The young lady did not answer; but her half-veiled, burning glance, dealt the last blow to reason.  Seizing her hands in his own, he exclaimed, with a tremulous voice:  “That day, in which we shall mount to heaven, in which we shall be gods in happiness—­why postpone it any longer?”

“Because our love must be consecrated by the benediction of heaven.”

“Are we not free?”

“Yes, yes, my love; we are free.  Let us be worthy of our liberty!”

“Adrienne! mercy!”

“I ask you also to have mercy—­to have mercy on the sacredness of our love.  Do not profane it in its very flower.  Believe my heart! believe my presentiments! to profane it would be to kill.  Courage, my adored lover! a few days longer—­and then happiness—­without regret, and without remorse!”

“And, until then, hell! tortures without a name!  You do not, cannot know what I suffer when I leave your presence.  Your image follows me, your breath burns me up; I cannot sleep, but call on you every night with sighs and tears—­just as I called on, you, when I thought you did not love me—­and yet I know you love me, I know you are mine.  But to see you every day more beautiful, more adored—­and every day to quit you more impassioned—­oh! you cannot tell—­”

Djalma was unable to proceed.  What he said of his devouring tortures, Adrienne had felt, perhaps even more intensely.  Electrified by the passionate words of Djalma, so beautiful in his excitement, her courage failed, and she perceived that an irresistible languor was creeping over her.  By a last chaste effort of the will, she rose abruptly, and hastening to the door, which communicated with Mother Bunch’s chamber, she exclaimed:  “My, sister! help me!”

In another moment, Mdlle. de Cardoville, her face bathed in tears, clasped the young sempstress in her arms; while Djalma knelt respectfully on the threshold he did not dare to pass.

CHAPTER LXI.

Ambition.

A few days after the interview of Djalma and Adrienne, just described, Rodin was alone in his bed-chamber, in the house in the Rue de Vaugirard, walking up and down the room where he had so valiantly undergone the moxas of Dr. Baleinier.  With his hands thrust into the hind-pockets of his greatcoat, and his head bowed upon his breast, the Jesuit seemed to be reflecting profoundly, and his varying walk, now slow, now quick, betrayed the agitation of his mind.

“On the side of Rome,” said Rodin to himself, “I am tranquil.  All is going well.  The abdication is as good as settled, and if I can pay them the price agreed, the Prince Cardinal can secure me a majority of nine voices in the conclave.  Our General is with me; the doubts of Cardinal Malipieri are at an end, or have found no echo.  Yet I am not quite easy, with regard to the reported correspondence between Father d’Aigrigny and Malipieri.  I have not been able to intercept any of it.  No matter; that soldier’s business is settled.  A little patience and he will be wiped out.”