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ineffable hopes。  Remembering the interview she had overheard between
Rodin and Djalma; when; concealed in the conservatory; she had wished to
prove the Jesuit's fidelity; Adrienne; asked herself if it was
reasonable; if it was possible to believe; that the prince; whose ideas
of love seemed to be so poetical; so elevated; so pure; could find any
charm in the disjointed and silly chat of this young girl?  Adrienne
could not hesitate; she pronounced the thing impossible; from the moment
she had seen her rival near; and witnessed her style both of manners and
conversation; which; without detracting from the prettiness of her
features; gave them a trivial and not very attractive character。
Adrienne's doubts with regard to the deep love of the prince for Rose…
Pompon were hence soon changed to complete incredulity。  Endowed with too
much sense and penetration; not to perceive that this apparent
connection; so inconceivable on the part of Djalma; must conceal some
mystery; Mdlle。 de Cardoville felt her hopes revive。  As this consoling
thought arose in her mind; her heart; until now so painfully oppressed;
began once more to dilate; she felt vague aspirations towards a better
future; and yet; cruelly warned by the past; she feared to yield too
readily to a mere illusion; for she remembered the notorious fact that
the prince had really appeared in public with this girl。  But now that
Mdlle。 de Cardoville could fully appreciate what she was; she found the
conduct of the prince only the more incomprehensible。  And how can we
judge soundly and surely of that which is enveloped in mystery?  And then
a secret presentiment told her; that it would; perhaps; be beside the
couch of the poor sempstress; whom she had just saved from death; that;
by a providential coincidence; she would learn the secret on which
depended the happiness of her life。

The emotions which agitated she heart of Adrienne; became so violent;
that her fine face was flushed with a bright red; her bosom heaved; and
her large; black eyes; lately dimmed by sadness; once more shone with a
mild radiance。  She waited with inexpressible impatience for what was to
follow。  In the interview; with which Rose…Pompon had threatened her; and
which a few minutes before Adrienne would have declined with all the
dignity of legitimate indignation; she now hoped to find the explanation
of a mystery; which it was of such importance for her to clear up。  After
once more tenderly embracing Mother Bunch; Rose…Pompon got up from the
ground; and; turning towards Adrienne; eyed her from head to foot; with
the utmost coolness; and said to her; in a somewhat impertinent tone: 〃It
is now our turn; madame〃the word 〃madame〃 still pronounced with the
accent before described〃we have a little matter to settle together。〃

〃I am at your order;〃 answered Adrienne; with much mildness and
simplicity。

At sight of the triumphant and decisive air of Rose…Pompon; and on
hearing her challenge to Mdlle。 de Cardoville; the worthy Agricola; after
exchanging a few words with Mother Bunch; opened his eyes and ears very
wide; and remained staring in amazement at the effrontery of the
grisette; then; advancing towards her; he whispered; as he plucked her by
the sleeve: 〃I say; are you mad?  Do you know to whom you speak?〃

〃Well! what then?  Is not one pretty woman worth another!  I say that for
the lady。  She will not eat me; I suppose;〃 replied Rose…Pompon; aloud;
and with an air of defiance。  〃I have to talk with madame; here。  I am
sure; she knows why and wherefore。  If not; I will tell her; it will not
take me long。〃

Adrienne; who feared some ridiculous exposure on the subject of Djalma;
in the presence of Agricola; made a sign to the latter; and thus answered
the grisette: 〃I am ready to hear you; miss; but not in this place。  You
will understand why。〃

〃Very well; madame; I have my key。  You can come to any apartments〃the
last word pronounced with an air of ostentatious importance。

〃Let us go then to your apartments; miss since you to me the honor to
receive me there;〃 answered Mdlle。 de Cardoville; in her mild; sweet
voice; and with a slight inclination of the head; so full of exquisite
politeness; that Rose…Pompon was daunted; notwithstanding all her
effrontery。

〃What; lady!〃 said Agricola to Adrienne; 〃you are good enough〃

〃M。 Agricola;〃 said Mdlle。 de Cardoville; interrupting him; 〃please to
remain with our poor friend: I shall soon be back。〃

Then; approaching Mother Bunch; who shared in Agricola's astonishment she
said to her: 〃Excuse me for leaving you a few seconds。  Only regain a
little strength; and; when I return; I will take you home with me; dear
sister。〃

Then; turning towards Rose…Pompon; who was more and more surprised at
hearing so fine a lady call the workgirl her sister; she added: 〃I am
ready whenever you please; mademoiselle。〃

〃Beg pardon; madame; if I go first to show you the way; but it's a
regular break…neck sort of a place;〃 answered Rose…Pompon; pressing her
elbows to her sides; and screwing up her lips to prove that she was no
stranger to polite manners and fine language。  And the two rivals quitted
the garret together; leaving Agricola alone with Mother Bunch。

Luckily; the disfigured remains of the Bacchanal Queen had been carried
into Mother Arsene's subterraneous shop; so that the crowd of spectators;
always attracted by any fatal event; had assembled in front of the house;
and Rose…Pompon; meeting no one in the little court she had to traverse
with Adrienne; continued in ignorance of the tragical death of her old
friend Cephyse。  In a few moments the grisette and Mdlle。 de Cardoville
had reached Philemon's apartment。  This singular abode remained in the
same state of picturesque disorder in which Rose…Pompon had left it; when
Ninny Moulin came to fetch her to act the heroine of a mysterious
adventure。

Adrienne; completely ignorant of the eccentric modes of life of students
and their companions; could not; in spite of the thoughts which occupied
her mind; forebear examining; with a mixture of surprise and curiosity;
this strange and grotesque chaos; composed of the most dissimilar
objectsdisguises for masked balls; skulls with pipes in their mouths;
odd boots standing on book shelves; monstrous bottles; women's clothes;
ends of tobacco pipes; etc。; etc。  To the first astonishment of Adrienne
succeeded an impression of painful repugnance。  The young lady felt
herself uneasy and out of place in this abode; not of poverty; but
disorder; whilst; on the contrary; the sewing…girl's miserable garret had
caused her no such feeling。

Rose…Pompon; notwithstanding all her airs; was considerably troubled when
she found herself alone with Mdlle; de Cardoville; the rare beauty of the
young patrician; her fashionable look; the elegance of her manners; the
style; both dignified and affable; with which she had answered the
impertinent address of the grisette; began to have their effect upon the
latter; who; being moreover a good…natured girl; had been touched at
hearing Mdlle。 de Cardoville call the hunchback 〃friend and sister。〃
Without knowing exactly who Adrienne was; Rose…Pompon was not ignorant
that she belonged to the richest and highest class of society; she felt
already some remorse at having attacked her so cavalierly; and her
intentions; at first very hostile with regard to Mdlle。 de Cardoville;
were gradually much modified。  Yet; being very obstinate; and not wishing
to appear to submit to an influence that offended her pride; Rose…Pompon
endeavored to recover her assurance; and; having bolted the door; she
said to Adrienne: 〃Pray do me the favor to sit down; madame〃still with
the intention of showing that she was no stranger to refined manners and
conversation。

Mdlle。 de Cardoville was about mechanically to take a chair; when Rose…
Pompon; worthy to practise those ancient virtues of hospitality; which
regarded even an enemy as sacred in the person of a guest; cried out
hastily: 〃Don't take that chair; madame; it wants a leg。〃

Adrienne laid her hand on another chair。

〃Nor that either; the back is quite loose;〃 again exclaimed Rose…Pompon。
And she spoke the truth; for the chair…back; which was made in the form
of a lyre; remained in the hands of Mdlle。 de Cardoville; who said; as
she replaced it discreetly in its former position: 〃I think; miss; that
we can very well talk standing。〃

〃As you please; madame;〃 replied Rose…Pompon; steadying herself the more
bravely the more uneasy she felt。  And the interview of the lady and the
grisette began in this fashion。




CHAPTER XXXVI。

THE INTERVIEW。

After a minute's hesitation; Rose…Pompon said to Adrienne; whose heart
was beating violently: 〃I will tell you directly; madame; what I have on
my mind。  I should not have gone out of my way to seek you; but; as I
happen to fall in with you; it is very natural I should take advantage of
it。〃

〃But; miss;〃 said Adrienne; mildly; 〃may I at least know the subject of
the conversation we are to have together?〃

〃Yes; madame;〃 replied Rose…Pompon; affecting an air of still more
decided confidence; 〃first of all; you must not suppose I am unhappy

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