In Search of a Son

  CHAPTER XXI.

  SAVED.

  Albert still looked. Then he saw Paul Solange raise himself upon hisbed, and, seeing the fire, pass his hands over his eyes and hisforehead, jump to the floor, reflect a moment, as if endeavoring toremember something, then seize a chair, get upon it, and pull the boltof the trap-door. At the same time he remarked that Monsieur Roger wasno longer near him. Braving the danger, Monsieur Roger had jumped fromthe roof, and succeeded in reaching the top of the turret; and now itwas he who pulled Paul from the trap-door and gathered him up in hisarms. The boy had fainted. Obeying an order shouted by Albert, twofarm-boys trusted themselves upon the roof, bringing with them a ladderand ropes. Then Monsieur Roger was able to come down with his preciousburden.

  Albert lent his aid to the rescuer, and Paul was taken down into theyard. At this moment a carriage arrived, which had been driving at thetop of its speed. It stopped at the door of the farm-house. MonsieurDalize appeared. From the chateau the flames had been seen by awatchman, who had gone to awake his master. Monsieur Dalize,understanding the danger, frightened at what might be happening overthere in that farm-house on fire, under that roof which sheltered hischild, his best friend, and Paul Solange, had immediately harnessed ahorse, with the aid of the watchman, and, telling him to say nothing toMadame Dalize, had departed at the top of his speed. He arrived in timeto see Monsieur Roger and Albert, who were bearing Paul with them. Heapproached, trembling.

  "Paul!" he cried.

  "Calm yourself," Monsieur Roger hastened to say: "he has only fainted.It is nothing; but we shall have to take him home."

  "The carriage is ready."

  "Then everything is for the best."

  Paul was seated in the carriage, between Albert and Monsieur Roger. Thelatter had placed his left arm under Paul's head to sustain him. Thepoor child was still insensible; but there could be no better remedyfor him than the fresh air of the night,--the fresh air which the rapidmovement of the carriage caused to penetrate into his lungs. MonsieurDalize, who drove, turned around frequently, looking at Roger. Thelatter held in his right hand Paul Solange's hand, and from time to timeplaced his ear against the boy's breast.

  "Well?" said Monsieur Dalize, anxiously.

  "His pulse is still insensible," answered Monsieur Roger; "but stop yourhorse for a moment."

  The carriage stopped. Then, being no longer interfered with by thenoise, Monsieur Roger again applied his ear, and said,--

  "His heart beats; it beats very feebly, but it beats. Now go ahead."

  Again the carriage started. At the end of some minutes, Monsieur Roger,who still held Paul's wrist between his fingers, suddenly felt beneaththe pulsations of the radial artery. He cried out, with a loud voice,but it was a cry of joy,--

  "He is saved!" he said to Monsieur Dalize.

  At that very moment Paul Solange opened his eyes; but he closed themagain, as if a heavy sleep, stronger than his will, were weighing uponhis eyelids. Again he opened them, and looked with an undecided look,without understanding. At that moment they arrived at the house.Everybody was on foot. The fire at the farm had been perceived by othersbesides the watchman. They had all risen from their beds, and MadameDalize, awakened by the noise, had, unfortunately, learned the terriblenews. She was awaiting in cruel agony the return of her husband. At lastshe saw him driving the carriage and bringing with him the beings whowere dear to her. Paul, leaning on the arms of Monsieur Roger andAlbert, was able to cross the slight distance which separated them fromthe vestibule. There Monsieur Roger made him sit down in an arm-chair,near the window, which he opened wide. Monsieur and Madame Dalize andAlbert stood beside Paul, looking at him silently and uneasily; but theywere reassured by the expression of Monsieur Roger. With common accordthey left him the care of his dear patient. Monsieur Roger was lookingat Paul with tender eyes,--an expression of happiness, of joy, illuminedhis face: and this expression, which Monsieur Dalize had not seen forlong years upon the face of his friend, seemed to him incomprehensible,for he was still ignorant of the extraordinary thing that had happened.At this moment, Miss Miette, in her night-cap, hardly taking time todress herself, rushed into the vestibule. Her childish sleep had beeninterrupted by the tumult in the house. She had run down half awake.

  "Mamma, Mamma," she cried, "what is the matter?"

  Then, as she ran to throw herself upon her mother's knees, she saw thearm-chair and Paul sitting in it. She stopped at once, and, before theyhad the time or the thought of stopping her, she had taken Paul's hands,saying to him, very sadly,--

  "Paul, Paul, are you sick?"

  Paul's eyes, which until this time had remained clouded and as if fixedupon something which he could not see, turned to Miette. Little bylittle they brightened as his senses returned to him: his eyes commencedto sparkle. He looked, and, with a soft but weary voice, he murmured,--

  "Miette, my little Miette."

  Then he turned his head, trying to find out where it was he foundhimself, who were the people around him.

  "What has happened?" he asked.

  Nobody dared to answer. Everybody waited for Monsieur Roger; butMonsieur Roger kept silent. He let nature take care of itself. Indeed,he even hid himself slightly behind Monsieur Dalize. Paul's looks passedover the faces which were in front or beside him; but they did not stopthere: they seemed to look for something or some one which they did notmeet. Then, with a sudden movement, Paul bent over a little. He sawMonsieur Roger; he started; the blood came back to his face; he tried tospeak, and could only let fall a few confused words. But, though theycould not understand his words, what they did understand was hisgesture. He held out his arms towards Monsieur Roger. The latteradvanced and clasped Paul Solange in a fatherly embrace.

  The effort made by the sick boy had wearied him. He closed his eyes insleep; but this time it was a healthy sleep, a refreshing sleep.

  Monsieur Roger and Monsieur Dalize took the sleeping Paul up to hisroom. And Miss Miette, as she regained her boudoir, said to herself,with astonishment,--

  "It is extraordinary! Monsieur Roger embraced Paul as if he were hispapa."