Adeline found the journey very long; the wretched horses went at their ordinary pace, nothing on earth could have induced them to gallop. Sometimes, Adeline, giving way to her impatience, was on the point of alighting from the vehicle, in the hope that she would reach Paris sooner on foot. But she would have to carry little Ermance, and her strength was not equal to her courage. So she remained in the carriage and reflected that each turn of the wheels brought her nearer to her husband. The old gentleman looked at his watch, and at that Adeline addressed him: “Monsieur, would you kindly tell me what time it is?” “Almost one o’clock, madame.” “Are we still far from Paris?” “Why, no, only a short league; in three-quarters of an hour you will be there.” “In three-quarters of an hour! Oh! how slowly the time goes!” “I see that madame has some important business calling her to Paris?” “Yes, monsieur, oh, yes! I long to be there!” “Of course madame has friends there? If not, if I could be of any service to madame----” Adeline made no reply; she did not hear her companion; she was once more absorbed in thought, she was with her husband. The old gentleman profited nothing by his offer of his services; but far from taking offence, he felt all the deeper interest in the young woman, who seemed beset by such profound sorrow. At last they reached Paris, and the carriage stopped. Adeline alighted hastily, took her child in her arms, and paid the driver; then she bowed to her companion, and disappeared before the old gentleman had had time to put his foot on the little stool which a street urchin had placed on the ground to help him to alight from the vehicle. “Poor young woman!” said the old man, looking in the direction in which Adeline had disappeared; “how she runs! how excited she seems! dear me! I hope that she will not learn any bad news.” Adeline went as fast as it is possible to go when one has a child in one’s arms. She asked the way to the Conciergerie; it was pointed out to her, and she hurried on without stopping. Love and anxiety redoubled her strength; she drew near at last; she saw a square--it was that in front of the Palais de Justice. That square was surrounded by people; the crowd was so dense that one could hardly walk. “And I must pass through,” said Adeline sadly to herself; “well, as there is no other road, I must make one last effort and try to force my way through.”