第332章

Dagobert looked at Mdlle.de Cardoville with surprise, as he mechanically opened the little parcel.When he had unfolded it, and discovered his own silver cross, black with age, and the old red, faded ribbon, treasures taken from him at the White Falcon Inn, at the same time as his papers, he exclaimed in a broken voice: "My cross! my cross! It is my cross!" In the excitement of his joy, he pressed the silver star to his gray moustache.

Adrienne and the other were deeply affected by the emotion of the old soldier, who continued, as he ran towards the door by which Rodin had gone out: "Next to a service rendered to Marshal Simon, my wife, or son, nothing could be more precious to me.And you answer for this worthy man, madame, and I have ill used him in your presence! Oh! he is entitled to reparation, and he shall have it."

So saying, Dagobert left the room precipitately, hastened through two other apartments, gained the staircase, and descending it rapidly, overtook Rodin on the lowest step.

"Sir," said the soldier to him, in an agitated voice, as he seized him by the arm, "you must come upstairs directly."

"You should make up your mind to one thing or the other, my dear sir,"

said Rodin, stopping good-naturedly; "one moment you tell me to begone, and the next to return.How are we to decide?"

"Just now, sir, I was wrong; and when I am wrong, I acknowledge it.I abused and ill-treated you before witnesses; I will make you my apologies before witnesses."

"But, my dear sir--I am much obliged to you--I am in a hurry."

"I cannot help your being in a hurry.I tell you, I must have you come upstairs, directly--or else--or else," resumed Dagobert, taking the hand of the Jesuit, and pressing it with as much cordiality as emotion, "or else the happiness you have caused the in returning my cross will not be complete."

"Well, then, my good friend, let us go up."

"And not only have you restored me my cross, for which I have wept many tears, believe me, unknown to any one," cried Dagobert, much affected;

"but the young lady told me, that, thanks to you, those poor children but tell me--no false joy-is it really true?--My God! is it really true?"

"Ah! ah! Mr.Inquisitive," said Rodin, with a cunning smile.Then he added: "Be perfectly tranquil, my growler; you shall have your two angels back again." And the Jesuit began to ascend the stairs.

"Will they be restored to me to-day?" cried Dagobert, stopping Rodin abruptly, by catching hold of his sleeve.

"Now, really, my good friend," said the Jesuit, "let us come to the point.Are we to go up or down? I do not find fault, but you turn me about like a teetotum."

"You are right.We shall be better able to explain things upstairs.

Come with me--quick! quick!" said Dagobert, as, taking the Jesuit by the arm, he hurried him along, and brought him triumphantly into the room, where Adrienne and Mother Bunch had remained in much surprise at the soldier's sudden disappearance.

"Here he is! here he is!" cried Dagobert, as he entered."Luckily, I caught him at the bottom of the stairs."

"And you have made me come up at a fine pace!" added Rodin, pretty well out of breath.

"Now, sir," said Dagobert, in a grave voice, "I declare, in presence of all, that I was wrong to abuse and ill-treat you.I make you my apology for it, sir; and I acknowledge, with joy, that I owe you--much--oh! very much and when I owe, I pay."

So saying, Dagobert held out his honest hand to Rodin, who pressed it in a very affable manner, and replied: "Now, really--what is all this about?

What great service do you speak of?"

"This!" said Dagobert, holding up the cross before Rodin's eyes."You do not know, then, what this cross is to me?"

"On the contrary, supposing you would set great store by it, I intended to have the pleasure of delivering it myself.I had brought it for that purpose; but, between ourselves, you gave me so warm a reception, that I had not the time--"

"Sir," said Dagobert, in confusion, "I assure you that I sincerely repent of what I have done."

"I know it, my good friend; do not say another word about it.You were then much attached to this cross?"

"Attached to it, sir!" cried Dagobert."Why, this cross," and he kissed it as he spoke, "is my relic.He from whom it came was my saint--my hero--and he had touched it with his hand!"

"Oh!" said Rodin, feigning to regard the cross with as much curiosity as respectful admiration; "did Napoleon--the Great Napoleon--indeed touch with his own hand--that victorious hand!--this noble star of honor?"

"Yes, sir, with his own hand.He placed it there upon my bleeding breast, as a cure for my fifth wound.So that, you see, were I dying of hunger, I think I should not hesitate betwixt bread and my cross--that I might, in any case, have it on my heart in death.But, enough--enough!-

let us talk of something else.It is foolish in an old soldier, is it not?" added Dagobert, drawing his hand across his eyes, and then, as if ashamed to deny what he really felt: "Well, then! yes," he resumed, raising his head proudly, and no longer seeking to conceal the tears that rolled down his cheek; "yes, I weep for joy, to have found my cross--my cross, that the Emperor gave me with his victorious hand, as this worthy man has called it."

"Then blessed be my poor old hand for having restored you the glorious treasure!" said Rodin, with emotion."In truth," he added, "the day will be a good one for everybody--as I announced to you this morning in my letter."

"That letter without a signature?" asked the soldier, more and more astonished."Was it from you?"

"It was I who wrote it.Only, fearing some new snare of the Abbe d'Aigrigny, I did not choose, you understand, to explain myself more clearly."

"Then--I shall see--my orphans?"

Rodin nodded affirmatively, with an expression of great good-nature.

"Presently--perhaps immediately," said Adrienne, with smile."Well! was I right in telling you that you had not judged this gentleman fairly?"

"Why did he not tell me this when I came in?" cried Dagobert, almost beside himself with joy.