SAVED.
Albert still looked. Then he saw Paul Solange raise himself upon his
bed, and, seeing the fire, pass his hands over his eyes and his
forehead, jump to the floor, reflect a moment, as if endeavoring to
remember something, then seize a chair, get upon it, and pull the bolt
of the trap-door. At the same time he remarked that Monsieur Roger was
no longer near him. Braving the danger, Monsieur Roger had jumped from
the roof, and succeeded in reaching the top of the turret; and now it
was he who pulled Paul from the trap-door and gathered him up in his
arms. The boy had fainted. Obeying an order shouted by Albert, two
farm-boys trusted themselves upon the roof, bringing with them a ladder
and ropes. Then Monsieur Roger was able to come down with his precious
burden.
Albert lent his aid to the rescuer, and Paul was taken down into the
yard. At this moment a carriage arrived, which had been driving at the
top of its speed. It stopped at the door of the farm-house. Monsieur
Dalize appeared. From the chateau the flames had been seen by a
watchman, who had gone to awake his master. Monsieur Dalize,
understanding the danger, frightened at what might be happening over
there in that farm-house on fire, under that roof which sheltered his
child, his best friend, and Paul Solange, had immediately harnessed a
horse, with the aid of the watchman, and, telling him to say nothing to
Madame Dalize, had departed at the top of his speed. He arrived in time
to see Monsieur Roger and Albert, who were bearing Paul with them. He
approached, trembling.
"Paul!" he cried.
"Calm yourself," Monsieur Roger hastened to say: "he has only fainted.
It is nothing; but we shall have to take him home."
"The carriage is ready."
"Then everything is for the best."
Paul was seated in the carriage, between Albert and Monsieur Roger. The
latter had placed his left arm under Paul's head to sustain him. The
poor child was still insensible; but there could be no better remedy
for him than the fresh air of the night,--the fresh air which the rapid
movement of the carriage caused to penetrate into his lungs. Monsieur
Dalize, who drove, turned around frequently, looking at Roger. The
latter held in his right hand Paul Solange's hand, and from time to time
placed his ear against the boy's breast.
"Well?" said Monsieur Dalize, anxiously.
"His pulse is still insensible," answered Monsieur Roger; "but stop your
horse for a moment."
The carriage stopped. Then, being no longer interfered with by the
noise, Monsieur Roger again applied his ear, and said,--
"His heart beats; it beats very feebly, but it beats. Now go ahead."
Again the carriage started. At the end of some minutes, Monsieur Roger,
who still held Paul's wrist between his fingers, suddenly felt beneath
the pulsations of the radial artery. He cried out, with a loud voice,
but it was a cry of joy,--
"He is saved!" he said to Monsieur Dalize.
At that very moment Paul Solange opened his eyes; but he closed them
again, as if a heavy sleep, stronger than his will, were weighing upon
his eyelids. Again he opened them, and looked with an undecided look,
without understanding. At that moment they arrived at the house.
Everybody was on foot. The fire at the farm had been perceived by others
besides the watchman. They had all risen from their beds, and Madame
Dalize, awakened by the noise, had, unfortunately, learned the terrible
news. She was awaiting in cruel agony the return of her husband. At last
she saw him driving the carriage and bringing with him the beings who
were dear to her. Paul, leaning on the arms of Monsieur Roger and
Albert, was able to cross the slight distance which separated them from
the vestibule. There Monsieur Roger made him sit down in an arm-chair,
near the window, which he opened wide. Monsieur and Madame Dalize and
Albert stood beside Paul, looking at him silently and uneasily; but they
were reassured by the expression of Monsieur Roger. With common accord
they left him the care of his dear patient. Monsieur Roger was looking
at Paul with tender eyes,--an expression of happiness, of joy, illumined
his face: and this expression, which Monsieur Dalize had not seen for
long years upon the face of his friend, seemed to him incomprehensible,
for he was still ignorant of the extraordinary thing that had happened.
At this moment, Miss Miette, in her night-cap, hardly taking time to
dress herself, rushed into the vestibule. Her childish sleep had been
interrupted by the tumult in the house. She had run down half awake.
"Mamma, Mamma," she cried, "what is the matter?"
Then, as she ran to throw herself upon her mother's knees, she saw the
arm-chair and Paul sitting in it. She stopped at once, and, before they
had the time or the thought of stopping her, she had taken Paul's hands,
saying to him, very sadly,--
"Paul, Paul, are you sick?"
Paul's eyes, which until this time had remained clouded and as if fixed
upon something which he could not see, turned to Miette. Little by
little they brightened as his senses returned to him: his eyes commenced
to sparkle. He looked, and, with a soft but weary voice, he murmured,--
"Miette, my little Miette."
[Illustration]
Then he turned his head, trying to find out where it was he found
himself, who were the people around him.
"What has happened?" he asked.
Nobody dared to answer. Everybody waited for Monsieur Roger; but
Monsieur Roger kept silent. He let nature take care of itself. Indeed,
he even hid himself slightly behind Monsieur Dalize. Paul's looks passed
over the faces which were in front or beside him; but they did not stop
there: they seemed to look for something or some one which they did not
meet. Then, with a sudden movement, Paul bent over a little. He saw
Monsieur Roger; he started; the blood came back to his face; he tried to
speak, and could only let fall a few confused words. But, though they
could not understand his words, what they did understand was his
gesture. He held out his arms towards Monsieur Roger. The latter
advanced and clasped Paul Solange in a fatherly embrace.
The effort made by the sick boy had wearied him. He closed his eyes in
sleep; but this time it was a healthy sleep, a refreshing sleep.
Monsieur Roger and Monsieur Dalize took the sleeping Paul up to his
room. And Miss Miette, as she regained her boudoir, said to herself,
with astonishment,--
"It is extraordinary! Monsieur Roger embraced Paul as if he were his
papa."
[Illustration]
[Illustration]