THE VISIT.
The keepers, yielding to Mdlle.de Cardoville's prayers, and, above all, to her promises of good behavior, had only left on the canvas jacket a portion of the time.Towards morning, they had allowed her to rise and dress herself, without interfering.
Adrienne was seated on the edge of her bed.The alteration in her features, her dreadful paleness, the lurid fire of fever shining in her eyes, the convulsive trembling which ever and anon shook her frame, showed already the fatal effects of this terrible night upon a susceptible and high-strung organization.At sight of Dr.Baleinier, who, with a sign, made Gervaise and her mate leave the room, Adrienne remained petrified.
She felt a kind of giddiness at the thought of the audacity of the man, who dared to present himself to her! But when the physician repeated, in the softest tone of affectionate interest: "Well, my poor child! how have we spent the night?" she pressed her hands to her burning forehead, as if in doubt whether she was awake or sleeping.Then, staring at the doctor, she half opened her lips; but they trembled so much that it was impossible for her to utter a word.Anger, indignation, contempt, and, above all, the bitter and acutely painful feeling of a generous heart, whose confidence has been basely betrayed, so overpowered Adrienne that she was unable to break the silence.
"Come, come! I see how it is," said the doctor, shaking his head sorrowfully; "you are very much displeased with me--is it not so? Well!
I expected it, my dear child."
These words, pronounced with the most hypocritical effrontery, made Adrienne start up.Her pale cheek flushed, her large eyes sparkled, she lifted proudly her beautiful head, whilst her upper lip curled slightly with a smile of disdainful bitterness; then, passing in angry silence before M.Baleinier, who retained his seat, she directed her swift and firm steps towards the door.This door, in which was a little wicket, was fastened on the outside.Adrienne turned towards the doctor, and said to him, with an imperious gesture; "Open that door for me!"