Adeline found the journey very long; the wretched horses went at their ordinary pace, nothing on earth could have induced them to gallop. Sometimes, Adeline, giving way to her impatience, was on the point of alighting from the vehicle, in the hope that she would reach Paris sooner on foot. But she would have to carry little Ermance, and her strength was not equal to her courage. So she remained in the carriage and reflected that each turn of the wheels brought her nearer to her husband.
The old gentleman looked at his watch, and at that Adeline addressed him:
“Monsieur, would you kindly tell me what time it is?”
“Almost one o’clock, madame.”
“Are we still far from Paris?”
“Why, no, only a short league; in three-quarters of an hour you will be there.”
“In three-quarters of an hour! Oh! how slowly the time goes!”
“I see that madame has some important business calling her to Paris?”
“Yes, monsieur, oh, yes! I long to be there!”
“Of course madame has friends there? If not, if I could be of any service to madame——”