第54章

Henrietteleft

meandquicklyreturned，introducingthenewcandidate。

AtthefirstglimpseIrecognisedBrigittaRupert，thathaughty

girl，whohadbeenmyearlyfriendandcompanionatSaintAure，

butwhofounditimpossibletocontinueherfriendshipandfavour

toahumblemilliner’sgirl。

Thesightofheroccasionedmea

surprisebynomeansofapleasingnature；andtheinvoluntary

startIgave，evidentlyrecalledmetoherrecollection。

Ina

momenthercheeksassumedthepalenessofdeath，andherself-love

seemedtosufferthemosthorribletormentsatthelightinwhich

ourrencontremutuallyplacedus。

Assoonasshecouldcommand

herselfsufficientlytospeak，shecried，

“Ah！

madam，doIthenappearinyourpresence？“

“Yes，“repliedI，“beforethepoorandhumblemillinertowhomyou

soharshlyrefusedyourfriendship，“

“Fortunehaswellavengedyou，madam，“saidBrigitta，ina

melancholytone；“andasIcaneasilyimaginehowunpleasantthe

sightofmemustbe，Iwillhastentorelieveyoufromit。“

Theselastwordstouchedme，andrestoredmeinadegreetomy

naturalgoodtemper。

“Brigitta，“saidItoher，“afterthelittleaffectionyouhave

evermanifestedforme，itwouldbeimpossibleaswellasunwise

totakeyouintomyservice；butletmeknowinwhatwayIcan

bestpromotetheinterestofyourselfandhusband，andIpledge

myselftoaccomplishitforyou。“

“Ithankyou，madam，“answeredshe，resumingheraccustomed

haughtiness，“Icametosolicitasituationnearthepersonofthe

comtesseduBarry。

Sincethatisrefusedme，Ihavenothingmore

torequest。“

“Beitasyouplease，“repliedI。

Brigittamadealowcourtesy，

andquittedtheroom。

Henriette，whohadbeenthewitnessofthisscene，expressedher

apprehensionsthatIshouldbedispleasedwithherforintroducing

anunwelcomevisitortome。

“No，“criedI，“’tisnotwithyouI

amvexed。，butmyself。“

“Andwhyso，dearmadam？“

“BecauseIreproachmyselfwithhavinginmyownprosperity

forgottenoneofmyearliestanddearestfriends，wholovedme

withthetenderestaffection。

Possiblyshemaynowbeintrouble

ordifficulties，fromwhichImighthaveathousandwaysof

relievingher；butitisnevertoolatetodogood。

To-morrow，

early，youshallsetoutforParis；whenthere，gototherueSaint

Martin，inquireforthesignoflaBonneFoi；itiskeptbya

pastrycook，namedM。Mathon，ofwhomIwishyoutolearnevery

particularrelativetohisdaughterGenevieve。“

MywisheswerelawstoHenriette，whoinstantlyretiredtoprepare

forherjourney。

Ihadnotventuredtodesirehertogleanany

informationconcerningthebrotherofGenevieve，andyetatthe

recollectionofthehandsomeNicolasmyheartbeatimpetuously。

WithwhatimpatiencedidIawaitthereturnofHenriette！

at

lengthshecame。

“Well！“

saidI。

“IhavefoundoutM。Mathon，“answeredHenriette。

“Which，thefather？“

“Yes，madam。“

“Andwhatishispres