“The same as mine,” said Rodin, raising his head, and waving his hand very affectionately to Jacques Dumoulin, who, stupefied thereat, retired abruptly from the window.

“The poor fellow!  I am sure he is afraid of me since his foolish joke,” said Rodin, smiling.  “He is very wrong.”

And he accompanied these last words with a sinister nipping of the lips, not perceived by Rose-Pompon.

“And now, my dear child,” said he, as they both entered the passage, “I no longer need you assistance; return to your friend, and tell her the good news you have heard.”

“Yes, sir, you are right.  I burn with impatience to tell her what a good man you are.”  And Rose-Pompon sprung towards the stairs.

“Stop, stop! how about my basket that the little madcap carries off with her?” said Rodin.

“Oh true!  I beg your pardon, sir.  Poor Cephyse! how pleased she will be.  Adieu, sir!” And Rose-Pompon’s pretty figure disappeared in the darkness of the staircase, which she mounted with an alert and impatient step.

Rodin issued from the entry.  “Here is your basket, my good lady,” said he, stopping at the threshold of Mother Arsene’s shop.  “I give you my humble thanks for your kindness.”

“For nothing, my dear sir, for nothing.  It is all at your service.  Well, was the radish good?”

“Succulent, my dear madame, and excellent.”

“Oh!  I am glad of it.  Shall we soon see you again?”

“I hope so.  But could you tell me where is the nearest post-office?”

“Turn to the left, the third house, at the grocer’s.”

“A thousand thanks.”

“I wager it’s a love letter for your sweetheart,” said Mother Arsene, enlivened probably by Rose Pompon’s and Ninny Moulin’s proximity.

“Ha! ha! ha! the good lady!” said Rodin, with a titter.  Then, suddenly resuming his serious aspect, he made a low bow to the greengrocer, adding:  “Your most obedient humble servant!” and walked out into the street.

We now usher the reader into Dr. Baleinier’s asylum, in which Mdlle. de
Cardoville was confined.

CHAPTER XXXII.

The advice.

Adrienne de Cardoville had been still more strictly confined in Dr. Baleinier’s house, since the double nocturnal attempt of Agricola and Dagobert, in which the soldier, though severely wounded, had succeeded, thanks to the intrepid devotion of his son, seconded by the heroic Spoil sport, in gaining the little garden gate of the convent, and escaping by way of the boulevard, along with the young smith.  Four o’clock had just struck.  Adrienne, since the previous day, had been removed to a chamber on the second story of the asylum.  The grated window, with closed shutters, only admitted a faint light to this apartment.  The young lady, since her interview with Mother Bunch, expected to be delivered any day by the intervention of her friends.  But