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Should General Simon find a vessel ready to sail for Europe, he was to return immediately, to fetch Djalma; and the latter, expecting him daily, was now going to the pier of Batavia, hoping to see the father of Rose and Blanche arrive by the mail boat from Sumatra. A few words are here necessary on the early life of the son of Kadja sing.
"It is strange!" said Djalma, speaking to himself, as he viewed the half caste with a glance still kind but piercing. "What is strange, my lord?" "Nothing. But tell me, since your advice has hitherto prospered so well, what think you of the future?" "Of the future, my lord?" "Yes; in an hour I shall be with Mdlle. de Cardoville." "That is a serious matter, my lord.
But Faringhea, whose tact was amazing, did not act so lightly; he never spoke to the prince of Mdlle. de Cardoville, and waited unobtrusively for the confidential communications into which Djalma was sometimes hurried by his excessive joy.
Before Djalma had recognized her, Adrienne, who felt her strength failing her, was on the point of quitting the theatre; the man, whom she had hitherto placed so high, whom she had regarded as a hero and a demi-god and whom she had imagined plunged in such dreadful despair, that, led by the most tender pity, she had written to him with simple frankness, that a sweet hope might calm his grief replied to a generous mark of sincerity and love, by making himself a ridiculous spectacle with a creature unworthy of him.
Djalma made no answer. But when the soft voice sounded in his ears when his heart bounded with the species of electric shock, which he always felt when he met the gaze of that woman so ardently beloved when he had contemplated for an instant that adorable face, so fresh and fair, in spite of its expression of deep uneasiness Djalma understood that he was not the sport of a dream, but that Mdlle. de Cardoville was really before his eyes.
"General Simon told you to be at this place?" "Yes, General Simon," replied the Indian. There was a moment's pause, during which Djalma sought in vain to explain to himself this mysterious adventure. "And who are you?" asked he, with a look of suspicion; for the gloomy silence of the Phansegar's two companions, who stared fixedly at each other, began to give him some uneasiness.
Tie the cord tight about his wrists; there will soon be another about his neck." "You are mistaken," said Djalma, with a dignity and calmness which astonished the officer; "I have hardly been in this place a quarter of an hour I do not know these men. I came here to meet a Frenchman." "Not a Phansegar like them? Who will believe the falsehood?"
This task would have appeared impossible to any one else. The reader may judge. Djalma, with his face turned towards the left, leaned his head upon his curved arm. The latter, to accomplish his projects, would have to remain many minutes in the cabin.
Perfectly correct in all points, the secret note of which we have spoken stated, as a mere conjecture, that Mdlle. de Cardoville had granted an interview to Djalma. This fact was untrue, but the cause which led to the supposition will be explained hereafter.
Knowing, by his own experience, to what madness a blind fury may be carried, and wishing to tame the half-caste by affectionate kindness, Djalma said to him in a grave and mild tone: "I offered you my friendship. I will now act towards you a friend." But Faringhea, seemingly a prey to a dull and mute frenzy, stood with fixed and haggard eyes, as though he did not hear Djalma.
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