She had felt the thin, closely-folded paper,
which was tied up with the string in the dog's collar, and she drew
it out rapidly, adroitly to hide it in her hand. She then called
Hortense and Eugene, and whilst she talked with them, she slowly and
carefully, under pretext of adjusting more closely the kerchief
round her neck, secreted the paper in her bosom.
The jailer had seen nothing; he was telling Madame Lanoy, with all
the pride of a kind father, that all the prisoners were anxious
about his little Eugenie; that all, more than once a day, inquired
how it fared with the little one; that she was the pet of the
prisoners, who were so delighted to have the child with them, and
for long hours to jest and play with her. Unfortunate captives, who
nattered the child, and feigned love for it, so as to move the
father's heart, and instil into it a little compassion for their
misfortune!
When Eugene and Hortense came the next time with their faithful
Lanoy, Fortune was again led by the string as a prisoner, and this
time Josephine was still more affectionate than before. She not only
welcomed him at his entrance, and lifted him up in her arms, but she
was yet, if possible, more affectionate toward him at the time of
departure, and embraced him, and tried if the collar had not been
buckled on too tightly, if the string which was tied round it did
not hurt him too much.
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