"She was on the other side of an open paling, which separates the two gardens."
"Excellent!" said Agricola, as he continued to hammer the iron: "we can easily pass from one garden to the other.The madhouse may perhaps be the readier way out.Unfortunately, you do not know, Mdlle.de Cardoville's chamber."
"Yes, I do," returned the work-girl, recollecting herself."She is lodged in one of the wings, and there is a shade over her window, painted like canvas, with blue and white stripes."
"Good! I shall not forget that."
"And can you form no guess as to where are the rooms of my poor children?" said Dagobert.
After a moment's reflection, Mother Bunch answered, "They are opposite to the chamber occupied by Mdlle.de Cardoville, for she makes signs to them from her window: and I now remember she told me, that their two rooms are on different stories, one on the ground-floor, and the other up one pair of stairs."
"Are these windows grated?" asked the smith.
"I do not know."
"Never mind, my good girl: with these indications we shall do very well,"
said Dagobert."For the rest, I have my plans."
"Some water, my little sister," said Agricola, "that I may cool my iron."
Then addressing his father: "Will this hook do?"
"Yes, my boy; as soon as it is cold we will fasten the cord."
For some time, Frances Baudoin had remained upon her knees, praying with fervor.She implored Heaven to have pity on Agricola and Dagobert, who, in their ignorance, were about to commit a great crime; and she entreated that the celestial vengeance might fall upon her only, as she alone had been the cause of the fatal resolution of her son and husband.
Dagobert and Agricola finished their preparations in silence.They were both very pale, and solemnly grave.They felt all the danger of so desperate an enterprise.
The clock at Saint-Mery's struck ten.The sound of the bell was faint, and almost drowned by the lashing of the wind and rain, which had not ceased for a moment.
"Ten o'clock!" said Dagobert, with a start."There is not a minute to lose.Take the sack, Agricola."
"Yes, father."
As he went to fetch the sack, Agricola approached Mother Bunch, who was hardly able to sustain herself, and said to her in a rapid whisper: "If we are not here to-morrow, take care of my mother.Go to M.Hardy, who will perhaps have returned from his journey.Courage, my sister! embrace me.I leave poor mother to you." The smith, deeply affected, pressed the almost fainting girl in his arms.
"Come, old Spoil-sport," said Dagobert: "you shall be our scout."
Approaching his wife, who, just risen from the ground, was clasping her son's head to her bosom, and covering it with tears and kisses, he said to her, with a semblance of calmness and serenity: "Come, my dear wife, be reasonable! Make us a good fire.In two or three hours we will bring home the two poor children, and a fine young lady.Kiss me! that will bring me luck."
Frances threw herself on her husband's neck, without uttering a word.
This mute despair, mingled with convulsive sobs, was heart-rending.
Dagobert was obliged to tear himself from his wife's arms, and striving to conceal his emotion, he said to his son, in an agitated voice: "Let us go--she unmans me.Take care of her, my good Mother Bunch.Agricola--
come!"
The soldier slipped the pistols into the pocket of his great coat, and rushed towards the door, followed by Spoil-sport.
"My son, let me embrace you once more--alas! it is perhaps for the last time!" cried the unfortunate mother, incapable of rising, but stretching out her arms to Agricola."Forgive me! it is all my fault."
The smith turned back, mingled his tears with those of his mother--for he also wept--and murmured, in a stifled voice: "Adieu, dear mother! Be comforted.We shall soon meet again."
Then, escaping from the embrace, he joined his father upon the stairs.
Frances Baudoin heaved a long sigh, and fell almost lifeless into the needlewoman's arms.
Dagobert and Agricola left the Rue Brise-Miche in the height of the storm, and hastened with great strides towards the Boulevard de l'Hopital, followed by the dog.