Adrienne, leaning back in her carriage, amused herself with watching this busy scene, sparkling with Parisian luxury; but, in the vortex of this brilliant chaos, she saw in thought the mild, melancholy countenance of Djalma--when suddenly something fell into her lap, and she started.It was a bunch of half-faded violets.At the same instant she heard a child's voice following the carriage, and saying: "For the love of heaven, my good lady, one little sou!" Adrienne turned her head, and saw a poor little girl, pale and wan, with mild, sorrowful features, scarcely covered with rags, holding out her hand, and raising her eyes in supplication.Though the striking contrast of extreme misery, side by side with extreme luxury, is so common, that it no longer excites attention, Adrienne was deeply affected by it.She thought of Mother Bunch, now, perhaps, the victim of frightful destitution.
"Ah! at least," thought the young lady, "let not this day be one of happiness for me alone!"
She leaned from the carriage-window, and said to the poor child: "Have you a mother, my dear?"
"No, my lady, I have neither father nor mother."
"Who takes care of you?"
"No one, my lady.They give me nosegays to sell, and I must bring home money--or they beat me."
"Poor little thing!"
"A sou, my good lady--a sou, for the love of heaven!" said the child, continuing to follow the carriage, which was then moving slowly.
"My dear count," said Adrienne, smiling, and addressing M.de Montbron, "you are, unfortunately, no novice at an elopement.Please to stretch forth your arms, take up that child with both hands, and lift her into the carriage.We can hide her between Lady de Morinval and myself; and we can drive away before any one perceives this audacious abduction."
"What!" said the count, in surprise."You wish--"
"Yes; I beg you to do it."
"What a folly!"
"Yesterday, you might, perhaps, have treated this caprice as a folly; but to-day," said Adrienne, laying great stress upon the word, and glancing at M.de Montbron with a significant air, "to-day, you should understand that it is almost a duty."
"Yes, I understand you, good and noble heart!" said the count, with emotion; while Lady de Morinval, who knew nothing of Mdlle.de Cardoville's love for Djalma, looked with as much surprise as curiosity at the count and the young lady.
M.de Montbron, leaning from the carriage, stretched out his arms towards the child, and said to her: "Give me your hands, little girl."
Though much astonished, the child obeyed mechanically, and held out both her little arms; then the count took her by the wrists, and lifted her lightly from the ground, which he did the more easily, as the carnage was very low, and its progress by no means rapid.More stupefied than frightened, the child said not a word.Adrienne and Lady de Morinval made room for her to crouch down between them, and the little girl was soon hidden beneath the shawls of the two young women.All this was executed so quickly, that it was hardly perceived by a few persons passing in the side-avenues.
"Now, my dear count," said Adrienne, radiant with pleasure, "let us make off at once with our prey."
M.de Montbron half rose, and called to the postilions."Home!" and the four horses started at once into a rapid and regular trot.
"This day of happiness now seems consecrated, and my luxury is excused,"
thought Adrienne; "till I can again meet with that poor Mother Bunch, and from this day I will make every exertion to find her out, her place will at least not be quite empty."
There are often strange coincidences in life.At the moment when this thought of the hunchback crossed the mind of Adrienne, a crowd had collected in one of the side-avenues, and other persons soon ran to join the group.
"Look, uncle!" said Lady de Morinval; "how many people are assembled yonder.What can it be? Shall we stop, and send to inquire?"