Joseph Balsamo by Alexandre Dumas

in the least.”
    ” Are you sure ?”
    ” He leaped from his horse, at least, like a man all safe and sound.”
    ” Heaven be praised ! ” and the young lady breathed more freely.
    ” But who are you, sir, who are here so opportunely to offer me assistance ? “
    ” Madame, overtaken by the storm, I was down in that hollow, which is merely the entrance to a quarry, when all at once I heard a carriage coming with alarming speed. I at first supposed the horses had run off, but soon saw that they were managed by a powerful hand. Then the thunderbolt fell with a tremendous explosion, and I thought for an instant that all was over with me. Indeed, on recovering, all that I have related seemed but a dream.”
    ” Then you are not sure that the gentleman entered the carriage ? “
     
    JOSEPH BALSAMO. 41
    ” Oh, yes, madame ; I had quite recovered and distinctly saw him enter.”
    ” Make yourself certain, I entreat you, that he is in the carriage.”
    ” But how ?”
    ” Listen if he be there, you will hear two voices.”
    The young man jumped down from the step, and approached the door of the carriage.
    “Yes, madame,” said he, returning to her; “he is there.”
    The young lady, by a movement of her head, seemed to say, ” It is well ;” but she remained for some time as if plunged in deep reverie.
    During this time the young man had leisure to examine her appearance. She was about three or four-and-twenty years of age ; a brunette in complexion, but of that rich brown which is more beautiful than the most delicate tint of the rose ; her fine blue eyes, raised to heaven, from which she seemed to ask counsel, shone like two stars, and her black hair, which she wore without powder, notwithstanding the fashion of the day, fell in jetty curls on her neck. All at once she roused herself, as if she had decided on her part.
    ” Sir,” said she, ” where are we now ? “
    ” On the road from Strasbourg to Paris, madame.”
    ” On what part of the road ?”
    ” Two leagues from Pierrefitte.”
    ” What is Pierrefitte ? “
    ” A village.”
    ” And after Pierrefitte what is the next stage ? “
    ” Bar-le-Dnc.”
    “Is it a town ?”
    “Yes, madame.”
    “A large one ?”
    “About four or five thousand inhabitants.”
    ” Is there any cross-road by which one could get more directly to Bar-le-Duc ? “
    ” No, madame ; at least, I know of none.”
    ” Peccato! ” murmured she, falling back in the cabriolet.
     
    42 JOSEPH BALSAMO.
    The young man waited, expecting to be questioned further ; but as she kept silence, he moved a step or two away. This roused her, for, leaning out again, she called, hurriedly :
    ” Monsieur ! “
    The young man returned. ” I am here, madame,” said he, approaching her.
    se One question, if you please.”
    ” Speak, madame.”
    ” There was a horse behind the carriage ? “
    “Yes, madame.”
    ” Is he there still ? “
    “No, madame; the person who got into the carriage untied him and fastened him to the. wheel.”
    ” Nothing,, then, has injured the horse ? “
    “I think not.”
    ” He is a valuable animal, and I should like to be sure that he is safe ; but how can I reach hint through this mud ?
    ” I can bring the horse here ‘ said the young man.
    ” Oh, yes ; do so, I pray I shall be forever grateful to you.”
    The young man approached the horse, who tossed his head and neighed.
    ” Do not be afraid,” said the female ; “he is as gentle as a lamb ; then, in a low voice, she murmured, “Djerid ! Djerid ! “
    The animal evidently knew the voice to be that of his mistress, for he snorted and stretched out his intelligent head toward the cabriolet. During this time the young man was untying him, but the horse no sooner felt his bridle in unpractised hands than at one bound he was free, and twenty paces from the carriage.
    ” Djerid,” repeated the young woman, in her most caressing tones, ” Djerid ! here, here !”
    The Arabian tossed his head,