghimself,“I’llwaittillheleaves,andthenI’llslipaway.”
And,sayingthis,Andrea,whohadnowputonhisbootsandcravat,stolegentlytothewindow,andasecondtimeliftedupthemuslincurtain.
Notonlywasthefirstgendarmestillthere,buttheyoungmannowperceivedasecondyellow,blue,andwhiteuniformatthefootofthestaircase,theonlyonebywhichhecoulddescend,whileathird,onhorseback,holdingamusketinhisfist,waspostedasasentinelatthegreatstreetdoorwhichaloneaffordedthemeansofegress.
Theappearanceofthethirdgendarmesettledthematter,foracrowdofcuriousloungerswasextendedbeforehim,effectuallyblockingtheentrancetothehotel.“They’reafterme!”wasAndrea’sfirstthought.“Thedevil!”
Apalloroverspreadtheyoungman’sforehead,andhelookedaroundhimwithanxiety.
Hisroom,likeallthoseonthesamefloor,hadbutoneoutlettothegalleryinthesightofeverybody.“Iamlost!”
washissecondthought;and,indeed,foramaninAndrea’ssituation,anarrestmeanttheassizes,trial,anddeath,—deathwithoutmercyordelay.
Foramomentheconvulsivelypressedhisheadwithinhishands,andduringthatbriefperiodhebecamenearlymadwithterror;butsoonarayofhopeglimmeredinthemultitudeofthoughtswhichbewilderedhismind,andafaintsmileplayeduponhiswhitelipsandpallidcheeks.
Helookedaroundandsawtheobjectsofhissearchuponthechimney–piece;theywereapen,ink,andpaper.
Withforcedcomposurehedippedthepenintheink,andwrotethefollowinglinesuponasheetofpaper:—
“Ihavenomoneytopaymybill,butIamnotadishonestman;Ileavebehindmeasapledgethispin,worthtentimestheamount.Ishallbeexcusedforleavingatdaybreak,forIwasashamed.”
Hethendrewthepinfromhiscravatandplaceditonthepaper.
Thisdone,insteadofleavingthedoorfastened,hedrewbacktheboltsandevenplacedthedoorajar,asthoughhehadlefttheroom,forgettingtocloseit,andslippingintothechimneylikeamanaccustomedtothatkindofgymnasticexercise,havingeffacedthemarksofhisfeetuponthefloor,hecommencedclimbingtheonlyopeningwhichaffordedhimthemeansofescape.
Atthisprecisetime,thefirstgendarmeAndreahadnoticedwalkedup–stairs,precededbythecommissaryofpolice,andsupportedbythesecondgendarmewhoguardedthestaircaseandwashimselfre–enforcedbytheonestationedatthedoor.
Andreawasindebtedforthisvisittothefollowingcircumstances.
Atdaybreak,thetelegraphsweresetatworkinalldirections,andalmostimmediatelytheauthoritiesineverydistricthadexertedtheirutmostendeavorstoarrestthemurdererofCaderousse.
Compiegne,thatroyalresidenceandfortifiedtown,iswellfurnishedwithauthorities,gendarmes,andcommissariesofpolice;theythereforebeganoperationsassoonasthetelegraphicdespatcharrived,andtheBellandBottlebeingthebest–knownhotelinthetown,theyhadnaturallydirectedtheirfirstinquiriesthere.
Now,besidesthereportsofthesentinelsguardingtheHoteldeVille,whichisnextdoortotheBellandBottle,ithadbeenstatedbyothersthatanumberoftravellershadarrivedduringthenight.
Thesentinelwhowasrelievedatsixo’clockinthemorning,rememberedperfectlythatjustashewastakinghispostafewminutespastfourayoungmanarrivedonhorseback,withalittleboybeforehim.
Theyoungman,havingdismissedtheboyandhorse,knockedatthedoorofthehotel,whichwasopened,andagainclosedafterhisentrance.
Thislatearrivalhadattractedmuchsuspicion,andtheyoungmanbeingnootherthanAndrea,thecommissaryandgendarme,whowasabrigadier,directedtheirstepstowardshisroom.
Theyfoundthedoorajar.“Oh,ho,”saidthebrigadier,whothoroughlyunderstoodthetrick;“abadsigntofindthedooropen!Iwouldratherfindittriplybolted.”
And,indeed,thelittlenoteandpinuponthetableconfirmed,orrathercorroborated,thesadtruth.Andreahadfled.
Wesaycorroborated,becausethebrigadierwastooexperiencedtobeconvincedbyasingleproof.
Heglancedaround,lookedinthebed,shookthecurtains,openedtheclosets,andfinallystoppedatthechimney.
Andreahadtakentheprecautiontoleavenotracesofhisfeetintheashes,butstillitwasanoutlet,andinthislightwasnottobepassedoverwithoutseriousinvestigation.
Thebrigadiersentforsomesticksandstraw,andhavingfilledthechimneywiththem,setalighttoit.
Thefirecrackled,andthesmokeascendedlikethedullvaporfromavolcano;butstillnoprisonerfelldown,astheyexpected.
Thefactwas,thatAndrea,atwarwithsocietyeversincehisyouth,wasquiteasdeepasagendarme,eventhoughhewereadvancedtotherankofbrigadier,andquitepreparedforthefire,hehadclimbedoutontheroofandwascrouchingdownagainstthechimney–pots.
Atonetimehethoughthewassaved,forheheardthebrigadierexclaiminaloudvoice,tothetwogendarmes,“Heisnothere!”
Butventuringtopeep,heperceivedthatthelatter,insteadofretiring,asmighthavebeenreasonablyexpecteduponthisannouncement,werewatchingwithincreasedattention.
Itwasnowhisturntolookabouthim;theHoteldeVille,amassivesixteenthcenturybuilding,wasonhisright;anyonecoulddescendfromtheopeningsinthetower,andexamineeverycorneroftheroofbelow,andAndreaexpectedmomentarilytoseetheheadofagendarmeappearatoneoftheseopenings.
Ifoncediscovered,heknewhewouldbelost,fortheroofaffordednochanceofescape;hethereforeresolvedtodescend,notthroughthesamechimneybywhichhehadcomeup,butbyasimilaroneconductingtoanotherroom.
Helookedaroundforachimneyfromwhichnosmokeissued,andhavingreachedit,hedisappearedthroughtheorificewithoutbeingseenbyanyone.
Atthesameminute,oneofthelittlewindowsoftheHoteldeVillewasthrownopen,andtheheadofagendarmeappeared.
Foraninstantitremainedmotionlessasoneofthestonedecorationsofthebuilding,thenafteralongsighofdisappointmenttheheaddisappeared.
Thebrigadier,calmanddignifiedasthelawherepresented,passedthroughthecrowd,withoutansweringthethousandquestionsaddressedtohim,andre–enteredthehotel.
“Well?”askedthetwogendarmes.
“Well,myboys,”saidthebrigadier,“thebrigandmustreallyhaveescapedearlythismorning;butwewillsendtotheVillers–CoteretsandNoyonroads,andsearchtheforest,whenweshallcatchhim,nodoubt.”
Thehonorablefunctionaryhadscarcelyexpressedhimselfthus,inthatintonationwhichispeculiartobrigadiersofthegendarmerie,whenaloudscream,accompaniedbytheviolentringingofabell,resoundedthroughthecourtofthehotel.“Ah,whatisthat?”criedthebrigadier.
“Sometravellerseemsimpatient,”saidthehost.“Whatnumberwasitthatrang?”
“Number3.”
“Run,waiter!”Atthismomentthescreamsandringingwereredoubled.
“Ah,”saidthebrigadier,stoppingtheservant,“thepersonwhoisringingappearstowantsomethingmorethanawaiter;wewillattenduponhimwithagendarme.WhooccupiesNumber3?”
“Thelittlefellowwhoarrivedlastnightinapost–chaisewithhissister,andwhoaskedforanapartmentwithtwobeds.”Thebellhererangforthethirdtime,withanothershriekofanguish.
“Followme,Mr.Commissary!”saidthebrigadier;“treadinmysteps.”
“Waitaninstant,”saidthehost;“Number3hastwostaircases,—insideandoutside.”
“Good,”saidthebrigadier.“Iwilltakechargeoftheinsideone.Arethecarbinesloaded?”
“Yes,brigadier.”
“Well,youguardtheexterior,andifheattemptstofly,fireuponhim;hemustbeagreatcriminal,fromwhatthetelegraphsays.”
Thebrigadier,followedbythecommissary,disappearedbytheinsidestaircase,accompaniedbythenoisewhichhisassertionsrespectingAndreahadexcitedinthecrowd.Thisiswhathadhappened.
Andreahadverycleverlymanagedtodescendtwo–thirdsofthechimney,butthenhisfootslipped,andnotwithstandinghisendeavors,hecameintotheroomwithmorespeedandnoisethanheintended.
Itwouldhavesignifiedlittlehadtheroombeenempty,butunfortunatelyitwasoccupied.
Twoladies,sleepinginonebed,wereawakenedbythenoise,andfixingtheireyesuponthespotwhencethesoundproceeded,theysawaman.
Oneoftheseladies,thefairone,utteredthoseterribleshriekswhichresoundedthroughthehouse,whiletheother,rushingtothebell–rope,rangwithallherstrength.
Andrea,aswecansee,wassurroundedbymisfortune.
“Forpity’ssake,”hecried,paleandbewildered,withoutseeingwhomhewasaddressing,—”forpity’ssakedonotcallassistance!Saveme!—Iwillnotharmyou.”
“Andrea,themurderer!”criedoneoftheladies.
“Eugenie!MademoiselleDanglars!”exclaimedAndrea,stupefied.
“Help,help!”criedMademoiselled’Armilly,takingthebellfromhercompanion’shand,andringingityetmoreviolently.“Saveme,Iampursued!”saidAndrea,claspinghishands.
“Forpity,formercy’ssakedonotdelivermeup!”
“Itistoolate,theyarecoming,”saidEugenie.
“Well,concealmesomewhere;youcansayyouwereneedlesslyalarmed;youcanturntheirsuspicionsandsavemylife!”
Thetwoladies,pressingcloselytooneanother,anddrawingthebedclothestightlyaroundthem,remainedsilenttothissupplicatingvoice,repugnanceandfeartakingpossessionoftheirminds.
“Well,beitso,”atlengthsaidEugenie;“returnbythesameroadyoucame,andwewillsaynothingaboutyou,unhappywretch.”
“Hereheis,hereheis!”criedavoicefromthelanding;“hereheis!Iseehim!”
Thebrigadierhadputhiseyetothekeyhole,andhaddiscoveredAndreainapostureofentreaty.
Aviolentblowfromthebuttendofthemusketburstopenthelock,twomoreforcedoutthebolts,andthebrokendoorfellin.
Andrearantotheotherdoor,leadingtothegallery,readytorushout;buthewasstoppedshort,andhestoodwithhisbodyalittlethrownback,pale,andwiththeuselessknifeinhisclinchedhand.
“Fly,then!”criedMademoiselled’Armilly,whosepityreturnedasherfearsdiminished;“fly!”
“Orkillyourself!”saidEugenie(inatonewhichaVestalintheamphitheatrewouldhaveused,whenurgingthevictoriousgladiatortofinishhisvanquishedadversary).
Andreashuddered,andlookedontheyounggirlwithanexpressionwhichprovedhowlittleheunderstoodsuchferocioushonor.“Killmyself?”
hecried,throwingdownhisknife;“whyshouldIdoso?”
“Why,yousaid,”answeredMademoiselleDanglars,“thatyouwouldbecondemnedtodieliketheworstcriminals.”
“Bah,”saidCavalcanti,crossinghisarms,“onehasfriends.”
Thebrigadieradvancedtohim,swordinhand.
“Come,come,”saidAndrea,“sheatheyoursword,myfinefellow;thereisnooccasiontomakesuchafuss,sinceIgivemyselfup;”andheheldouthishandstobemanacled.
Thegirlslookedwithhorroruponthisshamefulmetamorphosis,themanoftheworldshakingoffhiscoveringandappearingasagalley–slave.
Andreaturnedtowardsthem,andwithanimpertinentsmileasked,—”Haveyouanymessageforyourfather,MademoiselleDanglars,forinallprobabilityIshallreturntoParis?”
Eugeniecoveredherfacewithherhands.“Oh,ho!”saidAndrea,“youneednotbeashamed,eventhoughyoudidpostafterme.WasInotnearlyyourhusband?”
AndwiththisrailleryAndreawentout,leavingthetwogirlsapreytotheirownfeelingsofshame,andtothecommentsofthecrowd.
Anhouraftertheysteppedintotheircalash,bothdressedinfeminineattire.
Thegateofthehotelhadbeenclosedtoscreenthemfromsight,buttheywereforced,whenthedoorwasopen,topassthroughathrongofcuriousglancesandwhisperingvoices.
Eugenieclosedhereyes;butthoughshecouldnotsee,shecouldhear,andthesneersofthecrowdreachedherinthecarriage.
“Oh,whyisnottheworldawilderness?”
sheexclaimed,throwingherselfintothearmsofMademoiselled’Armilly,hereyessparklingwiththesamekindofragewhichmadeNerowishthattheRomanworldhadbutoneneck,thathemightseveritatasingleblow.
ThenextdaytheystoppedattheHoteldeFlandre,atBrussels.
ThesameeveningAndreawasincarceratedintheConciergerie.
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