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Balzajette said that Madame Dammauville would soon be on her feet, and one might have faith in his word; Florentin would be saved, and there was nothing to do but to let things go on as they were going. Phillis, Madame Cormier, Nougarede, Florentin himself, whom the Mazas cell had reconciled neither with hope nor with providential justice, were all delighted with this idea.
Madame Cormier said, with a decision that was not in accordance with her habit or with her character. "Assuredly." "Am I not an example?" "Without doubt." "Then Florentin will be saved." "This is what we hope. I only caution you against an excess of joy by an excess of prudence. Nevertheless, it is probable Mademoiselle Phillis will settle this for us when she returns."
Madame Cormier came from the kitchen in time to hear these few words, and if Florentin had not motioned to her to be silent, she would have betrayed herself. The words on her lips were: "You came to arrest my son!" They would have escaped her, but she crushed them back. "And can you tell me for what affair the judge summons me?" Florentin asked, steadying his voice. "For the Caffie affair."
"Because you were too unhappy, my poor boy!" Madame Cormier said, whose maternal heart was moved by this cry. "Am I happier here, or shall I be to-morrow? What does this to-morrow, full of uncertainty and dangers, hold for us?" "Why do you insist that it has only dangers?" Phillis asked, in a conciliating and caressing tone. "You always expect the good."
And it was at night, at a distance of twelve or fifteen metres, through a window, whose panes were obscured by the dust of papers and the mist, that this sick woman, whose eyes are affected, whose mind is weakened by suffering, was able, in a very short space of time, when she had no interest to imprint upon her memory what she saw, to grasp certain signs, that she recalled yesterday strongly enough to declare that the man who drew the curtains was not Florentin Cormier, against whom so many charges have accumulated from various sides, and who has only this testimony in his favor every sensible person could not but find it suspicious!"
Madame Cormier said, with a decision that was not in accordance with her habit or with her character. "Assuredly." "Am I not an example?" "Without doubt." "Then Florentin will be saved." "This is what we hope. I only caution you against an excess of joy by an excess of prudence. Nevertheless, it is probable Mademoiselle Phillis will settle this for us when she returns."
After a few words, Saniel explained that, having to pay a visit to the Batignolles, he would not come so near his former patient without calling to see her. While Madame Cormier told at great length how she felt, and also how she did not feel, Phillis looked at Saniel, uneasy to see his face so convulsed. Surely, something very serious had happened; his visit said this. But what?
Also, when the chamber of the prosecution sent Florent to the assizes, the emotion of Madame Cormier and Phillis would not be too violent. Madame Dammauville would be in a state to make her deposition, since the evening before she had been able to leave her bed; and although she left it for only an hour, and then to go from her bedroom to her parlor, that was enough.
For they did hold in greater estimation the lively remembrance of men purchased by liberality than the dumb inscription of arches, pillars, and pyramids, subject to the injury of storms and tempests, and to the envy of everyone. You may very well remember of the courtesy which by them was used towards the Bretons in the battle of St. Aubin of Cormier and at the demolishing of Partenay.
This testimony does not say that the man who drew the curtains at a quarter past five was built in such a way that it is materially impossible to confound him with Florentin Cormier, because he was small or hunchbacked or bald, or dressed like a workman; while Florentin is tall, straight, with long hair and beard, and dressed like a gentleman.
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