Daburon.
"He is a advocate; he knows all about the Palais; he will tell us what
to do."
Noel's name, thus thrown into the midst of this conversation so full of
hope, oppressed Claire's heart.
The count perceived her affright.
"Do not feel anxious, dear child," he said. "Noel is good; and I will
tell you more, he loves Albert. Do not shake your head so; Noel told me
himself, on this very spot, that he did not believe Albert guilty. He
declared that he intended doing everything to dispel the fatal mistake,
and that he would be his advocate."
These assertions did not seem to reassure the young girl. She thought
to herself, "What then has this Noel done for Albert?" But she made no
remark.
"I will send for him," continued M. de Commarin; "he is now with
Albert's mother, who brought him up, and who is now on her deathbed."
"Albert's mother!"
"Yes, my child. Albert will explain to you what may perhaps seem to you
an enigma. Now time presses. But I think--"
He stopped suddenly. He thought, that, instead of sending for Noel at
Madame Gerdy's, he might go there himself. He would thus see Valerie!
and he had longed to see her again so much!
It was one of those actions which the heart urges, but which one does
not dare risk, because a thousand subtle reasons and interests are
against it.
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