"Saved! Fleur-de-Marie saved?"
"By a worthy creature, who, at the risk of her life, saved her from the Seine. But what ails you, madame?"
"Ah, sir, I fear to believe in such good fortune; but, I pray of you, tell me what is the appearance of this young girl?"
"Singularly beautiful!"
"Large, blue eyes,—light brown hair?"
"Yes, madame."
"And when she was drowned, there was an elderly woman with her?"
"It was only yesterday she was well enough to speak, and she is still very weak; she said an elderly woman accompanied her."
"Praised be Heaven!" said Clémence, clasping her hands with fervour; "I can now tell him that his protégée still lives! What joy for him who, in his last letter, spoke to me of this poor child with such bitter regrets! Excuse me, sir, but you know not how happy your intelligence renders me, and will make a person who, more than myself, has loved and protected Fleur-de-Marie. But, for mercy's sake, tell me, where is she at this moment?"
"Near Asnières, in the house of one of the surgeons of this hospital, Doctor Griffon; she was taken there, and has had every attention."