RISING.
To explain the arrival of Mdlle.de Cardoville at the garden-door of the house occupied by Djalma, we must cast a retrospective glance at previous events.On leaving Doctor Baleinier's, Mdlle.de Cardoville had gone to take up her residence in the Rue d'Anjou.During the last few months of her stay with her aunt, Adrienne had secretly caused this handsome dwelling to be repaired and furnished, and its luxury and elegance were now increased by all the wonders of the lodge of Saint-Dizier House.The world found it very strange, that a lady of the age and condition of Mdlle.de Cardoville should take the resolution of living completely alone and free, and, in fact, of keeping house exactly like a bachelor, a young widow, or an emancipated minor.The world pretended not to know that Mdlle.de Cardoville possessed what is often wanting in men, whether of age or twice of age--a firm character, a lofty mind, a generous heart, strong and vigorous good sense.
Judging that she would require faithful assistance in the internal management of her house, Adrienne had written to the bailiff of Cardoville, and his wife, old family servants, to come immediately to Paris: M.Dupont thus filled the office of steward, and Mme.Dupont that of housekeeper.An old friend of Adrienne's father, the Count de Montbron, an accomplished old man, once very much in fashion, and still a connoisseur in all sorts of elegances, had advised Adrienne to act like a princess, and take an equerry; recommended for this office a man of good rearing and ripe age, who, himself an ******* in horses, had been ruined in England, at Newmarket, the Derby, and Tattersall's, and reduced, as sometimes happened to gentlemen in that country, to drive the stage-
coaches, thus finding an honest method of earning his bread, and at the same time gratifying his taste for horses.Such was M.de Bonneville, M.
de Montbron's choice.Both from age and habits, this equerry could accompany Mdlle.de Cardoville on horseback, and better than any one else, superintend the stable.He accepted, therefore, the employment with gratitude, and, thanks to his skill and attention, the equipages of Mdlle.de Cardoville were not eclipsed in style by anything of the kind in Paris.Mdlle.de Cardoville had taken back her women, Hebe, Georgette, and Florine.The latter was at first to have re-entered the service of the Princess de Saint-Dizier, to continue her part of spy for the superior of St.Mary's Convent; but, in consequence of the new direction given by Rodin to the Rennepont affair, it was decided that Florine, if possible, should return to the service of Mdlle.de Cardoville.This confidential place, enabling this unfortunate creature to render important and mysterious services to the people who held her fate in their hands, forced her to infamous treachery.Unfortunately, all things favored this machination.We know that Florine, in her interview with Mother Bunch, a few days after Mdlle.de Cardoville was imprisoned at Dr.Baleinier's, had yielded to a twinge of remorse, and given to the sempstress advice likely to be of use to Adrienne's interests--sending word to Agricola not to deliver to Madame de Saint-
Dizier the papers found in the hiding-place of the pavilion, but only to entrust them to Mdlle.de Cardoville herself.The latter, afterwards informed of these details by Mother Bunch, felt a double degree of confidence and interest in Florine, took her back into her service with gratitude, and almost immediately charged her with a confidential mission--that of superintending the arrangements of the house hired for Djalma's habitation.As for Mother Bunch (yielding to the solicitations of Mdlle.de Cardoville, and finding she was no longer of use to Dagobert's wife, of whom we shall speak hereafter), she had consented to take up her abode in the hotel on the Rue d'Anjou, along with Adrienne, who with that rare sagacity of the heart peculiar to her, entrusted the young sempstress, who served her also as a secretary, with the department of alms-giving.
Mdlle.de Cardoville had at first thought of entertaining her merely as a friend, wishing to pay homage in her person to probity with labor, resignation in sorrow, and intelligence in poverty; but knowing the workgirl's natural dignity, she feared, with reason that, notwithstanding the delicate circumspection with which the hospitality would be offered, Mother Bunch might perceive in it alms in disguise.Adrienne preferred, therefore, whilst she treated her as a friend, to give her a confidential employment.In this manner the great delicacy of the needlewoman would be spared, since she could earn her livelihood by performing duties which would at the same time satisfy her praiseworthy instincts of charity.In fact, she could fulfil, better than any one, the sacred mission confided to her by Adrienne.Her cruel experience in misfortune, the goodness of her angelic soul, the elevation of her mind, her rare activity, her penetration with regard to the painful secrets of poverty, her perfect knowledge of the industrial classes, were sufficient security for the tact and intelligence with which the excellent creature would second the generous intentions of Mdlle.de Cardoville.
