"I might," thought he, "go and see him and ask if he ever cured Bourlac's daughter.What a voice, what immense talents she had!--and she wanted to consecrate herself to God!"When he reached the Rond-point Godefroid crossed it quickly, on account of the many carriages that were passing rapidly.As he reached the other side in haste he knocked against a young man with a lady on his arm.
"Take care!" said the young man; "are you blind?""Hey! is it you?" cried Godefroid, recognizing Auguste de Mergi.
Auguste was so well-dressed, and looked so dandified and handsome and so proud of giving his arm to a pretty woman, that if it had not been for the youth's voice and the memories that were just then in his own mind he might not have recognized him.
"Oh! it is our dear Monsieur Godefroid!" said the lady.
Hearing those words in the celestial notes of Vanda's enchanting voice, Godefroid stopped short on the spot where he stood.
"Cured!" he exclaimed.
"For the last ten days he has allowed me to walk out," she replied.
"Who? Halpersohn?"
"Yes," she said."Why have you not been to see us? Perhaps it was well you didn't;" she added; "my hair came off; this that you see is a wig;but the doctor assures me it will grow again.Oh! how many things we have to tell each other! Come and dine with us.Oh! your accordion!
oh! monsieur,"--she put her handkerchief to her eyes.
"I shall keep it all my life," she went on, "and my son will preserve it as a relic after me.My father has searched all Paris for you.And he is also in search of his unknown benefactors; he will grieve himself to death if you do not help him to discover them.Poor father!
he is gnawed by a melancholy I cannot always get the better of."As much attracted by that exquisite voice, now rescued from the silence of the grave, as by a burning curiosity, Godefroid offered his arm to the hand held out to him by the Baronne de Mergi, who signed to her son to precede them, charging him with a commission which he seemed to understand.