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When she opened the ivory door, and placed her little naked foot, in its white satin slipper, upon the ermine carpet, Adrienne was dazzlingly beautiful. Happiness sparkled in her eyes, and adorned her brow. All the difficulties relative to her union with Djalma had now been removed. In two days she would be his. The sight of the nuptial chamber oppressed her with a vague and ineffable languor.
I now feel myself more worthy to kneel before my angel." And Djalma went out, on his way to the appointment with Adrienne. In spite of his ferocity, in spite of the pitiless hate he bore to the whole human race, the dark sectary of Bowanee was staggered by the noble and clement words of Djalma, and said to himself, with terror, "I have taken his hand. He is now sacred for me."
For, in those two lovers, the finest qualities of sense and soul seemed exactly to balance each other, and heaven had bestowed on them the rarest beauty of form, and the most adorable excellence of heart, as if to legitimatize the irresistible attraction which drew and bound them together. What, then, was to be the term of this painful trial, which Adrienne had imposed on Djalma and on herself?
"And yet," cried Rodin, "you and they were not the only victims." "Who, then, are the others, sir?" "A young East Indian." "Prince Djalma?" said Adrienne, hastily. "For the same reason he has been nearly poisoned with a narcotic." "Great God!" cried the young girl, clasping her hands in horror. "It is fearful. That young prince, who was said to have so noble and generous a character!
The divers movements of this pantomime, performed in the most natural manner, were crowned by the exclamations. "Oh! dear me! how vexatious!" "What is the matter?" asked Djalma, starting from the gloomy silence in which he had been plunged for some minutes. "Alas! my dear prince!" replied Rodin, "the most vulgar and puerile accident may sometimes cause the greatest inconvenience.
More and more alarmed, and again glancing at the dagger en which she now perceived marks of blood a terrible evidence, in confirmation of the words of Djalma Mdlle. de Cardoville exclaimed, "You have killed some one, Djalma! Oh! what does he say? It is dreadful!" "You are alive I see you you are here," said Djalma, in a voice trembling with rapture.
Faringhea came in, shut the door of the box, and seated himself behind the prince. Adrienne, still completely absorbed in the contemplation of the Indian forest, and in her own sweet thoughts, had not observed the newcomers. As she was turning her head completely towards the stage, and Djalma could not, for the moment, see even her profile, he, on his side, had not recognized Mdlle. de Cardoville.
Am I to receive it? He says it comes from the Abbe d'Aigrigny. "Certainly," answered Rodin. "That is," he added, "with the prince's permission." Djalma nodded in reply; Faringhea went out. "You will excuse what I have done, dear prince. I expected this morning a very important letter. As it was late in coming to hand, I ordered it to be sent on."
"Yes, you did tell me so," answered Djalma, still maintaining the same position, and examining the half-caste with the same fixed and mild attention.
Djalma had remained petrified with surprise, not understanding what was passing round him; but, when he saw the sergeant and two soldiers approach with ropes to bind him, he repulsed them with violent indignation, and rushed towards the door where stood the officer.
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