At length, my dear child they are arrived; they came the day before yesterday, and the very day after the departure of the Viscountess, Madame de Valmont, Adelaide, Hermine and I were reading in my closet, when a messenger came to inform us he had left Mons. d’ Aimeri and the Chevalier de Valmont, four leagues from B***: on hearing this Adelaide's cheeks became very red, but, as the least surprise has the same effect on her, her blushing did not appear at all particular. I lent my coach to Madame de Valmont, who set out to meet her father and her son; and Adelaide went to her own chamber to play on the harp; I followed her thither, but did not perceive she felt the smallest emotion. At seven o'clock I heard the sound of a carriage; I left Adelaide, and went to the great Vestibule, where I found Mons. d’ Aimeri and the Chevalier de Valmont. I embraced them both, and we entered the saloon. Mons. d’ Aimeri inquired after Adelaide; the Chevalier asked me many questions about Theodore, but seemed to be very absent, and kept his eyes fixed towards the door … At eight o'clock the door opened very gently, and Adelaide appeared, leading Hermine by the hand. At this instant, I fixed my eyes on the Chevalier, and I saw he was affected by pain, joy, and friendship … in short, all that I could wish. After the first compliments were paid, the Chevalier addressed himself to the little Her-mine in Italian, which surprised us, as he was ignorant of the language, when he left us. He told us, with great politeness, he had learned this language, in order to converse with Mademoiselle Hermine, because he knew she could not speak French. Adelaide was perfectly sensible of this gallantry, and appeared much flattered, that the Chevalier already knew Hermine by character.