convict's chains.'
'Oh! I am not your dupe, sir. You are holding out a covert menace. Have at least the courage to say to me, that, if I complain to the magistrates, you will denounce the soldier and his son.'
'I repeat, that, if you make any complaint, those two people are lost,' answered the doctor, ambiguously.
Startled by what was really dangerous in the doctor's threats, Adrienne asked: 'Sir, if this magistrate questions me, do you think I will tell him a falsehood?'
'You will answer what is true,' said M. Baleinier, hastily, in the hope of still attaining his end. 'You will answer that you were in so excited a state of mind a few days ago, that it was thought advisable, for your own sake, to bring you hither, without your knowing it. But you are now so much better, that you acknowledge the utility of the measures taken with regard to you. I will confirm these words for, after all, it is the truth.'
'Never!' cried Mdlle. de Cardoville, with indignation, 'never will I be the accomplice of so infamous a falsehood; never will I be base enough to justify the indignities that I have suffered!'
'Here is the magistrate,' said M. Baleinier, as he caught the sound of approaching footsteps. 'Beware!'
The door opened, and, to the indescribable amazement of the doctor, Rodin appeared on the threshold, accompanied by a man dressed in black, with a dignified and severe countenance. In the interest of his projects, and from motives of craft and prudence that will hereafter be known, Rodin had not informed Father d'Aigrigny, and consequently the doctor, of the unexpected visit he intended to pay to the asylum, accompanied by a magistrate. On the contrary, he had only the day before given orders to M. Baleinier to confine Mdlle. de Cardoville still more strictly. Therefore, imagine the stupor of the doctor when he saw the judicial officer, whose unexpected presence and imposing aspect were otherwise sufficiently alarming, enter the room, accompanied by Rodin, Abbe d'Aigrigny's humble and obscure secretary. From the door, Rodin, who was very shabbily dressed, as usual, pointed out Mdlle. de Cardoville to the magistrate, by a gesture at once respectful and compassionate. Then, while the latter, who had not been able to repress a movement of admiration at sight of the rare beauty of Adrienne, seemed to examine her with as much surprise as interest, the Jesuit modestly receded several steps.
Dr. Baleinier in his extreme astonishment, hoping to be understood by Rodin, made suddenly several private signals, as if to interrogate him on the cause of the magistrate's visit. But this was only productive of fresh amazement to M. Baleinier; for Rodin did not appear to recognize him, or to understand his expressive pantomime, and looked at him with affected bewilderment. At length, as the doctor, growing impatient, redoubled his mute questionings, Rodin advanced with a stride, stretched forward his crooked neck, and said, in a loud voice: 'What is your pleasure, doctor?'
These words, which completely disconcerted Baleinier, broke the silence which had reigned for some seconds, and the magistrate turned round. Rodin added, with imperturbable coolness: 'Since our arrival, the doctor has been making all sorts of mysterious signs to me. I suppose he has something private to communicate, but, as I have no secrets, I must beg him to speak out loud.'
This reply, so embarrassing for M. Baleinier, uttered in a tone of aggression, and with an air of icy coldness, plunged the doctor into such new and deep amazement, that he remained for some moments without answering. No doubt the magistrate was struck with this incident, and with the silence which followed it, for he cast a look of great severity on the doctor. Mdlle. de Cardoville, who had expected to have seen M. de Montbron, was also singularly surprised.
CHAPTER XXXIII. THE ACCUSER.
Baleinier, disconcerted for a moment by the unexpected presence of a magistrate, and by Rodin's inexplicable attitude, soon recovered his presence of mind, and addressing his colleague of the longer robe, said to him: 'If I make signs to you, sir, it was that, while I wished to respect the silence which this gentleman'—glancing at the magistrate—'has preserved since his entrance, I desired to express my surprise at the unexpected honor of this visit.'
'It is to the lady that I will explain the reason for my silence, and beg her to excuse it,' replied the magistrate, as he made a half-bow to Adrienne, whom he thus continued to address: 'I have just received so serious a declaration with regard to you, madame, that I could not forbear looking at you for a moment in silence, to see if I could read in your countenance or in your attitude, the truth or falsehood of the accusation that has been placed in my hands; and I have every reason to believe that it is but too well founded.'
'May I at length be informed, sir,' said Dr. Baleinier, in a polite but firm tone, 'to whom I have the honor of speaking?'
'Sir, I am juge d'instruction, and I have come to inform myself as to a fact which has been pointed out to me—'
'Will you do me the honor to explain yourself, sir?' said the doctor, bowing.
'Sir,' resumed the magistrate, M. de Gernande, a man of about fifty years of age, full of firmness and straightforwardness, and knowing how to unite the austere duties of his position with benevolent politeness, 'you are accused of having committed—a very great error, not to use a harsher expression. As for the nature of that error, I prefer believing, sir, that you (a first rate man of science) may have been deceived in the calculation of a medical case, rather than suspect you of having forgotten all that is sacred in the exercise of a profession that is almost a priesthood.'
'When you specify the facts, sir,' answered the Jesuit of the short robe, with a degree of haughtiness, 'it will be easy for me to prove that my reputation as a man of science is no less free from reproach, than my conscience as a man of honor.'
'Madame,' said M. de Gernande, addressing Adrienne, 'is it true that you were conveyed to this house by stratagem?'
'Sir,' cried M. Baleinier, 'permit me to observe, that the manner in which you open this question is an insult to me.'
'Sir, it is to the lady that I have the honor of addressing myself,' replied M. de Gernande, sternly; 'and I am the sole judge of the propriety of my questions.'
Adrienne was about to answer affirmatively to the magistrate, when an expressive took from Dr. Baleinier reminded her that she would perhaps expose Dagobert and his son to cruel dangers. It was no base and vulgar feeling of vengeance by which Adrienne was animated, but a legitimate indignation, inspired by odious hypocrisy. She would have thought it cowardly not to unmask the criminals; but wishing to avoid compromising others, she said to the magistrate, with an accent full of mildness and dignity: 'Permit me, sir, in my turn, rather to ask you a question.'
'Speak, madame.'
'Will the answer I make be considered a formal accusation?'
'I have come hither, madame, to ascertain the truth, and no consideration should induce you to dissemble it.'
'So be it, sir,' resumed Adrienne; 'but suppose, having just causes of complaint, I lay them before you, in order to be allowed to leave this house, shall I afterwards be at liberty not to press the accusations I have made?'
'You may abandon proceedings, madame, but the law will take up your case in the name of society, if its rights have been inured in your person.'
'Shall I then not be allowed to pardon? Should I not be sufficiently avenged by a contemptuous forgetfulness of the wrongs I have suffered?'
'Personally, madame, you may forgive and forget; but I have the honor to repeat to you, that society cannot show the same indulgence, if it should turn out that you have been the victim of a criminal machination—and I have every reason to fear it is so. The manner in which you express yourself, the generosity of your sentiments, the calmness and dignity of your attitude, convince me that I have been well informed.'
'I hope, sir,' said Dr. Baleinier, recovering his coolness, 'that you will at least communicate the declaration that has been made to you.'
'It has been declared to me, sir,' said the magistrate, in a stern voice, 'that Mdlle. de Cardoville was brought here by stratagem.'
'By stratagem?'
'Yes, sir.'
