"Louise, my child, listen to me a moment," said Morel, following his daughter, and endeavouring to detain her.
At the sight of Rodolph and the magistrate, Louise and the lapidary remained motionless.
"Ah, sir, you, our kind benefactor!" said the artisan, recognising Rodolph, "assist me in preventing Louise from leaving us. I do not know what is the matter with her, but she quite frightens me, she is so determined to go. Now there is no occasion for her to return to her master, is there, sir? Did you not say to me, 'Louise shall not again leave you, and that will recompense you for much that you have suffered?' Ah! at that kind promise, I confess that for a moment I had forgot the death of my poor little Adèle; but I must not again be separated from thee, Louise, oh, never, never!"
Rodolph was wounded to the heart, and was unable to utter a word in reply.
The commissary said sternly to Louise:
"Is your name Louise Morel?"
"Yes, sir," replied the young girl, quite overcome.
"You are Jérome Morel, her father?" added the magistrate, addressing the lapidary.
Rodolph had opened the door of Rigolette's apartment.
"Yes, sir; but—"