"
Saint Remy shuddered, looked at Madame d'Harville with surprise, and
thinking of Fleur-de-Marie, cried: "Oh! what a strange coincidence!"
"What is the matter, my lord?"
"That young girl! Where was it he wished to drown her?"
"In the Seine, near Asnieres, I am told."
"It is she! it is the same!" cried Saint Remy.
"Of whom do you speak, my lord?"
"Of the girl this monster had an interest in."
"Fleur-de-Marie?"
"Do you know her, my lady?"
"Poor child! I loved her tenderly. Ah! if you had known how beautiful she
was! But how did your lordship--"
"Dr. Griffon and myself gave her the first assistance."
"The first assistance? to her? where?"
"On Ravageurs' Island, where she was saved."
"Saved! Fleur-de-Marie! saved?"
"By a good creature, who, at the risk of her life, drew her out of the
Seine. But what is the matter, madame?"
"Oh! sir, I dare not believe in so much happiness. I entreat you, tell
me--describe the girl!"
"Of admirable beauty, and angelic face--"
"Large blue eyes--flaxen hair?"
"Yes, my lady."
"And when they tried to drown her, was she with an aged woman?"
"In fact it was only yesterday she could speak. She then mentioned that an
old woman accompanied her."
"God be praised!" cried Clemence, clasping her hands fervently. "I can
inform him that his favorite still lives. What joy for him, who in his last
letter spoke of this poor child with such painful regret! Pardon me, sir;
but if your lordship only knew how happy your information makes me, as well
as another, who, still more than myself, has loved and protected
Fleur-de-Marie! But I pray you, where is she at this moment?"
"Near Asnieres, in the house of one of the physicians of this hospital--Dr.
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