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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/3349.txt b/3349.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a0c99bd --- /dev/null +++ b/3349.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5879 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Wandering Jew, Book XI., by Eugene Sue + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Wandering Jew, Book XI. + +Author: Eugene Sue + +Release Date: October 25, 2004 [EBook #3349] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WANDERING JEW, BOOK XI. *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger and Pat Castevens + + + + +THE WANDERING JEW + +By Eugene Sue + + + +BOOK XI. + + +L. The Ruins of the Abbey of St. John the Baptist +LI. The Calvary +LII. The Council +LIII. Happiness +LIV. Duty +LV. The Improvised Hospital +LVI. Hydrophobia +LVII. The Guardian Angel +LVIII. Ruin +LIX. Memories +LX. The Ordeal +LXI. Ambition +LXII. To a Socius, a Socius and a Half +LXIII. Faringhea's Affection +LXIV. An Evening at St. Colombe's +LXV. The Nuptial Bed +LXVI. A Duel to the Death +LXVII. A Message +LXVIII. The First of June + + +EPILOGUE. + +I. Four Years After +II. The Redemption + + + + +CHAPTER L. + +THE RUINS OF THE ABBEY OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST. + +The sun is fast sinking. In the depths of an immense piny wood, in the +midst of profound solitude, rise the ruins of an abbey, once sacred to +St. John the Baptist. Ivy, moss, and creeping plants, almost entirely +conceal the stones, now black with age. Some broken arches, some walls +pierced with ovals, still remain standing, visible on the dark background +of the thick wood. Looking down upon this mass of ruins from a broken +pedestal, half-covered with ivy, a mutilated, but colossal statue of +stone still keeps its place. This statue is strange and awful. It +represents a headless human figure. Clad in the antique toga, it holds in +its hand a dish and on that dish is a head. This head is its own. It is +the statue of St. John the Baptist and Martyr, put to death by wish of +Herodias. + +The silence around is solemn. From time to time, however, is heard the +dull rustling of the enormous branches of the pine-trees, shaken by the +wind. Copper-colored clouds, reddened by the setting sun, pass slowly +over the forest, and are reflected in the current of a brook, which, +deriving its source from a neighboring mass of rocks, flows through the +ruins. The water flows, the clouds pass on, the ancient trees tremble, +the breeze murmurs. + +Suddenly, through the shadow thrown by the overhanging wood, which +stretches far into endless depths, a human form appears. It is a woman. +She advances slowly towards the ruins. She has reached them. She treads +the once sacred ground. This woman is pale, her look sad, her long robe +floats on the wind, her feet covered with dust. She walks with difficulty +and pain. A block of stone is placed near the stream, almost at the foot +of the statue of John the Baptist. Upon this stone she sinks breathless +and exhausted, worn out with fatigue. And yet, for many days, many years, +many centuries, she has walked on unwearied. + +For the first time, she feels an unconquerable sense of lassitude. For +the first time, her feet begin to fail her. For the first time, she, who +traversed, with firm and equal footsteps, the moving lava of torrid +deserts, while whole caravans were buried in drifts of fiery sand--who +passed, with steady and disdainful tread, over the eternal snows of +Arctic regions, over icy solitudes, in which no other human being could +live--who had been spared by the devouring flames of conflagrations, and +by the impetuous waters of torrents--she, in brief, who for centuries had +had nothing in common with humanity--for the first time suffers mortal +pain. + +Her feet bleed, her limbs ache with fatigue, she is devoured by burning +thirst. She feels these infirmities, yet scarcely dares to believe them +real. Her joy would be too immense! But now, her throat becomes dry, +contracted, all on fire. She sees the stream, and throws herself on her +knees, to quench her thirst in that crystal current, transparent as a +mirror. What happens then? Hardly have her fevered lips touched the +fresh, pure water, than, still kneeling, supported on her hands, she +suddenly ceases to drink, and gazes eagerly on the limpid stream. +Forgetting the thirst which devours her, she utters a loud cry--a cry of +deep, earnest, religious joy, like a note of praise and infinite +gratitude to heaven. In that deep mirror, she perceives that she has +grown older. + +In a few days, a few hours, a few minutes, perhaps in a single second, +she has attained the maturity of age. She, who for more than eighteen +centuries has been as a woman of twenty, carrying through successive +generations the load of her imperishable youth--she has grown old, and +may, perhaps, at length, hope to die. Every minute of her life may now +bring her nearer to the last home! Transported by that ineffable hope, +she rises, and lifts her eyes to heaven, clasping her hands in an +attitude of fervent prayer. Then her eyes rest on the tall statue of +stone, representing St. John. The head, which the martyr carries in his +hand, seems, from beneath its half-closed granite eyelid, to cast upon +the Wandering Jewess a glance of commiseration and pity. And it was she, +Herodias who, in the cruel intoxication of a pagan festival, demanded the +murder of the saint! And it is at the foot of the martyr's image, that, +for the first time, the immortality, which weighed on her for so many +centuries, seems likely to find a term! + +"Oh, impenetrable mystery! oh, divine hope!" she cries. "The wrath of +heaven is at length appeased. The hand of the Lord brings me to the feet +of the blessed martyr, and I begin once more to feel myself a human +creature. And yet it was to avenge his death, that the same heaven +condemned me to eternal wanderings! + +"Oh, Lord! grant that I may not be the only one forgiven. May he--the +artisan, who like me, daughter of a king, wanders on for +centuries--likewise hope to reach the end of that immense journey! + +"Where is he, Lord? where is he? Hast thou deprived me of the power once +bestowed, to see and hear him through the vastness of intervening space? +Oh, in this mighty moment, restore me that divine gift--for the more I +feel these human infirmities, which I hail and bless as the end of my +eternity of ills, the more my sight loses the power to traverse +immensity, and my ear to catch the sound of that wanderer's accent, from +the other extremity of the globe?" + +Night had fallen, dark and stormy. The wind rose in the midst of the +great pine-trees. Behind their black summits, through masses of dark +cloud, slowly sailed the silver disk of the moon. The invocation of the +Wandering Jewess had perhaps been heard. Suddenly, her eyes closed--with +hands clasped together, she remained kneeling in the heart of the +ruins--motionless as a statue upon a tomb. And then she had a wondrous +dream! + + + + +CHAPTER LI. + +THE CALVARY. + +This was the vision of Herodias: On the summit of a high, steep, rocky +mountain, there stands a cross. The sun is sinking, even as when the +Jewess herself, worn out with fatigue, entered the ruins of St. John's +Abbey. The great figure on the cross--which looks down from this Calvary, +on the mountain, and on the vast, dreary plain beyond--stands out white +and pale against the dark, blue clouds, which stretch across the heavens, +and assume a violent tint towards the horizon. There, where the setting +sun has left a long track of lurid light, almost of the hue of blood--as +far as the eye can reach, no vegetation appears on the surface of the +gloomy desert, covered with sand and stones, like the ancient bed of some +dried-up ocean. A silence as of death broods over this desolate tract. +Sometimes, gigantic black vultures, with red unfeathered necks, luminous +yellow eyes, stooping from their lofty flight in the midst of these +solitudes, come to make their bloody feast on the prey they have carried +off from less uncultivated regions. + +How, then, did this Calvary, this place of prayer, come to be erected so +far from the abodes of men? This Calvary was prepared at a great cost by +a repentant sinner. He had done much harm to his fellow-creatures, and, +in the hope of obtaining pardon for his crimes, he had climbed this +mountain on his knees, and become a hermit, and lived there till his +death, at the foot of this cross, only sheltered by a roof of thatch, now +long since swept away by the wind. The sun is still sinking. The sky +becomes darker. The luminous lines on the horizon grow fainter and +fainter, like heated bars of iron that gradually grow cool. Suddenly, on +the eastern side of the Calvary, is heard the noise of some falling +stones, which, loosened from the side of the mountain, roll down +rebounding to its base. These stones have been loosened by the foot of a +traveller, who, after traversing the plain below, has, during the last +hour, been climbing the steep ascent. He is not yet visible--but one +hears the echo of his tread--slow, steady, and firm. At length, he +reaches the top of the mountain, and his tall figure stands out against +the stormy sky. + +The traveller is pale as the great figure on the cross. On his broad +forehead a black line extends from one temple to the other. It is the +cobbler of Jerusalem. The poor artisan, who hardened by misery, injustice +and oppression, without pity for the suffering of the Divine Being who +bore the cross, repulsed him from his dwelling, and bade him: "Go ON! GO +ON! GO ON!" And, from that day, the avenging Deity has in his turn said +to the artisan of Jerusalem: "GO ON! GO ON! GO ON!" + +And he has gone on, without end or rest. Nor did the divine vengeance +stop there. From time to time death has followed the steps of the +wanderer, and innumerable graves have been even as mile-stones on his +fatal path. And if ever he found periods of repose in the midst of his +infinite grief, it was when the hand of the Lord led him into deep +solitudes, like that where he now dragged his steps along. In passing +over that dreary plain, or climbing to that rude Calvary, he at least +heard no more the funeral knell, which always, always sounded behind him +in every inhabited region. + +All day long, even at this hour, plunged in the black abyss of his +thoughts, following the fatal track--going whither he was guided by the +invisible hand, with head bowed on his breast, and eyes fixed upon the +ground, the wanderer had passed over the plain, and ascended the +mountain, without once looking at the sky--without even perceiving the +Calvary--without seeing the image upon the cross. He thought of the last +descendants of his race. He felt, by the sinking of his heart, that great +perils continued to threaten him. And in the bitterness of a despair, +wild and deep as the ocean, the cobbler of Jerusalem seated himself at +the foot of the cross. At this moment a farewell ray of the setting sun, +piercing the dark mass of clouds, threw a refection upon the Calvary, +vivid as a conflagration's glare. The Jew rested his forehead upon his +hand. His long hair, shaken by the evening breeze, fell over his pale +face--when sweeping it back from his brow, he started with surprise--he, +who had long ceased to wonder at anything. With eager glance he +contemplated the long lock of hair that he held between his fingers. That +hair, until now black as night, had become gray. He also, like unto +Herodias, was growing older. + +His progress towards old age, stopped for eighteen hundred years, had +resumed its course. Like the Wandering Jewess, he might henceforth hope +for the rest of the grave. Throwing himself on his knees, he stretched +his hands towards heaven, to ask for the explanation of the mystery which +filled him with hope. Then, for the first time, his eyes rested on the +Crucified One, looking down upon the Calvary, even as the Wandering +Jewess had fixed her gaze on the granite eyelids of the Blessed Martyr. + +The Saviour, his head bowed under the weight of his crown of thorns, +seemed from the cross to view with pity, and pardon the artisan, who for +so many centuries had felt his curse--and who, kneeling, with his body +thrown backward in an attitude of fear and supplication, now lifted +towards the crucifix his imploring hands. + +"Oh, Messiah!" cried the Jew, "the avenging arm of heaven brings me back +to the foot of this heavy cross, which thou didst bear, when, stopping at +the door of my poor dwelling, thou wert repulsed with merciless +harshness, and I said unto thee: 'Go on! go on!'--After my long life of +wanderings, I am again before this cross, and my hair begins to whiten. +Oh Lord! in thy divine mercy, hast thou at length pardoned me? Have I +reached the term of my endless march? Will thy celestial clemency grant +me at length the repose of the sepulchre, which, until now, alas! has +ever fled before me?--Oh! if thy mercy should descend upon me, let it +fall likewise upon that woman, whose woes are equal to mine own! Protect +also the last descendants of my race! What will be their fate? Already, +Lord, one of them--the only one that misfortune had perverted--has +perished from the face of the earth. Is it for this that my hair grows +gray? Will my crime only be expiated when there no longer remains in this +world one member of our accursed race? Or does this proof of thy powerful +goodness, Lord, which restores me to the condition of humanity, serve +also as a sign of the pardon and happiness of my family? Will they at +length triumph over the perils which beset them? Will they, accomplishing +the good which their ancestor designed for his fellow creatures, merit +forgiveness both for themselves and me? Or will they, inexorably +condemned as the accursed scions of an accursed stock, expiate the +original stain of my detested crime? + +"Oh, tell me--tell me, gracious Lord! shall I be forgiven with them, or +will they be punished with me?" + +The twilight gave place to a dark and stormy night, yet the Jew continued +to pray, kneeling at the foot of the cross. + + + + +CHAPTER LII. + +THE COUNCIL. + +The following scene took place at Saint-Dizier House, two days after the +reconciliation of Marshal Simon with his daughters. The princess is +listening with the most profound attention to the words of Rodin. The +reverend father, according to his habit, stands leaning against the +mantelpiece, with his hands thrust into the pockets of his old brown +great-coat. His thick, dirty shoes have left their mark on the ermine +hearth-rug. A deep sense of satisfaction is impressed on the Jesuit's +cadaverous countenance. Princess de Saint-Dizier, dressed with that sort +of modest elegance which becomes a mother of the church, keeps her eyes +fixed on Rodin--for the latter has completely supplanted Father +d'Aigrigny in the good graces of this pious lady. The coolness, audacity +lofty intelligence, and rough and imperious character of the ex-socius +have overawed this proud woman, and inspired her with a sincere +admiration. Even his filthy habits and often brutal repartees have their +charm for her, and she now prefers them to the exquisite politeness and +perfumed elegance of the accomplished Father d'Aigrigny. + +"Yes, madame," said Rodin, in a sanctified tone, for these people do not +take off their masks even with their accomplices, "yes, madame, we have +excellent news from our house at St. Herem. M. Hardy, the infidel, the +freethinker, has at length entered the pale of the holy Roman Catholic +and Apostolic Church." Rodin pronounced these last word with a nasal +twang, and the devout lady bowed her head respectfully. + +"Grace has at length touched the heart of this impious man," continued +Rodin, "and so effectually that, in his ascetic enthusiasm, he has +already wished to take the vows which will bind him forever to our divine +Order." + +"So soon, father?" said the princess, in astonishment. + +"Our statutes are opposed to this precipitation, unless in the case of a +penitent in articulo mortis--on the very gasp of death--should such a +person consider it necessary for his salvation to die in the habit of our +Order, and leave us all his wealth for the greater glory of the Lord." + +"And is M. Hardy in so dangerous a condition, father?" + +"He has a violent fever. After so many successive calamities, which have +miraculously brought him into the path of salvation," said Rodin, +piously, "his frail and delicate constitution is almost broken up, +morally and physically. Austerities, macerations, and the divine joys of +ecstasy, will probably hasten his passage to eternal life, and in a few +clays," said the priest, shaking his head with a solemn air, "perhaps--" + +"So soon as that, father?" + +"It is almost certain. I have therefore made use of my dispensations, to +receive the dear penitent, as in articulo mortis, a member of our divine +Company, to which, in the usual course, he has made over all his +possessions, present and to come--so that now he can devote himself +entirely to the care of his soul, which will be one victim more rescued +from the claws of Satan." + +"Oh, father!" cried the lady, in admiration; "it is a miraculous +conversion. Father d'Aigrigny told me how you had to contend against the +influence of Abbe Gabriel." + +"The Abbe Gabriel," replied Rodin, "has been punished for meddling with +what did not concern him. I have procured his suspension, and he has been +deprived of his curacy. I hear that he now goes about the cholera +hospitals to administer Christian consolation; we cannot oppose that--but +this universal comforter is of the true heretical stamp." + +"He is a dangerous character, no doubt," answered the princess, "for he +has considerable influence over other men. It must have needed all your +admirable and irresistible eloquence to combat the detestable counsels of +this Abbe Gabriel, who had taken it into his head to persuade M. Hardy to +return to the life of the world. Really, father, you are a second St. +Chrysostom." + +"Tut, tut, madame!" said Rodin, abruptly, for he was very little sensible +to flattery; "keep that for others." + +"I tell you that you're a second St. Chrysostom father," repeated the +princess with enthusiasm; "like him, you deserve the name of Golden +Mouth." + +"Stuff, madame!" said Rodin, brutally, shrugging his shoulders; "my lips +are too pale, my teeth too black, for a mouth of gold. You must be only +joking." + +"But, father--" + +"No, madame, you will not catch old birds with chaff," replied Rodin, +harshly. "I hate compliments, and I never pay them." + +"Your modesty must pardon me, father," said the princess, humbly; "I +could not resist the desire to express to you my admiration, for, as you +almost predicted, or at least foresaw, two members of the Rennepont +family, have, within the last few months, resigned all claim to the +inheritance." + +Rodin looked at Madame de Saint-Dizier with a softened and approving air, +as he heard her thus describe the position of the two defunct claimants. +For, in Rodin's view of the case, M. Hardy, in consequence of his +donation and his suicidal asceticism, belonged no longer to this world. + +The lady continued: "One of these men, a wretched artisan, has been led +to his ruin by the exaggeration of his vices. You have brought the other +into the path of salvation, by carrying out his loving and tender +qualities. Honor, then to your foresight, father! for you said that you +would make use of the passions to attain your end." + +"Do not boast too soon," said Rodin, impatiently. "Have you forgotten +your niece, and the Hindoo, and the daughters of Marshal Simon? Have they +also made a Christian end, or resigned their claim to share in this +inheritance?" + +"No, doubtless." + +"Hence, you see, madame, we should not lose time in congratulating +ourselves on the past, but make ready for the future. The great day +approaches. The first of June is not far off. Heaven grant we may not see +the four surviving members of the family continue to live impenitent up +to that period, and so take possession of this enormous property--the +source of perdition in their hands--but productive of the glory of the +Church in the hands of our Company!" + +"True, father!" + +"By the way, you were to see your lawyers on the subject of your niece?" + +"I have seen them, father. However uncertain may be the chance of which I +spoke, it is worth trying. I shall know to-day, I hope, if it is legally +possible." + +"Perhaps then,--in the new condition of life to which she would be +reduced, we might find means to effect her conversion," said Rodin, with +a strange and hideous smile; "until now, since she has been so fatally +brought in contact with the Oriental, the happiness of these two pagans +appears bright and changeless as the diamond. Nothing bites into it, not +even Faringhea's tooth. Let us hope that the Lord will wreak justice on +their vain and guilty felicity!" + +This conversation was here interrupted by Father d'Aigrigny, who entered +the room with an air of triumph, and exclaimed, "Victory!" + +"What do you say"' asked the princess. + +"He is gone--last night," said Father d'Aigrigny. + +"Who?" said Rodin. + +"Marshal Simon," replied the abbe. + +"At last!" said Rodin, unable to hide his joy. + +"It was no doubt his interview with General d'Havrincourt which filled up +the measure," cried the princess, "for I know he had a long conversation +with the general, who like so many others, believed the reports in +circulation. All means are good against the impious!" added the princess, +by way of moral. + +"Have you any details?" asked Rodin. + +"I have just left Robert," said Father d'Aigrigny. "His age and +description agree with the marshal's, and the latter travels with his +papers. Only one thing has greatly surprised your emissary." + +"What is that?" said Rodin. + +"Until now, he had always to contend with the hesitations of the marshal, +and had moreover noticed his gloomy and desponding air. Yesterday, on the +contrary, he found him so bright with happiness, that he could not help +asking him the cause of the alteration." + +"Well?" said Rodin and the princess together, both extremely surprised. + +"The marshal answered: 'I am indeed the happiest man in the world; for I +am going joyfully to accomplish a sacred duty!" + +The three actors in this scene looked at each other in silence. + +"And what can have produced this sudden change in the mind of the +marshal?" said the princess, with a pensive air. "We rather reckon on +sorrow and every kind of irritation to urge him to engage in this +adventurous enterprise." + +"I cannot make it out," said Rodin, reflecting; "but no matter--he is +gone. We must not lose a moment, to commence operations on his daughters. +Has he taken that infernal soldier with him?" + +"No," said Father d'Aigrigny; "unfortunately, he has not done so. Warned +by the past, he will redouble his precautions; and a man, whom we might +have used against him at a pinch, has just been taken with the +contagion." + +"Who is that?" asked the princess. + +"Morok. I could count upon him anywhere and for anything. He is lost to +us; for, should he recover from the cholera, I fear he will fall a victim +to a horrible and incurable disease." + +"How so?" + +"A few days ago, he was bitten by one of the mastiffs of his menagerie, +and, the next day, the dog showed symptoms of hydrophobia." + +"Ah! it is dreadful," cried the princess; "and where is this unfortunate +man?" + +"He has been taken to one of the temporary hospitals established in +Paris, for at present he has only been attacked with cholera. It is +doubly unfortunate, I repeat, for he was a devoted, determined fellow, +ready for anything. Now this soldier, who has the care of the orphans, +will be very difficult to get at, and yet only through him can we hope to +reach Marshal Simon's daughters." + +"That is clear," said Rodin, thoughtfully. + +"Particularly since the anonymous letters have again awakened his +suspicions," added Father d'Aigrigny "and--" + +"Talking of the anonymous letters," said Rodin suddenly, interrupting +Father d'Aigrigny, "there is a fact that you ought to know; I will tell +you why." + +"What is it?" + +"Besides the letters that you know of, Marshal Simon has received a +number of others unknown to you, in which, by every possible means, it is +tried to exasperate his irritation against yourself--for they remind him +of all the reasons he has to hate you, and mock at him, because your +sacred character shelters you from his vengeance." + +Father d'Aigrigny looked at Rodin with amazement, colored in spite of +himself, and said to him: "But for what purpose has your reverence acted +in this manner?" + +"First of all, to clear myself of suspicion with regard to the letters; +then, to excite the rage of the marshal to madness, by incessantly +reminding him of the just grounds he has to hate you, and of the +impossibility of being avenged upon you. This, joined to the other +emotions of sorrow and anger, which ferment in the savage bosom of this +man of bloodshed, tended to urge him on to the rash enterprise, which is +the consequence and the punishment of his idolatry for a miserable +usurper." + +"That may be," said Father d'Aigrigny, with an air of constraint: "but I +will observe to your reverence, that it was, perhaps, rather dangerous +thus to excite Marshal Simon against me." + +"Why?" asked Rodin, as he fixed a piercing look upon Father d'Aigrigny. + +"Because the marshal, excited beyond all bounds, and remembering only our +mutual hate, might seek me out--" + +"Well! and what then?" + +"Well! he might forget that I am a priest--" + +"Oh, you are afraid are you?" said Rodin, disdainfully, interrupting +Father d'Aigrigny. + +At the words: "You are afraid," the reverend father almost started from +his chair; but recovering his coolness, he answered: "Your reverence is +right; yes, I should be afraid under such circumstances; I should be +afraid of forgetting that I am a priest, and of remembering too well that +I have been a soldier." + +"Really?" said Rodin, with sovereign contempt. "You are still no further +than that stupid and savage point of honor? Your cassock has not yet +extinguished the warlike fire? So that if this brawling swordsman, whose +poor, weak head, empty and sonorous as a drum, is so easily turned with +the stupid jargon of 'Military honor, oaths, Napoleon II.'--if this +brawling bravo, I say, were to commit some violence against you, it would +require a great effort, I suppose, for you to remain calm?" + +"It is useless, I think," said Father d'Aigrigny, quite unable to control +his agitation, "for your reverence to enter upon such questions." + +"As your superior," answered Rodin, severely, "I have the right to ask. +If Marshal Simon had lifted his hand against you--" + +"Sir," cried the reverend father. + +"There are no sirs here--we are only priests," said Rodin, harshly. +Father d'Aigrigny held down his head, scarcely able to repress his rage. + +"I ask you," continued Rodin, obstinately, "if Marshal Simon had struck +you? Is that clear?" + +"Enough! in mercy," said Father d'Aigrigny, "enough!" + +"Or, if you like it better, had Marshal Simon left the marks of his +fingers on your cheek?" resumed Rodin, with the utmost pertinacity. + +Father d'Aigrigny, pale as death, ground his teeth in a kind of fury at +the very idea of such an insult, while Rodin, who had no doubt his object +in asking the question, raised his flabby eyelids, and seemed to watch +attentively the significant symptoms revealed in the agitated countenance +of the ex-colonel. + +At length, recovering partly his presence of mind, Father d'Aigrigny +replied, in a forcedly calm tone: "If I were to be exposed to such an +insult, I would pray heaven to give me resignation and humility." + +"And no doubt heaven would hear your prayers," said Rodin, coldly, +satisfied with the trial to which he had just put him. "Besides, you are +now warned, and it is not very probable," added he, with a grim smile, +"that Marshal Simon will ever return to test your humility. But if he +were to return," said Rodin, fixing on the reverend father a long and +piercing look, "you would know how to show this brutal swordsman, in +spite of all his violence, what resignation and humility there is in a +Christian soul!" + +Two humble knocks at the door here interrupted the conversation for a +moment. A footman entered, bearing a large sealed packet on a salver, +which he presented to the princess. After this, he withdrew. Princess de +Saint-Dizier, having by a look asked Rodin's permission to open the +letter, began to read it--and a cruel satisfaction was soon visible on +her face. + +"There is hope," cried she addressing herself to Rodin: "the demand is +rigorously legal, and the consequence may be such as we desire. In a +word, my niece may, any day, be exposed to complete destitution. She, who +is so extravagant! what a change in her life!" + +"We shall then no doubt have some hold on that untamable character," said +Rodin with a meditative air; "for, till now, all has failed in that +direction, and one would suppose some kinds of happiness are +invulnerable," added the Jesuit, gnawing his flat and dirty nails. + +"But, to obtain the result we desire, we must exasperate my niece's +pride. It is, therefore, absolutely necessary, that I should see and talk +to her," said the Princess de Saint-Dizier, reflecting. + +"Mdlle. de Cardoville will refuse this interview," said Father +d'Aigrigny. + +"Perhaps," replied the princess. "But she is so happy that her audacity +must be at its height. Yes, yes--I know her--and I will write in such a +manner, that she will come." + +"You think so?" asked Rodin, with a doubtful air. + +"Do not fear it, father," answered the lady, "she will come. And her +pride once brought into play, we may hope a good deal from it." + +"We must then act, lady," resumed Rodin; "yes, act promptly. The moment +approaches. Hate and suspicion are awake. There is not a moment to lose." + +"As for hate," replied the princess, "Mdlle. de Cardoville must have seen +to what her lawsuit would lead, about what she called her illegal +detention in a lunatic asylum, and that of the two young ladies in St. +Mary's Convent. Thank heaven, we have friends everywhere! I know from +good authority, that the case will break down from want of evidence, in +spite of the animosity of certain parliamentary magistrates, who shall be +well remembered." + +"Under these circumstances," replied Rodin, "the departure of the marshal +gives us every latitude. We must act immediately on his daughters." + +"But how?" said the princess. + +"We must see them," resumed Rodin, "talk with them, study them. Then we +shall act in consequence." + +"But the soldier will not leave them a second," said Father d'Aigrigny. + +"Then," replied Rodin, "we must talk to them in presence of the soldier, +and get him on our side." + +"That hope is idle," cried Father d'Aigrigny. "You do not know the +military honor of his character. You do not know this man." + +"Don't I know him?" said Rodin, shrugging his shoulders. "Did not Mdlle. +de Cardoville present me to him as her liberator, when I denounced you as +the soul of the conspiracy? Did I not restore to him his ridiculous +imperial relic--his cross of honor--when we met at Dr. Baleinier's? Did I +not bring him back the girls from the convent, and place them in the arms +of their father?" + +"Yes," replied the princess; "but, since that time, my abominable niece +has either guessed or discovered all. She told you so herself, father." + +"She told me, that she considered me her most mortal enemy," said Rodin. +"Be it so. But did she tell the same to the marshal? Has she ever +mentioned me to him? and if she have done so, has the marshal +communicated this circumstance to his soldier? It may be so; but it is by +no means sure; in any case. I must ascertain the fact; if the soldier +treats me as an enemy, we shall see what is next to be done--but I will +first try to be received as a friend." + +"When?" asked the princess. + +"To-morrow morning," replied Rodin. + +"Good heaven, my clear father!" cried the Princess de Saint-Dizier, in +alarm; "if this soldier were to treat you as an enemy--beware--" + +"I always beware, madame. I have had to face worse enemies than he is," +said the Jesuit showing his black teeth; "the cholera to begin with." + +"But he may refuse to see you, and in what way will you then get at +Marshal Simon's daughters?" said Father d'Aigrigny. + +"I do not yet know." answered Rodin. "But as I intend to do it, I shall +find the means." + +"Father," said the princess, suddenly, on reflection, "these girls have +never seen me, and I might obtain admittance to them, without sending in +my name." + +"That would be perfectly useless at present, madame, for I must first +know what course to take with respect to them. I must see and converse +with them, at any cost, and then, after I have fixed my plan, your +assistance may be very useful. In any case, please to be ready to morrow, +madame, to accompany me." + +"To what place, father?" + +"To Marshal Simon's." + +"To the marshal's?" + +"Not exactly. You will get into your carriage, and I will take a +hackney-coach. I will then try to obtain an interview with the girls, +and, during that time, you will wait for me at a few yards from the +house. If I succeed, and require your aid, I will come and fetch you; I +can give you my instructions without any appearance of concert between +us." + +"I am content, reverend father; but, in truth, I tremble at the thought +of your interview with that rough trooper." + +"The Lord will watch over his servant, madame!" replied Rodin. "As for +you, father," added he, addressing the Abbe d'Aigrigny, "despatch +instantly to Vienna the note which is all prepared to announce the +departure and speedy arrival of the marshal. Every precaution has been +taken. I shall write more fully this evening." + +The next morning, about eight o'clock, the Princess de Saint-Dizier, in +her carriage, and Rodin, in his hackney-coach, took the direction of +Marshal Simon's house. + + + + +CHAPTER LIII. + +HAPPINESS. + +Marshal Simon has been absent two days. It is eight o'clock in the +morning. Dagobert, walking on tip-toe with the greatest caution, so as +not to make the floor creak beneath his tread, crosses the room which +leads to the bedchamber of Rose and Blanche and applies his ear to the +door of the apartment. With equal caution, Spoil-sport follows exactly +the movements of his master. The countenance of the soldier is uneasy and +full of thought. As he approaches the door, he says to himself: "I hope +the dear children heard nothing of what happened in the night! It would +alarm them, and it is much better that they should not know it at +present. It might afflict them sadly, poor dears! and they are so gay, so +happy, since they feel sure of their father's love for them. They bore +his departure so bravely! I would not for the world that they should know +of this unfortunate event." + +Then as he listened, the soldier resumed: "I hear nothing--and yet they +are always awake so early. Can it be sorrow?" + +Dagobert's reflections were here interrupted by two frank, hearty bursts +of laughter, from the interior of the bedroom. + +"Come! they are not so sad as I thought," said the soldier, breathing +more freely. "Probably they know nothing about it." + +Soon, the laughter was again heard with redoubled force, and the soldier, +delighted at this gayety, so rare on the part of "his children," was much +affected by it: the tears started to his eyes at the thought that the +orphans had at length recovered the serenity natural to their age; then, +passing from one emotion to the other, still listening at the door, with +his body leaning forward, and his hands resting on his knees, Dagobert's +lip quivered with an expression of mute joy, and, shaking his head a +little, he accompanied with his silent laughter, the increasing hilarity +of the young girls. At last, as nothing is so contagious as gayety, and +as the worthy soldier was in an ecstasy of joy, he finished by laughing +aloud with all his might, without knowing why, and only because Rose and +Blanche were laughing. Spoil-sport had never seen his master in such a +transport of delight; he looked at him for a while in deep and silent +astonishment, and then began to bark in a questioning way. + +At this well-known sound, the laughter within suddenly ceased, and a +sweet voice, still trembling with joyous emotion, exclaimed: "Is it you, +Spoil-sport, that have come to wake us?" The dog understood what was +said, wagged his tail, held down his ears, and, approaching close to the +door, answered the appeal of his young mistress by a kind of friendly +growl. + +"Spoil-sport," said Rose, hardly able to restrain her laughter, "you are +very early this morning." + +"Tell us what o'clock it is, if you please, old fellow?" added Blanche. + +"Young ladies, it is past eight," said suddenly the gruff voice of +Dagobert, accompanying this piece of humor with a loud laugh. + +A cry of gay surprise was heard, and then Rose resumed: "Good-morning, +Dagobert." + +"Good-morning, my children. You are very lazy to-day, I must tell you." + +"It is not our fault. Our dear Augustine has not yet been to call us. We +are waiting for her." + +"Oh! there it is," said Dagobert to himself, his features once more +assuming an expression of anxiety. Then he returned aloud, in a tone of +some embarrassment, for the worthy man was no hand at a falsehood: "My +children, our companion went out this morning--very early. She is gone to +the country--on business--she will not return for some days--so you had +better get up by yourselves for today." + +"Our good Madame Augustine!" exclaimed Blanche, with interest. "I hope it +is nothing bad that has made her leave suddenly--eh, Dagobert?" + +"No, no--not at all--only business," answered the soldier. "To see one of +her relations." + +"Oh, so much the better!" said Rose. "Well, Dagobert, when we call you +can come in." + +"I will come back in a quarter of an hour," said the soldier as he +withdrew; and he thought to himself: "I must lecture that fool Loony--for +he is so stupid, and so fond of talking, that he will let it all out." + +The name of the pretended simpleton will serve as a natural transition, +to inform the reader of the cause of the hilarity of the sisters. They +were laughing at the numberless absurdities of the idiot. The girls rose +and dressed themselves, each serving as lady's-maid to the other. Rose +had combed and arranged Blanche's hair; it was now Blanche's turn to do +the same for her sister. Thus occupied, they formed a charming picture. +Rose was seated before the dressing-table; her sister, standing behind +her, was smoothing her beautiful brown hair. Happy age! so little removed +from childhood, that present joy instantly obliterates the traces of past +sorrow! But the sisters felt more than joy; it was happiness, deep and +unalterable, for their father loved them, and their happiness was a +delight, and not a pain to him. Assured of the affection of his children, +he, also, thanks to them, no longer feared any grief. To those three +beings, thus certain of their mutual love, what was a momentary +separation? Having explained this, we shall understand the innocent +gayety of the sisters, notwithstanding their father's departure, and the +happy, joyous expression, which now filled with animation their charming +faces, on which the late fading rose had begun once more to bloom. Their +faith in the future gave to their countenances something resolute and +decisive, which added a degree of piquancy to the beauty of their +enchanting features. + +Blanche, in smoothing her sister's hair, let fall the comb, and, as she +was stooping to pick it up, Rose anticipated her, saying: "If it had been +broken, we would have put it into the handle-basket." + +Then the two laughed merrily at this expression, which reminded them of +an admirable piece of folly on the part of Loony. + +The supposed simpleton had broken the handle of a cup, and when the +governess of the young ladies had reprimanded him for his carelessness, +he had answered: "Never mind, madame; I have put it into the handle +basket." + +"The handle-basket, what is that?" + +"Yes, Madame; it is where I keep all the handles I break off the things!" + +"Dear me!" said Rose, drying her eyes; "how silly it is to laugh at such +foolishness." + +"It is droll," replied Blanche; "how can we help it?" + +"All I regret is, that father cannot hear us laugh." + +"He was so happy to see us gay!" + +"We must write to him to-day, the story of the handle-basket." + +"And that of the feather-brush, to show that, according to promise, we +kept up our spirits during his absence." + +"Write to him, sister? no, he is to write to us, and we are not to answer +his letters." + +"True! well then, I have an idea. Let us address letters to him here, +Dagobert can put them into the post, and, on his return, our father will +read our correspondence." + +"That will be charming! What nonsense we will write to him, since he +takes pleasure in it!" + +"And we, too, like to amuse ourselves." + +"Oh, certainly! father's last words have given us so much courage." + +"As I listened to them, I felt quite reconciled to his going." + +"When he said to us: 'My children, I will confide in you all I can. I go +to fulfill a sacred duty, and I must be absent for some time; for though, +when I was blind enough to doubt your affection, I could not make up my +mind to leave you, my conscience was by no means tranquil. Grief takes +such an effect on us, that I had not the strength to come to a decision, +and my days were passed in painful hesitation. But now that I am certain +of your tenderness, all this irresolution has ceased, and I understand +how one duty is not to be sacrificed to another, and that I have to +perform two duties at once, both equally sacred; and this I now do with +joy, and delight, and courage!'" + +"Go on, sister!" cried Blanche, rising to draw nearer to Rose. "I think I +hear our father when I remember those words, which must console and +support us during his absence." + +"And then our father continued: 'Instead of grieving at my departure, you +would rejoice in it, you should be proud and happy. I go to perform a +good and generous act. Fancy to yourselves, that there is somewhere a +poor orphan, oppressed and abandoned by all--and that the father of that +orphan was once my benefactor, and that I had promised him to protect his +son--and that the life of that son is now in peril--tell me, my children; +would you regret that I should leave you to fly to the aid of such an +orphan?'--" + +"'No, no, brave father!' we answered: 'we should not then be your +daughters!'" continued Rose, with enthusiasm. "Count upon us! We should +be indeed unhappy if we thought that our sorrow could deprive thee of thy +courage. Go! and every day we will say to ourselves proudly, 'It was to +perform a great and noble duty that our father left us--we can wait +calmly for his return.'" + +"How that idea of duty sustains one, sister!" resumed Rose, with growing +enthusiasm. "It gave our father the courage to leave us without regret, +and to us the courage to bear his absence gayly!" + +"And then, how calm we are now! Those mournful dreams, which seemed to +portend such sad events, no longer afflict us." + +"I tell you, sister, this time we are really happy once for all." + +"And then, do you feel like me? I fancy, that I am stronger and more +courageous and that I could brave every danger." + +"I should think so! We are strong enough now. Our father in the midst, +you on one side, I on the other--" + +"Dagobert in the vanguard, and Spoil-sport in the rear! Then the army +will be complete, and let 'em come on by thousands!" added a gruff, but +jovial voice, interrupting the girl, as Dagobert appeared at the half +open door of the room. It was worth looking at his face, radiant with +joy; for the old fellow had somewhat indiscreetly been listening to the +conversation. + +"Oh! you were listening, Paul Pry!" said Rose gayly, as she entered the +adjoining room with her sister, and both affectionately embraced the +soldier. + +"To be sure, I was listening; and I only regretted not to have ears as +large as Spoil-sport's! Brave, good girls! that's how I like to see +you--bold as brass, and saying to care and sorrow: 'Right about face! +march! go to the devil!'" + +"He will want to make us swear, now," said Rose to her sister, laughing +with all her might. + +"Well! now and then, it does no harm," said the soldier; "it relieves and +calms one, when if one could not swear by five hundred thousand de--" + +"That's enough!" said Rose, covering with her pretty hand the gray +moustache, so as to stop Dagobert in his speech. "If Madame Augustine +heard you--" + +"Our poor governess! so mild and timid," resumed Blanche. "How you would +frighten her!" + +"Yes," said Dagobert, as he tried to conceal his rising embarrassment; +"but she does not hear us. She is gone into the country." + +"Good, worthy woman!" replied Blanche, with interest. "She said something +of you, which shows her excellent heart." + +"Certainly," resumed Rose; "for she said to us, in speaking of you, 'Ah, +young ladies! my affection must appear very little, compared with M. +Dagobert's. But I feel that I also have the right to devote myself to +you.'" + +"No doubt, no doubt! she has a heart of gold," answered Dagobert. Then he +added to himself, "It's as if they did it on purpose, to bring the +conversation back to this poor woman." + +"Father made a good choice," continued Rose. "She is the widow of an old +officer, who was with him in the wars." + +"When we were out of spirits," said Blanche, "you should have seen her +uneasiness and grief, and how earnestly she set about consoling us." + +"I have seen the tears in her eyes when she looked at us," resumed Rose. +"Oh! she loves us tenderly, and we return her affection. With regard to +that, Dagobert, we have a plan as soon as our father comes back." + +"Be quiet, sister!" said Blanche, laughing. "Dagobert will not keep our +secret." + +"He!" + +"Will you keep it for us, Dagobert?" + +"I tell you what," said the soldier, more and more embarrassed; "you had +better not tell it to me." + +"What! can you keep nothing from Madame Augustine?" + +"Ah, Dagobert! Dagobert!" said Blanche, gayly holding up her finger at +the soldier; "I suspect you very much of paying court to our governess." + +"I pay court?" said the soldier--and the expression of his face was so +rueful, as he pronounced these words, that the two sisters burst out +laughing. + +Their hilarity was at its height when the door opened and Loony advanced +into room announcing, with a loud voice, "M. Rodin!" In fact, the Jesuit +glided almost imperceptibly into the apartment, as if to take possession +of the ground. Once there, he thought the game his own, and his reptile +eyes sparkled with joy. It would be difficult to paint the surprise of +the two sisters, and the anger of the soldier, at this unexpected visit. + +Rushing upon Loony, Dagobert seized him by the collar, and exclaimed: +"Who gave you leave to introduce any one here without my permission?" + +"Pardon, M. Dagobert!" said Loony, throwing himself on his knees, and +clasping his hands with an air of idiotic entreaty. + +"Leave the room!--and you too!" added the soldier, with a menacing +gesture, as he turned towards Rodin, who had already approached the +girls, with a paternal smile on his countenance. + +"I am at your orders, my dear sir," said the priest, humbly; and he made +a low bow, but without stirring from the spot. + +"Will you go?" cried the soldier to Loony, who was still kneeling, and +who, thanks to the advantages of this position, was able to utter a +certain number of words before Dagobert could remove him. + +"M. Dagobert," said Loony in a doleful voice, "I beg pardon for bringing +up the gentleman without leave; but, alas, my head is turned, because of +the misfortune that happened to Madame Augustine." + +"What misfortune?" cried Rose and Blanche together, as they advanced +anxiously towards Loony. + +"Will you go?" thundered Dagobert, shaking the servant by the collar, to +force him to rise. + +"Speak--speak!" said Blanche, interposing between the soldier and his +prey. "What has happened to Madame Augustine?" + +"Oh," shouted Loony, in spite of the cuffs of the soldier. "Madame +Augustine was attacked in the night with cholera, and taken--" + +He was unable to finish. Dagobert struck him a tremendous blow with his +fist, right on the jaw, and, putting forth his still formidable strength, +the old horse-grenadier lifted him to his legs, and with one violent kick +bestowed on the lower part of his back, sent him rolling into the ante +chamber. + +Then turning to Rodin, with flushed cheek and sparkling eye, Dagobert +pointed to the door with an expressive gesture, and said in an angry +voice: "Now, be off with you and that quickly!" + +"I must pay my respects another time, my dear sir," said Rodin, as he +retired towards the door, bowing to the young girls. + + + + +CHAPTER LIV. + +DUTY. + +Rodin, retreating slowly before the fire of Dagobert's angry looks, +walked backwards to the door, casting oblique but piercing glances at the +orphans, who were visibly affected by the servant's intentional +indiscretion. (Dagobert had ordered him not to speak before the girls of +the illness of their governess, and that was quite enough to induce the +simpleton to take the first opportunity of doing so.) + +Rose hastily approached the soldier, and said to him: "Is it true--is it +really true that poor Madame Augustine has been attacked with the +cholera?" + +"No--I do not know--I cannot tell," replied the soldier, hesitating; +"besides, what is it to you?" + +"Dagobert, you would conceal from us a calamity," said Blanche. "I +remember now your embarrassment, when we spoke to you of our governess." + +"If she is ill, we ought not to abandon her. She had pity on our sorrows; +we ought to pity her sufferings." + +"Come, sister; come to her room," said Blanche, advancing towards the +door, where Rodin had stopped short, and stood listening with growing +attention to this unexpected scene, which seemed to give him ample food +for thought. + +"You will not leave this room," said the soldier, sternly, addressing the +two sisters. + +"Dagobert," replied Rose, firmly, "it is a sacred duty, and it would be +cowardice not to fulfil it." + +"I tell you that you shall not leave the room," said the soldier, +stamping his foot with impatience. + +"Dagobert," replied Blanche, with as resolute an air as her sister's, and +with a kind of enthusiasm which brought the blood to her fair cheek, "our +father, when he left us, give us an admirable example of devotion and +duty. He would not forgive us were we to forget the lesson." + +"What," cried Dagobert, in a rage, and advancing towards the sisters to +prevent their quitting the apartment; "you think that if your governess +had the cholera, I would let you go to her under the pretext of +duty?--Your duty is to live, to live happy, for your father's sake--and +for mine into the bargain--so not a word more of such folly!" + +"We can run no danger by going to our governess in her room," said Rose. + +"And if there were danger," added Blanche, "we ought not to hesitate. So, +Dagobert, be good! and let us pass." + +Rodin, who had listened to what precedes, with sustained attention, +suddenly started, as if a thought had struck him; his eye shone brightly, +and an expression of fatal joy illumined his countenance. + +"Dagobert, do not refuse!" said Blanche. "You would do for us what you +reproach us with wishing to do for another." + +Dagobert had as it were, till now stood in the path of the Jesuit and the +twins by keeping close to the door; but, after a moments reflection, he +shrugged his shoulders, stepped to one side, and said calmly: "I was an +old fool. Come, young ladies; if you find Madame Augustine in the house, +I will allow you to remain with her." + +Surprised at these words, the girls stood motionless and irresolute. + +"If our governess is not here, where is she, then?" said Rose. + +"You think, perhaps, that I am going to tell you in the excitement in +which you are!" + +"She is dead!" cried Rose growing pale. + +"No, no--be calm," said the soldier, hastily; "I swear to you, by your +father's honor, that she is not dead. At the first appearance of the +disorder, she begged to be removed from the house, fearing the contagion +for those in it." + +"Good and courageous woman!" said Rose tenderly, "And you will not allow +us--" + +"I will not allow you to go out, even if I have to lock you up in your +room," cried the soldier, again stamping with rage; then, remembering +that the blunderhead's indiscretion was the sole cause of this +unfortunate incident, he added, with concentrated fury: "Oh! I will break +my stick upon that rascal's back." + +So saying, he turned towards the door, where Rodin still stood, silent +and attentive, dissembling with habitual impassibility the fatal hopes he +had just conceived in his brain. The girls, no longer doubting the +removal of their governess, and convinced that Dagobert would not tell +them whither they had conveyed her, remained pensive and sad. + +At sight of the priest, whom he had forgotten for the moment, the +soldier's rage increased, and he said to him abruptly: "Are you still +there?" + +"I would merely observe to you, my dear sir," said Rodin, with that air +of perfect good nature which he knew so well how to assume, "that you +were standing before the door, which naturally prevented me from going +out." + +"Well, now nothing prevents you--so file off!" + +"Certainly, I will file off, if you wish it, my dear sir though I think I +have some reason to be surprised at such a reception." + +"It is no reception at all--so begone!" + +"I had come, my dear sir to speak to you--" + +"I have no time for talking." + +"Upon business of great importance." + +"I have no other business of importance than to remain with these +children." + +"Very good, my dear sir," said Rodin, pausing on the threshold. "I will +not disturb you any longer; excuse my indiscretion. The bearer of +excellent news from Marshal Simon, I came--" + +"News from our father!" cried Rose, drawing nearer to Rodin. + +"Oh, speak, speak, sir!" added Blanche. + +"You have news of the marshal!" said Dagobert, glancing suspiciously at +Rodin. "Pray, what is this news?" + +But Rodin, without immediately answering the question, returned from the +threshold into the room, and, contemplating Rose and Blanche by turns +with admiration, he resumed: "What happiness for me, to be able to bring +some pleasure to these dear young ladies. They are even as I left them +graceful, and fair, and charming--only less sad than on the day when I +fetched them from the gloomy convent in which they were kept prisoners, +to restore them to the arms of their glorious father!" + +"That was their place, and this is not yours," said Dagobert, harshly, +still holding the door open behind Rodin. + +"Confess, at least that I was not so much out of place at Dr. +Baleinier's," said the Jesuit, with a cunning air. "You know, for it was +there that I restored to you the noble imperial cross you so much +regretted--the day when that good Mdlle. de Cardoville only prevented you +from strangling me by telling you that I was her liberator. Aye! it was +just as I have the honor of stating, young ladies," added Rodin, with a +smile; "this brave soldier was very near strangling me, for, be it said +without offense, he has, in spite of his age, a grasp of iron. Ha, ha! +the Prussians and Cossacks must know that better than I!" + +These few words reminded Dagobert and the twins of the services which +Rodin had really rendered them; and though the marshal had heard Mdlle. +de Cardoville speak of Rodin as of a very dangerous man, he had +forgotten, in the midst of so many anxieties, to communicate this +circumstance to Dagobert. But this latter, warned by experience, felt, in +spite of favorable appearances, a secret aversion for the Jesuit; so he +replied abruptly: "The strength of my grasp has nothing to do with the +matter." + +"If I allude to that little innocent playfulness on your part, my dear +sir," said Rodin, in his softest tone, approaching the two sisters with a +wriggle which was peculiar to him; "if I allude to it, you see, it was +suggested by the involuntary recollection of the little services I was +happy enough to render you." Dagobert looked fixedly at Rodin, who +instantly veiled his glance beneath his flabby eyelids. + +"First of all," said the soldier, after a moment's silence, "a true man +never speaks of the services he has rendered, and you come back three +times to the subject." + +"But Dagobert," whispered Rose, "if he brings news of our father?" + +The soldier made a sign, as if to beg the girl to let him speak, and +resumed, looking full at Rodin: "You are cunning, but I'm no raw +recruit." + +"I cunning?" said Rodin, with a sanctified air. + +"Yes, very. You think to puzzle me with your fine phrases; but I'm not to +be caught in that way. Just listen to me. Some of your band of +black-gowns stole my cross; you returned it to me. Some of the same band +carried off these children; you brought them back. It is also true that +you denounced the renegade D'Aigrigny. But all this only proves two +things: first, that you were vile enough to be the accomplice of these +scoundrels; and secondly, that, having been their accomplice, you were +base enough to betray them. Now, those two facts are equally bad, and I +suspect you most furiously. So march off at once; your presence is not +good for these children." + +"But, my dear sir--" + +"I will have no buts," answered Dagobert, in an angry voice. "When a man +of your look does good, it is only to hide some evil; and one must be on +guard." + +"I understand your suspicions," said Rodin coolly, hiding his growing +disappointment, for he had hoped it would have been easy to coax the +soldier; "but, if you reflect, what interest have I in deceiving you? And +in what should the deception consist?" + +"You have some interest or other in persisting to remain here, when I +tell you to go away." + +"I have already had the honor of informing you of the object of my visit, +my dear sir." + +"To bring news of Marshal Simon?" + +"That is exactly the case. I am happy enough to have news of the marshal. +Yes, my dear young ladies," added Rodin, as he again approached the two +sisters, to recover, as it were, the ground he had lost, "I have news of +your glorious father!" + +"Then come to my room directly, and you can tell it to me," replied +Dagobert. + +"What! you would be cruel enough to deprive these dear ladies of the +pleasure--" + +"By heaven, sir!" cried Dagobert, in a voice of thunder, "you will make +me forget myself. I should be sorry to fling a man of your age down the +stairs. Will you be gone?" + +"Well, well," said Rodin mildly, "do not be angry with a poor old man. I +am really not worth the trouble. I will go with you to your room, and +tell you what I have to communicate. You will repent not having let me +speak before these dear young ladies; but that will be your punishment, +naughty man!" + +So saying, Rodin again bowed very low, and, concealing his rage and +vexation, left the room before Dagobert, who made a sign to the two +sisters, and then followed, closing the door after him. + +"What news of our father, Dagobert?" said Rose anxiously, when the +soldier returned, after a quarter of an hours absence. + +"Well, that old conjurer knows that the marshal set out in good spirits, +and he seems acquainted with M. Robert. How could he be informed of all +this? I cannot tell," added the soldier, with a thoughtful air; "but it +is only another reason to be on one's guard against him." + +"But what news of our father?" asked Rose. + +"One of that old rascal's friends (I think him a rascal still) knows your +father, he tells me, and met him five-and-twenty leagues from here. +Knowing that this man was coming to Paris, the marshal charged him to let +you know that he was in perfect health, and hoped soon to see you again." + +"Oh, what happiness!" cried Rose. + +"You see, you were wrong to suspect the poor old man, Dagobert," added +Blanche. "You treated him so harshly!" + +"Possibly so; but I am not sorry for it." + +"And why?" + +"I have my reasons; and one of the best is that, when I saw him came in, +and go sidling and creeping round about us, I felt chilled to the marrow +of my bones, without knowing why. Had I seen a serpent crawling towards +you, I should not have been more frightened. I knew, of course, that he +could not hurt you in my presence; but I tell you, my children, in spite +of the services he has no doubt rendered us, it was all I could do to +refrain from throwing him out of the window. Now, this manner of proving +my gratitude is not natural, and one must be on one's guard against +people who inspire us with such ideas." + +"Good Dagobert, it is your affection for us that makes you so +suspicious," said Rose, in a coaxing tone; "it proves how much you love +us." + + + + +CHAPTER LV. + +THE IMPROVISED HOSPITAL + +Among a great number of temporary hospitals opened at the time of the +cholera in every quarter of Paris, one had been established on the +ground-floor of a large house in the Rue du Mont-Blanc. The vacant +apartments had been generously placed by their proprietor at the disposal +of the authorities; and to this place were carried a number of persons, +who, being suddenly attacked with the contagion, were considered in too +dangerous a state to be removed to the principal hospitals. + +Two days had elapsed since Rodin's visit to Marshal Simon's daughters. +Shortly after he had been expelled, the Princess de Saint-Dizier had +entered to see them, under the cloak of being a house-to-house visitor to +collect funds for the cholera sufferers. + +Choosing the moment when Dagobert, deceived by her lady-like demeanor, +had withdrawn, she counselled the twins that it was their duty to go and +see their governess, whom she stated to be in the hospital we now +describe. + +It was about ten o'clock in the morning. The persons who had watched +during the night by the sick people, in the hospital established in the +Rue du Mont-Blanc, were about to be relieved by other voluntary +assistants. + +"Well, gentlemen," said one of those newly arrived, "how are we getting +on? Has there been any decrease last night in the number of the sick?" + +"Unfortunately, no; but the doctors think the contagion has reached its +height." + +"Then there is some hope of seeing it decrease." + +"And have any of the gentlemen, whose places we come to take, been +attacked by the disease?" + +"We came eleven strong last night; we are only nine now." + +"That is bad. Were these two persons taken off rapidly?" + +"One of the victims, a young man of twenty-five years of age, a cavalry +officer on furlough, was struck as it were by lightning. In less than a +quarter of an hour he was dead. Though such facts are frequent, we were +speechless with horror." + +"Poor young man!" + +"He had a word of cordial encouragement and hope for every one. He had +so far succeeded in raising the spirits of the patients, that some of +them who were less affected by the cholera than by the fear of it, were +able to quit the hospital nearly well." + +"What a pity! So good a young man! Well, he died gloriously; it requires +as much courage as on the field of battle." + +"He had only one rival in zeal and courage, and that is a Young priest, +with an angelic countenance, whom they call the Abbe Gabriel. He is +indefatigable; he hardly takes an hour's rest, but runs from one to the +other, and offers himself to everybody. He forgets nothing. The +consolation; which he offers come from the depths of his soul, and are +not mere formalities in the way of his profession. No, no, I saw him weep +over a poor woman, whose eyes he had closed after a dreadful agony. Oh, +if all priests were like him!" + +"No doubt, a good priest is most worthy of respect. But! who is the other +victim of last night?" + +"Oh! his death was frightful. Do not speak of it. I have still the +horrible scene before my eyes." + +"A sudden attack of cholera?" + +"If it had only been the contagion, I should not so shudder at the +remembrance." + +"What then did he die of?" + +"It is a string of horrors. Three days ago, they brought here a man, who +was supposed to be only attacked with cholera. You have no doubt heard +speak of this personage. He is the lion-tamer, that drew all Paris to the +Porte-Saint-Martin." + +"I know the man you mean. Called Morok. He performed a kind of play with +a tame panther." + +"Exactly so; I was myself present at a similar scene, which a stranger, +an Indian, in consequence of a wager, was said at the time, jumped upon +the stage and killed the panther." + +"Well, this Morok, brought here as a cholera-patient, and indeed with all +the symptoms of the contagion, soon showed signs of a still more +frightful malady." + +"And this was--" + +"Hydrophobia." + +"Did he become mad?" + +"Yes; he confessed, that he had been bitten a few days before by one of +the mastiffs in his menagerie; unfortunately, we only learnt this +circumstance after the terrible attack, which cost the life of the poor +fellow we deplore." + +"How did it happen, then?" + +"Morok was in a room with three other patients. Suddenly seized with a +sort of furious delirium, he rose, uttering ferocious cries, and rushed +raving mad into the passage. Our poor friend made an attempt to stop him. +This kind of resistance increased the frenzy of Morok, who threw himself +on the man that crossed his path, and, tearing him with his teeth, fell +down in horrible convulsions." + +"Oh! you are right. 'Twas indeed frightful. And, not withstanding every +assistance this victim of Morok's--" + +"Died during the night, in dreadful agony; for the shock had been so +violent, that brain-fever almost instantly declared itself." + +"And is Morok dead?" + +"I do not know. He was to be taken to another hospital, after being fast +bound in the state of weakness which generally succeeds the fit. But, +till he can be removed he has been confined in a room upstairs." + +"But he cannot recover." + +"I should think he must be dead by this time. The doctors did not give +him twenty-four hours to live." + +The persons engaged in this conversation were standing in an ante-chamber +on the ground-floor, in which usually assembled those who came to offer +their voluntary aid to the sick. One door of this room communicated with +the rest of the hospital, and the other with the passage that opened upon +the courtyard. + +"Dear me!" said one of the two speakers, looking through the window. "See +what two charming girls have just got out of that elegant carriage. How +much alike they are! Such a resemblance is indeed extraordinary." + +"No doubt they are twins. Poor young girls! dressed in Mourning. They +have perhaps lost father or mother." + +"One would imagine they are coming this way." + +"Yes, they are coming up the steps." + +And indeed Rose and Blanche soon entered the antechamber, with a timid, +anxious air, though a sort of feverish excitement was visible in their +looks. One of the two men that were talking together, moved by the +embarrassment of the girls, advanced toward them, and said, in a tone of +attentive politeness: "Is there anything I can do for you, ladies?" + +"Is not this, sir," replied Rose, "the infirmary of the Rue du Mont +Blanc?" + +"Yes, miss." + +"A lady, called Madame Augustine du Tremblay, was brought here, we are +told, about two days ago. Could we see her?" + +"I would observe to you, miss, that there is some danger in entering the +sick-wards." + +"It is a dear friend that we wish to see," answered Rose, in a mild and +firm tone, which sufficiently expressed that she was determined to brave +the danger. + +"I cannot be sure, miss," resumed the other, "that the person you seek is +here; but, if you will take the trouble to walk into this room on the +left, you will find there the good Sister Martha; she has the care of the +women's wards, and will give you all the information you can desire." + +"Thank you, sir," said Blanche, with a graceful bow; and she and her +sister entered together the apartment which had been pointed out to them. + +"They are really charming," said the man, looking after the two sisters, +who soon disappeared from his view. "It would be a great pity if--" + +He was unable to finish. A frightful tumult, mingled with cries of alarm +and horror, rose suddenly from the adjoining rooms. Almost instantly, two +doors were thrown open, and a number of the sick, half-naked, pale, +fleshless, and their features convulsed with terror, rushed into the +antechamber, exclaiming: "Help! help! the madman!" It is impossible to +paint the scene of despairing and furious confusion which followed this +panic of so many affrighted wretches, flying to the only other door, to +escape from the perils they dreaded, and there, struggling and trampling +on each other to pass through the narrow entrance. + +At the moment when the last of these unhappy creatures succeeded in +reaching the door, dragging himself along upon his bleeding hands, for he +had been thrown down and almost crushed in the confusion--Morok, the +object of so much terror--Morok himself appeared. He was a horrible +sight. With the exception of a rag bound about his middle, his wan form +was entirely naked, and from his bare legs still hung the remnants of the +cords he had just broken. His thick, yellow hair stood almost on end, his +beard bristled, his savage eyes rolled full of blood in their orbits, and +shone with a glassy brightness; his lips were covered with foam; from +time to time, he uttered hoarse, guttural cries. The veins, visible on +his iron limbs were swollen almost to bursting. He bounded like a wild +beast, and stretched out before him his bony and quivering hands. At the +moment Morok reached the doorway, by which those he pursued made their +escape, some persons, attracted by the noise, managed to close this door +from without, whilst others secured that which communicated with the +sick-ward. + +Morok thus found himself a prisoner. He ran to the window to force it +open, and threw himself into the courtyard. But, stopping suddenly, he +drew back from the glittering panes, seized with that invincible horror +which all the victims of hydrophobia feel at the sight of any shining +object, particularly glass. The unfortunate creatures whom he had +pursued, saw him from the courtyard exhausting himself in furious efforts +to open the doors that just had been closed upon him. Then, perceiving +the inutility of his attempts, he uttered savage cries, and rushed +furiously round the room, like a wild beast that seeks in vain to escape +from its cage. + +But, suddenly, those spectators of this scene, who had approached nearest +to the window, uttered a loud exclamation of fear and anguish. Morok had +perceived the little door which led to the closet occupied by Sister +Martha, where Rose and Blanche had entered a few minutes before. Hoping +to get out by this way, Morok drew the door violently towards him, and +succeeded in half opening it, notwithstanding the resistance he +experienced from the inside. For an instant the affrighted crowd saw the +stiffened arms Of Sister Martha and the orphans, clinging to the door, +and holding it back with all their might. + + + + +CHAPTER LVI. + +HYDROPHOBIA. + +When the sick people, assembled in the courtyard, saw the desperate +efforts of Morok to force the door of the room which contained Sister +Martha and the orphans, their fright redoubled. "It is all over, Sister +Martha!" cried they. + +"The door will give way." + +"And the closet has no other entrance." + +"There are two young girls in mourning with her." + +"Come! we must not leave these poor women to encounter the madman. Follow +me, friends!" cried generously one of the spectators, who was still +blessed with health, and he rushed towards the steps to return to the +ante-chamber. + +"It's too late! it's only exposing yourself in vain," cried many persons, +holding him back by force. + +At this moment, voices were heard, exclaiming: "Here is the Abbe +Gabriel." + +"He is coming downstairs. He has heard the noise." + +"He is asking what is the matter." + +"What will he do?" + +Gabriel, occupied with a dying person in a neighboring room, had, indeed, +just learned that Morok, having broken his bonds, had succeeded in +escaping from the chamber in which he had been temporarily confined. +Foreseeing the terrible dangers which might result from the escape of the +lion-tamer, the missionary consulted only his courage, and hastened down, +in the hope of preventing greater misfortunes. In obedience to his +orders, an attendant followed him, bearing a brazier full of hot cinders, +on which lay several irons, at a white heat, used by the doctors for +cauterizing, in desperate cases of cholera. + +The angelic countenance of Gabriel was very pale; but calm intrepidity +shone upon his noble brow. Hastily crossing the passage, and making his +way through the crowd, he went straight to the ante-chamber door. As he +approached it, one of the sick people said to him, in a lamentable voice; +"Ah, sir! it is all over. Those who can see through the window say that +Sister Martha is lost." + +Gabriel made no answer, but grasped the key of the door. Before entering +the room, however, he turned to the attendant, and said to him in a firm +voice: "Are the irons of a white heat?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Then wait here, and be ready. As for you, my friends," he added, turning +to some of the sick, who shuddered with terror, "as soon as I enter shut +the door after me. I will answer for the rest. And you; friend, only +bring your irons when I call." + +And the young missionary turned the key in the lock. At this juncture, a +cry of alarm, pity, and admiration rose from every lip, and the +spectators drew back from the door, with an involuntary feeling of fear. +Raising his eyes to heaven, as if to invoke its assistance at this +terrible moment, Gabriel pushed open the door, and immediately closed it +behind him. He was alone with Morok. + +The lion-tamer, by a last furious effort, had almost succeeded in opening +the door, to which Sister Martha and the orphans were clinging, in a fit +of terror, uttering piercing cries. At the sound of Gabriel's footsteps, +Morok turned round suddenly. Then, instead of continuing his attack on +the closet, he sprang, with a roar and a bound, upon the new-comer. + +During this time, Sister Martha and the orphans, not knowing the cause of +the sudden retreat of their assailant, took advantage of the opportunity +to close and bolt the door, and thus placed themselves in security from a +new attack. Morok, with haggard eye, and teeth convulsively clinched, had +rushed upon Gabriel, his hands extended to seize him by the throat. The +missionary stood the shock valiantly. Guessing, at a glance, the +intention of his adversary, he seized him by the wrists as he advanced, +and, holding him back, bent him down violently with a vigorous hand. For +a second, Morok and Gabriel remained mute, breathless, motionless, gazing +on each other; then the missionary strove to conquer the efforts of the +madman, who, with violent jerks, attempted to throw himself upon him, and +to seize and tear him with his teeth. + +Suddenly the lion-tamer's strength seemed to fail, his knees quivered, +his livid head sank upon his shoulder, his eyes closed. The missionary, +supposing that a momentary weakness had succeeded to the fit of rage, and +that the wretch was about to fall, relaxed his hold in order to lend him +assistance. But no sooner did he feel himself at liberty, thanks to his +crafty device, than Morok flung himself furiously upon Gabriel. Surprised +by this sudden attack, the latter stumbled, and at once felt himself +clasped into the iron arms of the madman. Yet, with redoubled strength +and energy, struggling breast to breast, foot to foot, the missionary in +his turn succeeded in tripping up his adversary, and, throwing him with a +vigorous effort, again seized his hands, and now held him down beneath +his knee. Having thus completely mastered him, Gabriel turned his head to +call for assistance, when Morok, by a desperate strain, succeeded in +raising himself a little, and seized with his teeth the left arm of the +missionary. At this sharp, deep, horrible bite, which penetrated to the +very bone, Gabriel could not restrain a scream of anguish and horror. He +strove in vain to disengage himself, for his arm was held fast, as in a +vice, between the firm-set jaws of Morok. + +This frightful scene had lasted less time than it has taken in the +description, when suddenly the door leading to the passage was violently +opened, and several courageous men, who had learned from the patients to +what danger the young priest was exposed, came rushing to his assistance, +in spite of his recommendation not to enter till he should call. The +attendant was amongst the number, with the brazier and the hot irons. +Gabriel, as soon as he perceived him, said to him in an agitated voice: +"Quick, friend! your iron. Thank God I had thought of that." + +One of the men who had entered the room was luckily provided with a +blanket; and the moment the missionary succeeded in wresting his arm from +the clinched teeth of Morok, whom he still held down with his knee, this +blanket was thrown over the madman's head, so that he could now be held +and bound without danger, notwithstanding his desperate resistance. Then +Gabriel rose, tore open the sleeve of his cassock, and laying bare his +left arm, on which a deep bite was visible, bleeding, of a bluish color, +he beckoned the attendant to draw near, seized one of the hot irons, and, +with a firm and sure hand, twice applied the burning metal to the wound, +with a calm heroism which struck all the spectators, with admiration. But +soon so many various emotions, intrepidly sustained, were followed by a +natural reaction. Large drops of sweat stood upon Gabriel's brow; his +long light hair clung to his temples; he grew deadly pale, reeled, lost +his senses, and was carried into the next room to receive immediate +attention. + +An accidental circumstance, likely enough to occur, had converted one of +the Princess de Saint-Dizier's falsehoods into a truth. To induce the +orphans to go to the hospital, she had told them Gabriel was there, which +at the time she was far from believing. On the contrary, she would have +wished to prevent a meeting, which, from the attachment of the missionary +to the girls, might interfere with her projects. A little while after the +terrible scene we have just related, Rose and Blanche, accompanied by +Sister Martha, entered a vast room, of a strange and fatal aspect, +containing a number of women who had suddenly been seized with cholera. + +These immense apartments, generously supplied for the purpose of a +temporary hospital, had been furnished with excessive luxury. The room +now occupied by the sick women, of whom we speak, had been used for a +ball-room. The white panels glittered with sumptuous gilding, and +magnificent pier-glasses occupied the spaces between the windows, through +which could be seen the fresh verdure of a pleasant garden, smiling +beneath the influence of budding May. In the midst of all this gilded +luxury, on a rich, inlaid floor of costly woods, were seen arranged in +regular order four rows of beds, of every shape and kind, from the humble +truckle-bed to the handsome couch in carved mahogany. + +This long room was divided into two compartments by a temporary +partition, four or five feet in height. They had thus been able to manage +the four rows of beds. This partition finished at some little distance +from either end of the room, so as to leave an open space without beds, +for the volunteer attendants, when the sick did not require their aid. At +one of these extremities of the room was a lofty and magnificent marble +chimney piece, ornamented with gilt bronze. On the fire beneath, various +drinks were brewing for the patients. To complete the singular picture, +women of every class took their turns in attending upon the sick, to +whose sighs and groans they always responded with consoling words of hope +and pity. Such was the place, strange and mournful, that Rose and Blanche +entered together, hand in hand, a short time after Gabriel had displayed +such heroic courage in the struggle against Morok. Sister Martha +accompanied Marshal Simon's daughters. After speaking a few words to them +in a whisper, she pointed out to them the two divisions in which the beds +were arranged, and herself went to the other end of the room to give some +orders. + +The orphans, still under the impression of the terrible danger from which +Gabriel had rescued them without their knowing it, were both excessively +pale; yet their eyes were expressive of firm resolution. They had +determined not only to perform what they considered an imperative duty, +but to prove themselves worthy of their valiant father; they were acting +too for their mother's sake, since they had been told that, dying in +Siberia without receiving the sacrament, her eternal felicity might +depend on the proofs they gave of Christian devotion. Need we add that +the Princess de Saint-Dizier, following the advice of Rodin, had, in a +second interview, skillfully brought about without the knowledge of +Dagobert, taken advantage of the excitable qualities of these poor, +confiding, simple, and generous souls, by a fatal exaggeration of the +most noble and courageous sentiments. The orphans having asked Sister +Martha if Madame Augustine du Tremblay had been brought to this asylum +within the last three days, that person had answered, that she really did +not know, but, if they would go through the women's wards, it would be +easy for them to ascertain. For the abominable hypocrite, who, in +conjunction with Rodin, had sent these two children to encounter a mortal +peril, had told an impudent falsehood when she affirmed that their +governess had been removed to this hospital. During their exile, and +their toilsome journey with Dagobert, the sisters had been exposed to +many hard trials. But never had they witnessed so sad a spectacle as that +which now offered itself to their view. + +The long row of beds, on which so many poor creatures writhed in agony, +some uttering deep groans, some only a dull rattle in the throat, some +raving in the delirium of fever, or calling on those from whom they were +about to part forever--these frightful sights and sounds, which are too +much even for brave men, would inevitably, (such was the execrable design +of Rodin and his accomplices) make a fatal impression on these young +girls, urged by the most generous motives to undertake this perilous +visit. And then--sad memory! which awoke, in all its deep and poignant +bitterness, by the side of the first beds they came to--it was of this +very malady, the Cholera, that their mother had died a painful death. +Fancy the twins entering this vast room, of so fearful an aspect, and, +already much shaken by the terror which Morok had inspired, pursuing +their search in the midst of these unfortunate creatures, whose dying +pangs reminded them every instant of the dying agony of their mother! For +a moment, at sight of the funeral hall, Rose and Blanche had felt their +resolution fail them. A black presentiment made them regret their heroic +imprudence; and, moreover, since several minutes they had begun to feel +an icy shudder, and painful shootings across the temples; but, +attributing these symptoms to the fright occasioned by Morok, their good +and valiant natures soon stifled all these fears. They exchanged glances +of affection, their courage revived, and both of them--Rose on one side +of the partition, and Blanche on the other--proceeded with their painful +task. Gabriel, carried to the doctors' private room, had soon recovered +his senses. Thanks to his courage and presence of mind, his wound, +cauterized in time, could have no dangerous consequences. As soon as it +was dressed he insisted on returning to the women's ward, where he had be +offering pious consolations to a dying person at the moment they had come +to inform him of the frightful danger caused by the escape of Morok. + +A few minutes before the missionary entered the room, Rose and Blanche +arrived almost together at the term of their mournful search, one from +the left, the other from the right-hand row of beds, separated by the +partition which divided the hall into compartments. The sisters had not +yet seen each other. Their steps tottered as they advanced, and they were +forced, from time to time, to lean against the beds as they passed along. +Their strength was--rapidly failing them. Giddy with fear and pain, they +appeared to act almost mechanically. Alas! the orphans had been seized +almost at the same moment with the terrible symptoms of cholera. In +consequence of that species of physiological phenomenon, of which we have +already spoken--a phenomenon by no means rare in twins, which had already +been displayed on one or two occasions of their sickness--their +organizations seemed liable to the same sensations, the same simultaneous +accidents, like two flowers on one stem, which bloom and fade together. +The sight of so much suffering, and so many deaths, had accelerated the +development of this dreadful disease. Already, on their agitated and +altered countenances, they bore the mortal tokens of the contagion, as +they came forth, each on her own side, from the two subdivisions of the +room in which they had vainly sought their governess. Until now separated +by the partition, Rose and Blanche had not yet seen each other; but, when +at length their eyes met, there ensued a heart rending scene. + + + + +CHAPTER LVII. + +THE GUARDIAN ANGEL. + +To the charming freshness of the sisters' faces had succeeded a livid +pallor. Their large blue eyes, now hollow and sunk in, appeared of +enormous dimensions. Their lips, once so rosy, were now suffused with a +violet hue, and a similar color was gradually displacing the transparent +carmine of their cheeks and fingers. It was as if all the roses in their +charming countenances were fading and turning blue before the icy blast +of death. + +When the orphans met, tottering and hardly able to sustain themselves, a +cry of mutual horror burst from their lips. Each of them exclaimed, at +sight of the fearful change in her sister's features. "Are you also ill, +sister?" And then, bursting into tears, they threw themselves into each +other's arms, and looked anxiously at one another. + +"Good heaven, Rose! how pale you are!" + +"Like you, sister." + +"And do you feel a cold shudder?" + +"Yes, and my sight fails me." + +"My bosom is all on fire." + +"Sister, we are perhaps going to die." + +"Let it only be together!" + +"And our poor father?" + +"And Dagobert?" + +"Sister, our dream has come true!" cried Rose, almost deliriously, as she +threw her arms round Blanche's neck. "Look! look! the Angel Gabriel is +here to fetch us." + +Indeed, at this moment, Gabriel entered the open space at the end of the +room. "Heaven! what do I see?" cried the young priest. "The daughters of +Marshal Simon!" + +And, rushing forward, he received the sisters in his arms, for they were +no longer able to stand. Already their drooping heads, their half-closed +eyes, their painful and difficult breathing, announced the approach of +death. Sister Martha was close at hand. She hastened to respond to the +call of Gabriel. Aided by this pious woman, he was able to lift the +orphans upon a bed reserved for the doctor in attendance. For fear that +the sight of this mournful agony should make too deep an impression on +the other patients, Sister Martha drew a large curtain, and the sisters +were thus in some sort walled off from the rest of the room. Their hands +had been so tightly clasped together, during a nervous paroxysm, that it +was impossible to separate them. It was in this position that the first +remedies were applied--remedies incapable of conquering the violence of +the disease, but which at least mitigated for a few moments the excessive +pains they suffered, and restored some faint glimmer of perception to +their obscured and troubled senses. At this moment, Gabriel was leaning +over the bed with a look of inexpressible grief. With breaking heart, and +face bathed in tears, he thought of the strange destiny, which thus made +him a witness of the death of these girls, his relations, whom but a few +months before he had rescued from the horrors of the tempest. In spite of +his firmness of soul, the missionary could not help shuddering as he +reflected on the fate of the orphans, the death of Jacques Rennepont, and +the fearful devices by which M. Hardy, retired to the cloistered solitude +of St. Herein, had become a member of the Society of Jesus almost in +dying. The missionary said to himself, that already four members of the +Rennepont family--his family--had been successively struck down by some +dreadful fate; and he asked himself with alarm, how it was that the +detestable interests of the Society of Loyola should be served by a +providential fatality? The astonishment of the young missionary would +have given place to the deepest horror, could he have known the part that +Rodin and his accomplices had taken, both in the death of Jacques +Rennepont, by exciting, through Morok, the evil propensities of the +artisan, and in the approaching end of Rose and Blanche, by converting, +through the Princess de Saint-Dizier, the generous inspirations of the +orphans into suicidal heroism. + +Roused for a moment from the painful stupor in which they had been +plunged, Rose and Blanche half-opened their large eyes, already dull and +faded. Then, more and more bewildered they both gazed fixedly at the +angelic countenance of Gabriel. + +"Sister," said Rose, in a faint voice, "do you see the archangel--as in +our dreams, in Germany?" + +"Yes--three days ago--he appeared to us." + +"He is come to fetch us." + +"Alas! will our death save our poor mother from purgatory?" + +"Angel! blessed angel! pray God for our mother--and for us!" Until now, +stupefied with amazement and sorrow, almost suffocated with sobs, Gabriel +had not been able to utter a word. But at these words of the orphans, he +exclaimed: "Dear children, why doubt of your mother's salvation? Oh! +never did a purer soul ascend to its Creator. Your mother? I know from my +adopted father, that her virtues and courage were the admiration of all +who knew her. Oh! believe me; God has blessed her." + +"Do you hear, sister?" cried Rose, as a ray of celestial joy illumined +for an instant the livid faces of the orphans. "God has blessed our +mother." + +"Yes, yes," resumed Gabriel; "banish these gloomy ideas. Take courage, +poor children! You must not die. Think of your father." + +"Our father?" said Blanche, shuddering; and she continued, with a mixture +of reason and wild excitement, which would have touched the soul of the +most indifferent: "Alas! he will not find us on his return. Forgive us, +father! we did not think to do any harm. We wished, like you, to do +something generous--to help our governess." + +"And we did not think to die so quickly, and so soon. Yesterday, we were +gay and happy." + +"Oh, good angel! you will appear to our father, even as you have appeared +to us. You will tell him that, in dying--the last thought of his +children--was of him." + +"We came here without Dagobert's knowing it--do not let our father scold +him." + +"Blessed angel!" resumed the other sister in a still more feeble voice; +"appear to Dagobert, also. Tell him, that we ask his forgiveness, for the +grief our death will occasion him." + +"And let our old friend caress our poor Spoil-sport for us--our faithful +guardian," added Blanche, trying to smile. + +"And then," resumed Rose, in a voice that was growing still fainter, +"promise to appear to two other persons, that have been so kind to +us--good Mother Bunch--and the beautiful Lady Adrienne." + +"We forget none whom we have loved," said Blanche, with a last effort. +"Now, God grant we may go to our mother, never to leave her more!" + +"You promised it good angel--you know you did--in the dream. You said to +us: 'Poor children--come from so far--you will have traversed the +earth--to rest on the maternal bosom!'" + +"Oh! it is dreadful--dreadful! So young--and no hope!" murmured Gabriel, +as he buried his face in his hands. "Almighty Father! Thy views are +impenetrable. Alas! yet why should these children die this cruel death?" + +Rose heaved a deep sigh and said in an expiring tone: "Let us be buried +together!--united in life, in death not divided--" + +And the two turned their dying looks upon Gabriel, and stretched out +towards him their supplicating hands. + +"Oh, blessed martyrs to a generous devotion!" cried the missionary, +raising to heaven his eyes streaming with tears. "Angelic souls! +treasures of innocence and truth! ascend, ascend to heaven--since God +calls you to him, and the earth is not worthy to possess you!" + +"Sister! father!" were the last words that the orphans pronounced with +their dying voices. + +And then the twins, by a last instinctive impulse, endeavored to clasp +each other, and their eyes half-opened to exchange yet another glance. +They shuddered twice or thrice, their limbs stiffened, a deep sigh +struggled from their violet-colored lips. Rose and Blanche were both +dead! Gabriel and Sister Martha, after closing the eyes of the orphans, +knelt down to pray by the side of that funeral couch. Suddenly a great +tumult was heard in the room. Rapid footsteps, mingled with imprecations, +sounded close at hand, the curtain was drawn aside from this mournful +scene, and Dagobert entered precipitately, pale, haggard, his dress in +disorder. At sight of Gabriel and the Sister of Charity kneeling beside +the corpses of his children, the soldier uttered a terrible roar, and +tried to advance--but in vain--for, before Gabriel could reach him, +Dagobert fell flat on the ground, and his gray head struck violently on +the floor. + +It is night--a dark and stormy night. One o'clock in the morning has just +sounded from the church of Montmartre. It is to the cemetery of +Montmartre that is carried the coffin which, according to the last wishes +of Rose and Blanche contains them both. Through the thick shadow, which +rests upon that field of death, may be seen moving a pale light. It is +the gravedigger. He advances with caution; a dark lantern is in his hand. +A man wrapped in a cloak accompanies him. He holds down his head and +weeps. It is Samuel. The old Jew--the keeper of the house in the Rue +Saint-Francois. On the night of the funeral of Jacques Rennepont, the +first who died of the seven heirs, and who was buried in another +cemetery, Samuel had a similar mysterious interview with the gravedigger, +to obtain a favor at the price of gold. A strange and awful favor! After +passing down several paths, bordered with cypress trees, by the side of +many tombs, the Jew and the gravedigger arrived, at a little glade, +situated near the western wall of the cemetery. The night was so dark, +that scarcely anything could be seen. After moving his lantern up and +down, and all about, the gravedigger showed Samuel, at the foot of a tall +yew-tree, with long black branches, a little mound of newly-raised earth, +and said: "It is here." + +"You are sure of it?" + +"Yes, yes--two bodies in one coffin! it is not such a common thing." + +"Alas! two in the same coffin!" said the Jew, with a deep sigh. + +"Now that you know the place, what do you want more?" asked the +gravedigger. + +Samuel did not answer. He fell on his knees, and piously kissed the +little mound. Then rising, with his cheeks bathed in tears, he approached +the gravedigger, and spoke to him for some moments in a whisper--though +they were alone, and in the centre of that deserted place. Then began +between those two men a mysterious dialogue, which the night enveloped in +shade and silence. The gravedigger, alarmed at what Samuel asked him, at +first refused his request. + +But the Jew, employing persuasions, entreaties, tears, and at last the +seduction of the jingling gold, succeeded in conquering the scruples of +the gravedigger. Though the latter trembled at the thought of what he +promised, he said to Samuel in an agitated tone: "To-morrow night, then, +at two o'clock." + +"I shall be behind the wall," answered Samuel, pointing out the place +with the aid of a lantern. "I will throw three stones into the cemetery, +for a signal." + +"Yes, three stones--as a signal," replied the gravedigger shuddering, and +wiping the cold sweat from his forehead. + +With considerable remains of vigor, notwithstanding his great age, Samuel +availed himself of the broken surface of the low wall, and climbing over +it, soon disappeared. The gravedigger returned home with hasty strides. +From time to time, he looked fearfully behind him, as though he had been +pursued by some fatal vision. + +On the evening after the funeral of Rose and Blanche, Rodin wrote two +letters. The first, addressed to his mysterious correspondent at Rome, +alluded to the deaths of Jacques Rennepont, and Rose and Blanche Simon, +as well as to the cession of M. Hardy's property, and the donation of +Gabriel--events which reduced the claimants of the inheritance to +two--Mdlle. de Cardoville and Djalma. This first note written by Rodin +for Rome, contained only the following words: "Five from seven leaves +two. Announce this result to the Cardinal-Prince. Let him go on. I +advance advance-advance!" The second note, in a feigned hand, was +addressed to Marshal Simon, to be delivered by a sure messenger, +contained these few lines: "If there is yet time, make haste to return. +Your daughters are both dead. You shall learn who killed them." + + + + +CHAPTER LVIII. + +RUIN. + +It is the day after the death of Marshal Simon's daughters. Mdlle. de +Cardoville is yet ignorant of the sad end of her young relatives. Her +countenance is radiant with happiness, and never has she looked more +beautiful; her eye has never been more brilliant, her complexion more +dazzling white, her lip of a richer coral. According to her somewhat +eccentric custom of dressing herself in her own house in a picturesque +style, Adrienne wears to-day, though it is about three o'clock in the +afternoon, a pale green watered-silk dress, with a very full skirt, the +sleeves and bodice slashed with rose-colored ribbon, and adorned with +white bugle-beads, of exquisite workmanship; while a slender network, +also of white bugle-beads, concealing the thick plait of Adrienne's back +hair, forms an oriental head-dress of charming originality, and contrasts +agreeably with the long curls which fall in front almost to the swell of +the bosom. To the expression of indescribable happiness which marks the +features of Mdlle. de Cardoville, is added a certain resolute, cutting, +satirical air, which is not habitual to her. Her charming head, and +graceful, swan-like neck, are raised in an attitude of defiance; her +small, rose-colored nostrils seem to dilate with ill-repressed ardor, and +she waits with haughty impatience for the moment of an aggressive and +ironical interview. Not far from Adrienne is Mother Bunch. She has +resumed in the house the place which she at first occupied. The young +sempstress is in mourning for her sister, but her countenance is +expressive of a mild, calm sorrow. She looks at Mdlle. de Cardoville with +surprise; for never, till now, has she seen the features of the fair +patrician impressed with such a character of ironical audacity. Mdlle. de +Cardoville was exempt from the slightest coquetry, in the narrow and +ordinary sense of the word. Yet she now cast an inquiring look at the +glass before which she was standing, and, having restored the elastic +smoothness to one of her long, golden curls, by rolling it for a moment +round her ivory finger, she carefully effaced with her hands some almost +imperceptible folds, which had formed themselves in the thick material of +her elegant corsage. This movement, and that of turning her back to the +glass, to see if her dress sat perfectly on all points, revealed, in +serpentine undulations, all the charms and graces of her light and +elegant figure; for, in spite of the rich fulness of her shoulders, white +and firm as sculptured alabaster, Adrienne belonged to that class of +privileged persons, who are able at need to make a girdle out of a +garter. + +Having performed, with indescribable grace, these charming evolutions of +feminine coquetry, Adrienne turned towards Mother Bunch, whose surprise +was still on the increase, and said to her, smiling: "My dear Magdalen, +do not laugh at my question--but what would you say to a picture, that +should represent me as I am now?" + +"Why, lady--" + +"There you are again, with your lady-ing," said Adrienne, in a tone of +gentle reproach. + +"Well, then, Adrienne," resumed Mother Bunch, "I think it would be a +charming picture, for you are dressed, as usual with perfect taste." + +"But am I not better dressed than on other days, my dear poetess? I began +by telling you that I do not ask the question for my own sake," said +Adrienne, gayly. + +"Well, I suppose so," replied Mother Bunch, with a faint smile. "It is +certainly impossible to imagine anything that would suit you better. The +light green and the pale rose-color, with the soft lustre of the white +ornaments, harmonize so well with your golden hair, that I cannot +conceive, I tell you, a more graceful picture." + +The speaker felt what she said, and she was happy to be able to express +it, for we know the intense admiration of that poetic soul for all that +was beautiful. + +"Well!" went on Adrienne, gayly, "I am glad, my dear, that you find me +better dressed than usual." + +"Only," said the hunchback, hesitating. + +"Only?" repeated Adrienne, looking at her with an air of interrogation. + +"Why, only," continued the other, "if I have never seen you look more +pretty, I have also never observed in your features the resolute and +ironical expression which they had just now. It was like an air of +impatient defiance." + +"And so it was, my dear little Magdalen," said Adrienne, throwing her +arms round the girl's neck with joyous tenderness. "I must kiss you, for +having guessed it. You see, I expect a visit from my dear aunt." + +"The Princess de Saint-Dizier?" cried Mother Bunch, in alarm. "That +wicked lady, who did you so much evil?" + +"The very same. She has asked for an interview, and I shall be delighted +to receive her." + +"Delighted?" + +"Yes--a somewhat ironical and malicious delight, it is true," answered +Adrienne, still more gayly. "You shall judge for yourself. She regrets +her gallantries, her beauty, her youth--even her size afflicts the holy +woman!--and she will see me young, fair, beloved--and above all +thin--yes, thin," added Mdlle. de Cardoville, laughing merrily. "And you +may imagine, my dear, how much envy and despair, the sight of a young, +thin woman excites in a stout one of a certain age!" + +"My friend," said Mother Bunch, gravely, "you speak in jest. And yet, I +know not why, the coming of this princess alarms me." + +"Dear, gentle soul, be satisfied!" answered Adrienne, affectionately. "I +do not fear this woman--I no longer have any fear of her--and to prove it +to her confusion, I will treat her--a monster of hypocrisy and +wickedness, who comes here, no doubt, on some abominable design--I will +treat her as an inoffensive, ridiculous fat woman!" And Adrienne again +laughed. + +A servant here entered the room, and interrupted the mirth of Adrienne, +by saying: "The Princess de Saint-Dizier wishes to know if you can +receive her?" + +"Certainly," said Mdlle. de Cardoville; and the servant retired. Mother +Bunch was about to rise and quit the room; but Adrienne held her back, +and said to her, taking her hand with an air of serious tenderness: +"Stay, my dear friend, I entreat you." + +"Do you wish it?" + +"Yes; I wish--still in revenge, you know," said Adrienne, with a smile, +"to prove to her highness of Saint-Dizier, that I have an affectionate +friend--that I have, in fact, every happiness." + +"But, Adrienne," replied the other, timidly, "consider--" + +"Silence! here is the princess. Remain! I ask it as a favor. The instinct +of your heart will discover any snare she may have laid. Did not your +affection warn me of the plots of Rodin?" + +Mother Bunch could not refuse such a request. She remained, but was about +to draw back from the fireplace. Adrienne, however, took her by the hand, +and made her resume her seat in the arm-chair, saying: "My dear Magdalen, +keep your place. You owe nothing to the lady. With me it is different; +she comes to my house." + +Hardly had Adrienne uttered these words, than the princess entered with +head erect, and haughty air (we have said, she could carry herself most +loftily), and advanced with a firm step. The strongest minds have their +side of puerile weakness; a savage envy, excited by the elegance, wit, +and beauty of Adrienne, bore a large part in the hatred of the princess +for her niece; and though it was idle to think of eclipsing Adrienne, and +the Princess de Saint-Dizier did not seriously mean to attempt it, she +could not forbear, in preparing for the interview she had demanded, +taking more pains even than usual in the arrangement of her dress. +Beneath her robe of shot silk, she was laced in and tightened to +excess--a pressure which considerably increased the color in her cheeks. +The throng of jealous and hateful sentiments, which inspired her with +regard to Adrienne, had so troubled the clearness of her ordinarily calm +judgment, that, instead of the plain and quiet style, in which, as a +woman of tact and taste, she was generally attired, she now committed the +folly of wearing a dress of changing hues, and a crimson hat, adorned +with a magnificent bird of paradise. Hate, envy, the pride of +triumph--for she thought of the skillful perfidy with which she had sent +to almost certain death the daughters of Marshal Simon--and the execrable +hope of succeeding in new plots, were all expressed in the countenance of +the Princess de Saint-Dizier, as she entered her niece's apartment. + +Without advancing to meet her aunt, Adrienne rose politely from the sofa +on which she was seated, made a half-curtsey, full of grace and dignity, +and immediately resumed her former posture. Then, pointing to an arm +chair near the fireplace, at one corner of which sat Mother Bunch, and +she herself at the other, she said: "Pray sit down, your highness." The +princess turned very red, remained standing, and cast a disdainful glance +of insolent surprise at the sempstress, who, in compliance with +Adrienne's wish, only bowed slightly at the entrance of the Princess de +Saint-Dizier, without offering to give up her place. In acting thus, the +young sempstress followed the dictates of her conscience, which told her +that the real superiority did not belong to this base, hypocritical, and +wicked princess, but rather to such a person as herself, the admirable +and devoted friend. + +"Let me beg your highness to sit down," resumed Adrienne, in a mild tone, +as she pointed to the vacant chair. + +"The interview I have demanded, niece," said the princess "must be a +private one." + +"I have no secrets, madame, from my best friend; you may speak in the +presence of this young lady." + +"I have long known," replied Madame de Saint-Dizier, with bitter irony, +"that in all things you care little for secrecy, and that you are easy in +the choice of what you call your friends. But you will permit me to act +differently from you. If you have no secrets, madame, I have--and I do +not choose to confide them to the first comer." + +So saying, the pious lady glanced contemptuously at the sempstress. The +latter, hurt at the insolent tone of the princess, answered mildly and +simply: + +"I do not see what can be the great difference between the first and the +last comer to Mdlle. de Cardoville's." + +"What! can it speak!" cried the princess, insolently. + +"It can at least answer, madame," replied Mother Bunch, in her calm +voice. + +"I wish to see you alone, niece--is that clear?" said the princess, +impatiently, to her niece. + +"I beg your pardon, but I do not quite understand your highness," said +Adrienne, with an air of surprise. "This young lady, who honors me with +her friendship, is willing to be present at this interview, which you +have asked for--I say she has consented to be present, for it needs, I +confess, the kindest condescension in her to resign herself, from +affection for me, to hear all the graceful, obliging, and charming things +which you have no doubt come hither to communicate." + +"Madame--" began the princess, angrily. + +"Permit me to interrupt your highness," returned Adrienne, in a tone of +perfect amenity, as if she were addressing the most flattering +compliments to her visitor. "To put you quite at your ease with the lady +here, I will begin by informing you that she is quite aware of all the +holy perfidies, pious wrongs, and devout infamies, of which you nearly +made me the victim. She knows that you are a mother of the Church, such +as one sees but few of in these days. May I hope, therefore, that your +highness will dispense with this delicate and interesting reserve?" + +"Really," said the princess, with a sort of incensed amazement, "I +scarcely know if I wake or sleep." + +"Dear me!" said Adrienne, in apparent alarm; "this doubt as to the state +of your faculties is very shocking, madame. I see that the blood flies to +your head, for your face sufficiently shows it; you seem oppressed, +confined, uncomfortable--perhaps (we women may say so between ourselves), +perhaps you are laced a little too tightly, madame?" + +These words, pronounced by Adrienne with an air of warm interest and +perfect simplicity, almost choked the princess with rage. She became +crimson, seated herself abruptly, and exclaimed: "Be it so, madame! I +prefer this reception to any other. It puts me at my ease, as you say." + +"Does it indeed, madame?" said Adrienne, with a smile. "You may now at +least speak frankly all that you feel, which must for you have the charm +of novelty! Confess that you are obliged to me for enabling you, even for +a moment, to lay aside that mask of piety, amiability, and goodness, +which must be so troublesome to you." + +As she listened to the sarcasms of Adrienne (an innocent and excusable +revenge, if we consider all the wrongs she had suffered), Mother Bunch +felt her heart sink within her; for she dreaded the malignity of the +princess, who replied, with the utmost calmness: "A thousand thanks, +madame, for your excellent intentions and sentiments. I appreciate them +as I ought, and I hope in a short time to prove it to you." + +"Well, madame," said Adrienne, playfully, "let us have it all at once. I +am full of impatient curiosity." + +"And yet," said the princess, feigning in her turn a bitter and ironical +delight, "you are far from having the least notion of what I am about to +announce to you." + +"Indeed! I fear that your highness's candor and modesty deceive you," +replied Adrienne, with the same mocking affability; "for there are very +few things on your part that can surprise me, madame. You must be aware +that from your highness, I am prepared for anything." + +"Perhaps, madame," said the princess, laying great stress on her words, +"if, for instance, I were to tell you that within twenty-four +hours--suppose between this and to-morrow-thou will be reduced to +poverty--" + +This was so unexpected, that Mdlle. de Cardoville started in spite of +herself, and Mother Bunch shuddered. + +"Ah, madame!" said the princess, with triumphant joy and cruel mildness, +as she watched the growing surprise of her niece, "confess that I have +astonished you a little. You were right in giving to our interview the +turn it has taken. I should have needed all sorts of circumlocution to +say to you, 'Niece, to-morrow you will be as poor as you are rich to +day.' But now I can tell you the fact quite plainly and simply." + +Recovering from her first amazement, Adrienne replied, with a calm smile, +which checked the joy of the princess: "Well, I confess frankly, madame, +that you have surprised me; I expected from you one of those black pieces +of malignity, one of those well-laid plots, in which you are known to +excel, and I did not think you would make all this fuss about such a +trifle." + +"To be ruined--completely ruined," cried the princess, "and that by to +morrow--you that have been so prodigal, will see your house, furniture, +horses, jewels, even the ridiculous dresses of which you are so vain, all +taken from you--do you call that a trifle? You, that spend with +indifference thousands of louis, will be reduced to a pension inferior to +the wages you gave your foot-boy--do you call that a trifle?" + +To her aunt's cruel disappointment, Adrienne, who appeared quite to have +recovered her serenity was about to answer accordingly, when the door +suddenly opened, and, without being announced, Prince Djalma entered the +room. A proud and tender expression of delight beamed from the radiant +brow of Adrienne at sight of the prince, and it is impossible to describe +the look of triumphant happiness and high disdain that she cast upon the +Princess de Saint-Dizier. Djalma himself had never looked more handsome, +and never had more intense happiness been impressed on a human +countenance. The Hindoo wore a long robe of white Cashmere, adorned with +innumerable stripes of gold and purple; his turban was of the same color +and material; a magnificent figured shawl was twisted about his waist. On +seeing the Indian, whom she had not hoped to meet at Mdlle. de +Cardoville's, the Princess de Saint-Dizier could not at first conceal her +extreme surprise. It was between these four, then, that the following +scene took place. + + + + +CHAPTER LIX. + +MEMORIES. + +Djalma, having never before met the Princess de Saint-Dizier at +Adrienne's, at first appeared rather astonished at her presence. The +princess, keeping silence for a moment, contemplated with implacable +hatred and envy those two beings, both so fair and young, so loving and +happy. Suddenly she started, as if she had just remembered something of +great importance, and for some seconds she remained absorbed in thought. + +Adrienne and Djalma availed themselves of this interval to gaze fondly on +each other, with a sort of ardent idolatry, which filled their eyes with +sweet tears. Then, at a movement of the Princess de Saint-Dizier, who +seemed to rouse herself from her momentary trance, Mdlle. de Cardoville +said to the young prince, with a smile: "My dear cousin, I have to repair +an omission (voluntary, I confess, and for good reasons), in never having +before mentioned to you one of my relations, whom I have now the honor to +present to you. The Princess de Saint-Dizier!" + +Djalma bowed; but Mdlle. de Cardoville resumed, just as her aunt was +about to make some reply: "Her Highness of Saint-Dizier came very kindly +to inform me of an event which is a most fortunate one for me, and of +which I will speak to you hereafter, cousin--unless this amiable lady +should wish to deprive me of the pleasure of making such a +communication." + +The unexpected arrival of the prince, and the recollections which had +suddenly occurred to the princess, had no doubt greatly modified her +first plans: for, instead of continuing the conversation with regard to +Adrienne's threatened loss of fortune, the princess answered, with a +bland smile, that covered an odious meaning: "I should be sorry, prince, +to deprive my dear and amiable niece of the pleasure of announcing to you +the happy news to which she alludes, and which, as a near relative, I +lost no time in communicating to her. I have here some notes on this +subject," added the princess, delivering a paper to Adrienne, "which I +hope will prove, to her entire satisfaction, the reality of what I have +announced to her." + +"A thousand thanks, my dear aunt," said Adrienne, receiving the paper +with perfect indifference; "these precautions and proofs are quite +superfluous. You know that I always believe you on your word, when it +concerns your good feeling towards myself." + +Notwithstanding his ignorance of the refined perfidy and cruel politeness +of civilized life, Djalma, endowed with a tact and fineness of perception +common to most natures of extreme susceptibility, felt some degree of +mental discomfort as he listened to this exchange of false compliments. +He could not guess their full meaning, but they sounded hollow to his +ear; and moreover, whether from instinct or presentiment, he had +conceived a vague dislike for the Princess de Saint-Dizier. That pious +lady, full of the great affair in hand, was a prey to the most violent +agitation, which betrayed itself in the growing color of her cheeks, her +bitter smile, and the malicious brightness of her glance. As he gazed on +this woman, Djalma was unable to conquer his rising antipathy, and he +remained silent and attentive, whilst his handsome countenance lost +something of its former serenity. Mother Bunch also felt the influence of +a painful impression. She glanced in terror at the princess, and then +imploringly at Adrienne, as though she entreated the latter to but an end +to an interview of which the young sempstress foresaw the fatal +consequences. But, unfortunately, the Princess de Saint-Dizier was too +much interested in prolonging this conversation; and Mdlle. de +Cardoville, gathering new courage and confidence from the presence of the +man she adored, took delight in vexing the princess with the exhibition +of their happy love. + +After a short silence, the Princess de Saint-Dizier observed, in a soft +and insinuating tone: "Really, prince, you cannot think how pleased I was +to learn by public report (for people talk of nothing else, and with good +reason) of your chivalrous attachment to my dear niece; for, without +knowing it, you will extricate me from a difficult position." + +Djalma made no answer, but he looked at Mdlle. de Cardoville with a +surprised and almost sorrowful air, as if to ask what her aunt meant to +insinuate. + +The latter, not perceiving this mute interrogation, resumed as follows: +"I will express myself more clearly, prince. You can understand that, +being the nearest relative of this dear, obstinate girl, I am more or +less responsible for her conduct in the eyes of the world; and you, +prince, seem just to have arrived on purpose, from the end of the earth, +to take charge of a destiny which had caused me considerable +apprehension. It is charming, it is excellent; and I know not which most +to admire, your courage or your good fortune." The princess threw a +glance of diabolical malice at Adrienne, and awaited her answer with an +air of defiance. + +"Listen to our good aunt, my dear cousin," said the young lady, smiling +calmly. "Since our affectionate kinswoman sees you and me united and +happy, her heart is swelling with such a flood of joy, that it must run +over, and the effects will be delightful. Only have a little patience, +and you will behold them in their full beauty. I do not know," added +Adrienne, in the most natural tone, "why, in thinking of these +outpourings of our dear aunt's affection, I should remember what you told +me, cousin, of a certain viper in your country which sometimes, in a +powerless bite, breaks its fangs, and, absorbing its own venom, becomes +the victim of the poison it distills. Come, my dear aunt, you that had so +good and noble a heart, I am sure you must feel interested in the fate of +those poor vipers." + +The princess darted an implacable look at her niece, and replied, in an +agitated voice, "I do not see the object of this selection of natural +history. Do you, prince?" + +Djalma made no answer; leaning with his arm on the mantelpiece, he threw +dark and piercing glances upon the princess. His involuntary hatred of +this woman filled his heart. + +"Ah, my dear aunt!" resumed Adrienne, in a tone of self-reproach; "have I +presumed too much on the goodness of your heart? Have you not even +sympathy for vipers? For whom, then, have you any? After all, I can very +well understand it," added Adrienne, as if to herself; "vipers are so +thin. But, to lay aside these follies," she continued, gayly, as she saw +the ill-repressed rage of the pious woman, "tell us at once, my dear +aunt, all the tender things which the sight of our happiness inspires." + +"I hope to do so, my amiable niece. First, I must congratulate this dear +prince, on having come so far to take charge, in all confidence, and with +his eyes shut, of you, my poor child, whom we were obliged to confine as +mad, in order to give a decent color to your excesses. You remember the +handsome lad, that we found in your apartment. You cannot be so +faithless, as already to have forgotten his name? He was a fine, youth, +and a poet--one Agricola Baudoin--and was discovered in a secret place, +attached to your bed-chamber. All Paris was amused with the scandal--for +you are not about to marry an unknown person, dear prince; her name has +been in every mouth." + +At these unexpected and dreadful words, Adrienne, Djalma, and Mother +Bunch, though under the influence of different kinds of resentment, +remained for a moment mute with surprise; and the princess, judging it no +longer necessary to repress her infernal joy and triumphant hatred, +exclaimed, as she rose from her seat, with flushed cheek, and flashing +eyes, "Yes, I defy you to contradict me. Were we not forced to confine +you, on the plea of madness? And did we not find a workman (your lover) +concealed in your bedroom?" + +On this horrible accusation, Djalma's golden complexion, transparent as +amber, became suddenly the color of lead; his eyes, fixed and staring +showed the white round the pupil--his upper lip, red as blood, was curled +in a kind of wild convulsion, which exposed to view the firmly-set +teeth--and his whole countenance became so frightfully threatening and +ferocious, that Mother Bunch shuddered with terror. Carried away by the +ardor of his blood, the young Oriental felt a sort of dizzy, +unreflecting, involuntary rage--a fiery commotion, like that which makes +the blood leap to the brave man's eyes and brain, when he feels a blow +upon his face. If, during that moment, rapid as the passage of the +lightning through the cloud, action could have taken the place of +thought, the princess and Adrienne, Mother Bunch and himself, would all +have been annihilated by an explosion as sudden and fatal as that of the +bursting of a mine. He would have killed the princess, because she +accused Adrienne of infamous deception he would have killed Adrienne, +because she could even be suspected of such infamy--and Mother Bunch, for +being a witness of the accusation--and himself, in order not to survive +such horrid treachery. But, oh wonder! his furious and bloodshot gaze met +the calm look of Adrienne--a look so full of dignity and serene +confidence--and the expression of ferocious rage passed away like a flash +of lightning. + +Much more: to the great surprise of the princess and the young workgirl, +as the glances which Djalma cast upon Adrienne went (as it were) deeper +into that pure soul, not only did the Indian grow calm, but, by a kind of +transfiguration, his countenance seemed to borrow her serene expression, +and reflect, as in a mirror, the noble serenity impressed on the young +lady's features. Let us explain physically this moral revolution, as +consoling to the terrified workgirl, as provoking to the princess. Hardly +had the princess distilled the atrocious calumny from her venomous lips, +than Djalma, then standing before the fireplace, had, in the first +paroxysm of his fury, advanced a step towards her; but, wishing as it +were to moderate his rage, he held by the marble chimney-piece, which he +grasped with iron strength. A convulsive trembling shook his whole body, +and his features, altered and contracted, became almost frightful. +Adrienne, on her part, when she heard the accusation, yielding to a first +impulse of just indignation, even as Djalma had yielded to one of blind +fury, rose abruptly, with offended pride flashing from her eyes; but, +almost immediately appeased by the consciousness of her own purity, her +charming face resumed its expression of adorable serenity. It was then +that her eyes met Djalma's. For a second, the young lady was even more +afflicted than terrified at the threatening and formidable expression of +the young Indian's countenance. "Can stupid indignity exasperate him to +this degree?" said Adrienne to herself. "Does he suspect me; then?" + +But to this reflection, as rapid as it was painful, succeeded the most +lively joy, when the eyes of Adrienne rested for a short time on those of +the Indian, and she saw his agitated countenance grow calm as if by +magic, and become radiant and beautiful as before. Thus was the +abominable plot of the princess de Saint-Dizier utterly confounded by the +sincere and confiding expression of Adrienne's face. That was not all. At +the moment, when, as a spectator of this mute and expressive scene (which +proved so well the wondrous sympathy of those two beings, who, without +speaking a word, had understood and satisfied each other), the princess +was choking with rage and vexation--Adrienne, with a charming smile and +gesture, extended her fair hand to Djalma, who, kneeling, imprinted on it +a kiss of fire, which sent a light blush to the forehead of the young +lady. + +Then the Hindoo, placing himself on the ermine carpet at the feet of +Mdlle. de Cardoville, in an attitude full of grace: and respect, rested +his chin on the palm of one of his hands, and gazed on her silently, in a +sort of mute adoration--while Adrienne, bending over him with a happy +smile "looked at the babies in his eyes," as the song says, with as much +amorous complacency, as if the hateful princess had not been present. But +soon, as if something were wanting to complete her happiness, Adrienne +beckoned to Mother Bunch, and made her sit down by her side. Then, with +her hand clasped in that of this excellent friend, Mdlle. de Cardoville +smiled on Djalma, stretched adoringly at her feet, and cast on the +dismayed princess a look of such calm and firm serenity, so nobly +expressive of the invincible quiet of her happiness, and her lofty +disdain of all calumnious attacks, that the Princess de Saint-Dizier, +confused and stupefied, murmured some hardly intelligible words, in a +voice trembling with passion, and, completely losing her presence of +mind, rushed towards the door. But, at this moment, the hunchback, who +feared some ambush, some perfidious plot in the background, resolved, +after exchanging a glance with Adrienne, to accompany the princess to her +carriage. + +The angry disappointment of the Princess de Saint-Dizier, when she saw +herself thus followed and watched, appeared so comical to Mdlle. de +Cardoville that she could not help laughing aloud; and it was to the +sound of contemptuous hilarity that the hypocritical princess, with rage +and despair in her heart, quitted the house to which she had hoped to +bring trouble end misery. Adrienne and Djalma were left alone. Before +relating the scene which took place between them, a few retrospective +words are indispensable. It will easily be imagined, that since Mdlle. de +Cardoville and the Oriental had been brought into such close contact, +after so many disappointments, their days had passed away like a dream of +happiness. Adrienne had especially taken pains to bring to light, one by +one, all the generous qualities of Djalma, of which she had read so much +in her books of travels. The young lady had imposed on herself this +tender and patient study of Djalma's character, not only to justify to +her own mind the intensity of her love, but because this period of trial, +to which she had assigned a term, enabled her to temper and divert the +violence of Djalma's passion--a task the more meritorious, as she herself +was of the same ardent temperament. For, in those two lovers, the finest +qualities of sense and soul seemed exactly to balance each other, and +heaven had bestowed on them the rarest beauty of form, and the most +adorable excellence of heart, as if to legitimatize the irresistible +attraction which drew and bound them together. What, then, was to be the +term of this painful trial, which Adrienne had imposed on Djalma and on +herself? This is what Mdlle. de Cardoville intended to tell the prince, +in the interview she had with him, after the abrupt departure of the +Princess de Saint-Dizier. + + + + +CHAPTER LX. + +THE ORDEAL. + +Adrienne de Cardoville and Djalma had remained alone. Such was the noble +confidence which had succeeded in the Hindoo's mind to his first movement +of unreflecting fury, caused by the infamous calumny, that, once alone +with Adrienne, he did not even allude to that shameful accusation. + +On her side (touching and admirable sympathy of those two hearts!), the +young lady was too proud, conscious of the purity of her love, to descend +to any justification of herself. + +She would have considered it an insult both to herself and him. +Therefore, the lovers began their interview, as if the princess had never +made any such remark. The same contempt was extended to the papers, which +the princess had brought with her to prove the imminent ruin to which +Adrienne was exposed. The young lady had laid them down, without reading +them, on a stand within her reach. She made a graceful sign to Djalma to +seat himself by her side, and accordingly he quitted, not without regret, +the place he had occupied at her feet. + +"My love," said Adrienne, in a grave and tender voice, "you have often +impatiently asked me, when would come the term of the trial we have laid +upon ourselves. That moment is at hand." + +Djalma started, and could not restrain a cry of surprise and joy; but +this almost trembling exclamation was so soft and sweet, that it seemed +rather the expression of ineffable gratitude, than of exulting passion. + +Adrienne continued: "Separated--surrounded by treachery and +fraud--mutually deceived as to each other's sentiments--we yet loved on, +and in that followed an irresistible attraction, stronger than every +opposing influence. But since then, in these days of happy retirement +from the world, we have learned to value and esteem each other more. Left +to ourselves in perfect freedom, we have had the courage to resist every +temptation, that hereafter we might be happy without remorse. During +these days, in which our hearts had been laid open to each other, we have +read them thoroughly. Yes, Djalma! I believe in you, and you in me--I +find in you all that you find in me--every possible human security for +our future happiness. But this love must yet be consecrated; and in the +eyes of the world, in which we are called upon to live, marriage is the +only consecration, and marriage enchains one's whole life." + +Djalma looked at the young lady with surprise. + +"Yes, one's whole life! and yet who can answer for the sentiments of a +whole life?" resumed Adrienne. "A God, that could see into the future, +could alone bind irrevocably certain hearts for their own happiness; but, +alas! to human eyes the future is impenetrable. Therefore, to accept +indissoluble ties, for any longer than one can answer for a present +sentiment, is to commit an act of selfish and impious folly." + +Djalma made no reply, but, with an almost respectful gesture, he urged +the speaker to continue. + +"And then," proceeded she, with a mixture of tenderness and pride, "from +respect for your dignity and mine, I would never promise to keep a law +made by man against woman, with contemptuous and brutal egotism--a law, +which denies to woman soul, mind, and heart--a law, which none can +accept, without being either a slave or perjured--a law, which takes from +the girl her name, reduces the wife to a state of degrading inferiority, +denies to the mother all rights over her own children, and enslaves one +human creature to the will of another, who is in all respects her equal +in the sight of God!--You know, my love," added the young lady, with +passionate enthusiasm, "how much I honor you, whose father was called the +Father of the Generous. I do not then fear, noble and valiant heart, to +see you use against me these tyrannical powers; but, throughout my life, +I never uttered a falsehood, and our love is too sacred and celestial to +be purchased by a double perjury. No, never will I swear to observe a +law, that my dignity, and my reason refuse to sanction. If, to-morrow, +the freedom of divorce were established, and the rights of women +recognized, I should be willing to observe usages, which would then be in +accordance with my conscience, and with what is just, possible, and +humane." Then, after a pause, Adrienne continued, with such deep and +sweet emotion, that a tear of tenderness veiled her beauteous eyes: "Oh! +if you knew, my love, what your love is to me: if you knew how dear and +sacred I hold your happiness--you would excuse, you would understand, +these generous superstitions of a loving and honest heart, which could +only see a fatal omen in forms degraded by falsehood and perjury. What I +wish, is, to attach you by love, to bind you in chains of happiness--and +to leave you free, that I may owe your constancy only to your affection." + +Djalma had listened to the young girl with passionate attention. Proud +and generous himself, he admired this proud and generous character. After +a moment's meditative silence, he answered, in his sweet, sonorous voice, +in an almost solemn tone: "Like you, I hold in detestation, falsehood and +perjury. Like you, I think that man degrades himself, by accepting the +right of being a cowardly tyrant, even though resolved never to use the +power. Like you, I could not bear the thought, that I owed all I most +valued, not to your love alone, but to the eternal constraint of an +indissoluble bond. Like you, I believe there is no dignity but in +freedom. But you have said, that, for this great and holy love, you +demand a religious consecration; and if you reject vows, that you cannot +make without folly and perjury, are there then others, which your reason +and your heart approve?--Who will pronounce the required blessing? To +whom must these vows be spoken?" + +"In a few days, my love, I believe I shall be able to tell you all. Every +evening, after your departure, I have no other thought. I wish to find +the means of uniting yourself and me--in the eyes of God, not of the +law--without offending the habits and prejudices of a world, in which it +may suit us hereafter to live. Yes, my friend! when you know whose are +the noble hands, that are to join ours together, who is to bless and +glorify God in our union--a sacred union, that will leave us worthy and +free--you will say, I am sure, that never purer hands could have been +laid upon us. Forgive me, friend! all this is in earnest--yes, earnest as +our love, earnest as our happiness. If my words seem to you strange, my +thoughts unreasonable, tell it me, love! We will seek and find some +better means, to reconcile that we owe to heaven, with what we owe to the +world and to ourselves. It is said, that lovers are beside themselves," +added the young lady, with a smile, "but I think that no creatures are +more reasonable." + +"When I hear you speak thus of our happiness," said Djalma, deeply moved, +"with so much calm and earnest tenderness, I think I see a mother +occupied with the future prospects of her darling child--trying to +surround him with all that can make him strong, valiant, and +generous--trying to remove far from him all that is ignoble and unworthy. +You ask me to tell you if your thoughts seem strange to me, Adrienne. You +forget, that what makes my faith in our love, is my feeling exactly as +you do. What offends you, offends me also; what disgusts you, disgusts +me. Just now, when you cited to me the laws of this country, which +respect in a woman not even a mother's right--I thought with pride of our +barbarous countries, where woman, though a slave, is made free when she +becomes a mother. No, no; such laws are not made either for you or me. Is +it not to prove your sacred respect for our love, to wish to raise it +above the shameful servitude that would degrade it? You see, Adrienne, I +have often heard said by the priests of my country, that there were +beings inferior to the gods, but superior to every other creature. I did +not believe those priests; but now I do." These last words were uttered, +not in the tone of flattery, but with an accent of sincere conviction, +and with that sort of passionate veneration and almost timid fervor, +which mark the believer talking of his faith; but what is impossible to +describe, is the ineffable harmony of these almost religious words, with +the mild, deep tone of the young Oriental's voice--as well as the ardent +expression of amorous melancholy, which gave an irresistible charm to his +enchanting features. + +Adrienne had listened to Djalma with an indescribable mixture of joy, +gratitude, and pride. Laying her hand on her bosom, as if to keep down +its violent pulsations, she resumed, as she looked at the prince with +delight: "Behold him, ever the same!--just, good, great!--Oh, my heart! +my heart! how proudly it beats. Blessed be God, who created me for this +adored lover! He must mean to astonish the world, by the prodigies of +tenderness and charity, that such a love may produce. They do not yet +know the sovereign might of free, happy, ardent love. Yes, Djalma! on the +day when our hands are joined together, what hymns of gratitude will +ascend to heaven!--Ah! they do not know the immense, the insatiable +longing for joy aria delight, which possesses two hearts like ours; they +do not know what rays of happiness stream from the celestial halo of such +a flame!--Oh, yes! I feel it. Many tears will be dried, many cold hearts +warmed, at the divine fire of our love. And it will be by the +benedictions of those we serve, that they will learn the intoxication of +our rapture!" + +To the dazzled eyes of Djalma, Adrienne appeared more and more an ideal +being--partaking of the Divinity by her goodness, of the animal nature by +passion--for, yielding to the intensity of excitement, Adrienne fixed +upon Djalma looks that sparkled with love. + +'Then, almost beside himself, the Asiatic fell prostrate at the feet of +the maiden, and exclaimed, in a supplicating voice: "Mercy! my courage +fails me. Have pity on me! do not talk thus. Oh, that day! what years of +my life would I not give to hasten it!" + +"Silence! no blasphemy. Do not your years belong to me?" + +"Adrienne! you love me!" + +The young lady did not answer; but her half-veiled, burning glance, dealt +the last blow to reason. Seizing her hands in his own, he exclaimed, with +a tremulous voice: "That day, in which we shall mount to heaven, in which +we shall be gods in happiness--why postpone it any longer?" + +"Because our love must be consecrated by the benediction of heaven." + +"Are we not free?" + +"Yes, yes, my love; we are free. Let us be worthy of our liberty!" + +"Adrienne! mercy!" + +"I ask you also to have mercy--to have mercy on the sacredness of our +love. Do not profane it in its very flower. Believe my heart! believe my +presentiments! to profane it would be to kill. Courage, my adored lover! +a few days longer--and then happiness--without regret, and without +remorse!" + +"And, until then, hell! tortures without a name! You do not, cannot know +what I suffer when I leave your presence. Your image follows me, your +breath burns me up; I cannot sleep, but call on you every night with +sighs and tears--just as I called on, you, when I thought you did not +love me--and yet I know you love me, I know you are mine. But to see you +every day more beautiful, more adored--and every day to quit you more +impassioned--oh! you cannot tell--" + +Djalma was unable to proceed. What he said of his devouring tortures, +Adrienne had felt, perhaps even more intensely. Electrified by the +passionate words of Djalma, so beautiful in his excitement, her courage +failed, and she perceived that an irresistible languor was creeping over +her. By a last chaste effort of the will, she rose abruptly, and +hastening to the door, which communicated with Mother Bunch's chamber, +she exclaimed: "My sister! help me!" + +In another moment, Mdlle. de Cardoville, her face bathed in tears, +clasped the young sempstress in her arms; while Djalma knelt respectfully +on the threshold he did not dare to pass. + + + + +CHAPTER LXI. + +AMBITION. + +A few days after the interview of Djalma and Adrienne, just described, +Rodin was alone in his bed-chamber, in the house in the Rue de Vaugirard, +walking up and down the room where he had so valiantly undergone the +moxas of Dr. Baleinier. With his hands thrust into the hind-pockets of +his greatcoat, and his head bowed upon his breast, the Jesuit seemed to +be reflecting profoundly, and his varying walk, now slow, now quick, +betrayed the agitation of his mind. + +"On the side of Rome," said Rodin to himself, "I am tranquil. All is +going well. The abdication is as good as settled, and if I can pay them +the price agreed, the Prince Cardinal can secure me a majority of nine +voices in the conclave. Our General is with me; the doubts of Cardinal +Malipieri are at an end, or have found no echo. Yet I am not quite easy, +with regard to the reported correspondence between Father d'Aigrigny and +Malipieri. I have not been able to intercept any of it. No matter; that +soldier's business is settled. A little patience and he will be wiped +out." + +Here the pale lips were contracted by one of those frightful smiles, +which gave to Rodin's countenance so diabolical an expression. + +After a pause, he resumed: "The funeral of the freethinker, the +philanthropist, the workman's friend, took place yesterday at St. Herem. +Francis Hardy went off in a fit of ecstatic delirium. I had his donation, +it is true; but this is more certain. Everything may be disputed in this +world; the dead dispute nothing." + +Rodin remained in thought for some moments; then he added, in a grave +tone: "There remain this red-haired wench and her mulatto. This is the +twenty-seventh of May; the first of June approaches, and these turtle +doves still seem invulnerable. The princess thought she had hit upon a +good plan, and I should have thought so too. It was a good idea to +mention the discovery of Agricola Baudoin in the madcap's room, for it +made the Indian tiger roar with savage jealousy. Yes: but then the dove +began to coo, and hold out her pretty beak, and the foolish tiger +sheathed his claws, and rolled on the ground before her. It's a pity, for +there was some sense in the scheme." + +The walk of Rodin became more and more agitated. "Nothing is more +extraordinary," continued he, "than the generative succession of ideas. +In comparing this red-haired jade to a dove (colombe), I could not help +thinking of that infamous old woman, Sainte-Colombe, whom that big rascal +Jacques Dumoulin pays his court to, and whom the Abbe Corbinet will +finish, I hope, by turning to good account. I have often remarked, that, +as a poet may find an excellent rhyme by mere chance, so the germ of the +best ideas is sometimes found in a word, or in some absurd resemblance +like the present. That abominable hag, Sainte-Colombo, and the pretty +Adrienne de Cardoville, go as well together, as a ring would suit a cat, +or a necklace a fish. Well, there is nothing in it." + +Hardly had Rodin pronounced these words, than he started suddenly, and +his face shone with a fatal joy. Then it assumed an expression of +meditative astonishment, as happens when chance reveals some unexpected +discovery to the surprised and charmed inquirer after knowledge. + +Soon, with raised head and sparkling eye, his hollow cheeks swelling with +joy and pride, Rodin folded his arms in triumph on his breast, and +exclaimed: "Oh! how admirable and marvellous are these mysterious +evolutions of the mind; how incomprehensible is the chain of human +thought, which, starting from an absurd jingle of words, arrives at a +splendid or luminous idea! Is it weakness? or is it strength? +Strange--very strange! I compare the red-haired girl to a dove--a +colombe. That makes me think of the hag, who traded in the bodies and +souls of so many creatures. Vulgar proverbs occur to me, about a ring and +a cat, a fish and a necklace--and suddenly, at the word NECKLACE, a new +light dawns upon me. Yes: that one word NECKLACE shall be to me a golden +key, to open the portals of my brain, so long foolishly closed." + +And, after again walking hastily up and down, Rodin continued: "Yes, it +is worth attempting. The more I reflect upon it, the more feasible it +appears. Only how to get at that wretch, Saint-Colombe? Well, there is +Jacques Dumoulin, and the other--where to find her? That is the +stumbling-block. I must not shout before I am out of the wood." + +Rodin began again to walk, biting his nails with an air of deep thought. +For some moments, such was the tension of his mind, large drops of sweat +stood on his yellow brow. He walked up and down, stopped, stamped with +his foot, now raised his eyes as if in search of an inspiration, and now +scratched his head violently with his left hand, whilst he continued to +gnaw the nails of the right. Finally, from time to time, he uttered +exclamations of rage, despondency, or hope, as by turns they took +possession of his mind. If the cause of this monster's agitation had not +been horrible, it would have been a curious and interesting spectacle to +watch the labors of that powerful brain--to follow, as it were, on that +shifting countenance, the progress and development of the project, on +which he was now concentrating all the resources of his strong intellect. +At length, the work appeared to be near completion, for Rodin resumed: +"Yes, yes! it is bold, hazardous--but then it is prompt, and the +consequences may be incalculable. Who can foresee the effects of the +explosion of a mine?" + +Then, yielding to a movement of enthusiasm, which was hardly natural to +him, the Jesuit exclaimed, with rapture: "Oh, the passions! the passions! +what a magical instrument do they form, if you do but touch the keys with +a light, skillful, and vigorous hand! How beautiful too is the power of +thought! Talk of the acorn that becomes an oak, the seed that grows up to +the corn--the seed takes months, the acorn centuries, to unfold its +splendors--but here is a little word in eight letters, necklace and this +word, falling into my brain but a few minutes ago, has grown and grown +till it has become larger than any oak. Yes, that word is the germ of an +idea, that, like the oak, lifts itself up towards heaven, for the greater +glory of the Lord--such as they call Him, and such as I would assert Him +to be, should I attain--and I shall attain--for these miserable +Renneponts will pass away like a shadow. And what matters it, after all, +to the moral order I am reserved to guide, whether these people live or +die? What do such lives weigh in the balance of the great destinies of +the world? while this inheritance which I shall boldly fling into the +scale, will lift me to a sphere, from which one commands many kings, many +nations--let them say and make what noise they will. The idiots--the +stupid idiots! or rather, the kind, blessed, adorable idiots! They think +they have crushed us, when they say to us men of the church: 'You take +the spiritual, but we will keep the temporal!'--Oh, their conscience or +their modesty inspires them well, when it bids them not meddle with +spiritual things! They abandon the spiritual! they despise it, they will +have nothing to do with it--oh, the venerable asses! they do not see, +that, even as they go straight to the mill, it is by the spiritual that +we go straight to the temporal. As if the mind did not govern the body! +They leave us the spiritual--that is, command of the conscience, soul, +heart, and judgment--the spiritual--that is, the distribution of heaven's +rewards, and punishments, and pardons--without check, without control, in +the secrecy of the confessional--and that dolt, the temporal, has nothing +but brute matter for his portion, and yet rubs his paunch for joy. Only, +from time to time, he perceives, too late, that, if he has the body, we +have the soul, and that the soul governs the body, and so the body ends +by coming with us also--to the great surprise of Master Temporal, who +stands staring with his hands on his paunch, and says: 'Dear me! is it +possible?'" + +Then, with a laugh of savage contempt, Rodin began to walk with great +strides, and thus continued: "Oh! let me reach it--let me but reach the +place of SIXTUS V.--and the world shall see (one day, when it awakes) +what it is to have the spiritual power in hands like mine--in the hands +of a priest, who, for fifty years, has lived hardly, frugally, chastely, +and who, were he pope, would continue to live hardly, frugally, +chastely!" + +Rodin became terrible, as he spoke thus. All the sanguinary, +sacrilegious, execrable ambition of the worst popes seemed written in +fiery characters on the brow of this son of Ignatius. A morbid desire of +rule seemed to stir up the Jesuit's impure blood; he was bathed in a +burning sweat, and a kind of nauseous vapor spread itself round about +him. Suddenly, the noise of a travelling-carriage, which entered the +courtyard of the house, attracted his attention. Regretting his momentary +excitement, he drew from his pocket his dirty white and red cotton +handkerchief, and dipping it in a glass of water, he applied it to his +cheeks and temples, while he approached the window, to look through the +half-open blinds at the traveller who had just arrived. The projection of +a portico, over the door at which the carriage had stopped, intercepted +Rodin's view. + +"No matter," said he, recovering his coolness: "I shall know presently +who is there. I must write at once to Jacques Dumoulin, to come hither +immediately. He served me well, with regard to that little slut in the +Rue Clovis, who made my hair stand on end with her infernal Beranger. +This time, Dumoulin may serve me again. I have him in my clutches, and he +will obey me." + +Rodin sat down to his desk and wrote. A few seconds later, some one +knocked at the door, which was double-locked, quite contrary to the rules +of the order. But, sure of his own influence and importance, Rodin, who +had obtained from the general permission to be rid for a time of the +inconvenient company of a socius, often took upon himself to break +through a number of the rules. A servant entered and delivered a letter +to Rodin. Before opening it the latter said to the man: "What carriage is +that which just arrived?" + +"It comes from Rome, father," answered the servant, bowing. + +"From Rome!" said Rodin, hastily; and in spite of himself, a vague +uneasiness was expressed in his countenance. But, still holding the +letter in his hands, he added: "Who comes in the carriage." + +"A reverend father of our blessed Company." + +Notwithstanding his ardent curiosity, for he knew that a reverend father, +travelling post, is always charged with some important mission, Rodin +asked no more questions on the subject, but said, as he pointed to the +paper in his hand: "Whence comes this letter?" + +"From our house at St. Herem, father." + +Rodin looked more attentively at the writing, and recognized the hand of +Father d'Aigrigny, who had been commissioned to attend M. Hardy in his +last moments. The letter ran as follows: + +"I send a despatch to inform your reverence of a fact which is, perhaps, +more singular than important. After the funeral of M. Francis Hardy, the +coffin, which contained his remains, had been provisionally deposited in +a vault beneath our chapel, until it could be removed to the cemetery of +the neighboring town. This morning, when our people went down into the +vault, to make the necessary preparations for the removal of the +body--the coffin had disappeared. + +"That is strange indeed," said Rodin with a start. Then, he continued to +read: + +"All search has hitherto been vain, to discover the authors of the +sacrilegious deed. The chapel being, as you know, at a distance from the +house, they were able to effect an entry without disturbing us. We have +found traces of a four-wheeled carriage on the damp ground in the +neighborhood; but, at some little distance from the chapel, these marks +are lost in the sand, and it has been impossible to follow them any +farther." + +"Who can have carried away this body?" said Rodin, with a thoughtful air. +"Who could have any interest in doing so?" + +He continued to read: + +"Luckily, the certificate of death is quite correct. I sent for a doctor +from Etampes, to prove the disease, and no question can be raised on that +point. The donation is therefore good and valid in every respect, but I +think it best to inform your reverence of what has happened, that you may +take measures accordingly, etc., etc." + +After a moment's reflection, Rodin said to himself: "D'Aigrigny is right +in his remark; it is more singular than important. Still, it makes one +think. We must have an eye to this affair." + +Turning towards the servant, who had brought him the letter, Rodin gave +him the note he had just written to Ninny Moulin, and said to him: "Let +this letter be taken instantly to its address, and let the bearer wait +for an answer." + +"Yes, father." + +At the moment the servant left the room, a reverend father entered, and +said to Rodin, "Father Caboccini of Rome has just arrived, with a mission +from our general to your reverence." + +At these words, Rodin's blood ran cold, but he maintained his immovable +calmness, and said simply: "Where is Father Caboccini?" + +"In the next room, father." + +"Beg him to walk in, and leave us," said the other. + +A second after, Father Caboccini of Rome entered the room and was left +alone with Rodin. + + + + +CHAPTER LXII. + +TO A SOCIUS, A SOCIUS AND A HALF. + +The Reverend Father Caboccini, the Roman Jesuit who now came to visit +Rodin, was a short man of about thirty years of age, plump, in good +condition, and with an abdomen that swelled out his black cassock. The +good little father was blind with one eye, but his remaining organ of +vision sparkled with vivacity. His rosy countenance was gay, smiling, +joyous, splendidly crowned with thick chestnut hair, which curled like a +wax doll's. His address was cordial to familiarity, and his expansive and +petulant manners harmonized well with his general appearance. In a +second, Rodin had taken his measure of the Italian emissary; and as he +knew the practice of his Company, and the ways of Rome, he felt by no +means comfortable at sight of this jolly little father, with such affable +manners. He would have less feared some tall, bony priest, with austere +and sepulchral countenance, for he knew that the Company loves to deceive +by the outward appearance of its agents; and if Rodin guessed rightly, +the cordial address of this personage would rather tend to show that he +was charged with some fatal mission. + +Suspicious, attentive, with eye and mind on the watch, like an old wolf, +expecting an attack, Rodin advanced as usual, slowly and tortuously +towards the little man, so as to have time to examine him thoroughly, and +penetrate beneath his jovial outside. But the Roman left him no space for +that purpose. In his impetuous affection he threw himself right on the +neck of Rodin, pressed him in his arms with an effusion of tenderness, +and kissed him over and over again upon both cheeks, so loudly and +plentifully that the echo resounded through the apartment. In his life +Rodin had never been so treated. More and more uneasy at the treachery +which must needs lurk under such warm embraces, and irritated by his own +evil presentiments, the French Jesuit did, all he could to extricate +himself from the Roman's exaggerated tokens of tenderness. But the latter +kept his hold; his arms, though short, were vigorous, and Rodin was +kissed over and over again, till the little one-eyed man was quite out of +breath. It is hardly necessary to state that these embraces were +accompanied by the most friendly, affectionate, and fraternal +exclamations--all in tolerably good French, but with a strong Italian +accent, which we muss beg the reader to supply for himself, after we have +given a single specimen. It will perhaps be remembered that, fully aware +of the danger he might possibly incur by his ambitious machinations, and +knowing from history that the use of poison had often been considered at +Rome as a state necessity, Rodin, on being suddenly attacked with the +cholera, had exclaimed, with a furious glance at Cardinal Malipieri, "I +am poisoned!" + +The same apprehensions occurred involuntarily to the Jesuit's mind as he +tried, by useless efforts, to escape from the embraces of the Italian +emissary; and he could not help muttering to himself, "This one-eyed +fellow is a great deal too fond. I hope there is no poison under his +Judas-kisses." At last, little Father Caboccini, being quite out of +breath, was obliged to relinquish his hold on Rodin's neck, who, +readjusting his dirty collar, and his old cravat and waistcoat, somewhat +in disorder in consequence of this hurricane of caresses, said in a gruff +tone, "Your humble servant, father, but you need not kiss quite so hard." + +Without making any answer to this reproach, the little father riveted his +one eye upon Rodin with an expression of enthusiasm, and exclaimed, +whilst he accompanied his words with petulant gestures, "At lazt I zee te +zuperb light of our zacred Company, and can zalute him from my +heart--vonse more, vonse more." + +As the little father had already recovered his breath, and was about to +rush once again into Rodin's arms, the latter stepped back hastily, and +held out his arm to keep him off, saying, in allusion to the illogical +metaphor employed by Father Caboccini, "First of all, father, one does +not embrace a light--and then I am not a light--I am a humble and obscure +laborer in the Lord's vineyard." + +The Roman replied with enthusiasm (we shall henceforth translate his +gibberish), "You are right, father, we cannot embrace a light, but we can +prostrate ourselves before it, and admire its dazzling brightness." + +So saying, Caboccini was about to suit the action to the word, and to +prostrate himself before Rodin, had not the latter prevented this mode of +adulation by seizing the Roman by the arm and exclaiming, "This is mere +idolatry, father. Pass over my qualities, and tell me what is the object +of your journey." + +"The object, my dear father, fills me with joy and happiness. I have +endeavored to show you my affection by my caresses, for my heart is +overflowing. I have hardly been able to restrain myself during my journey +hither, for my heart rushed to meet you. The object transports, delights, +enchants me--" + +"But what enchants you?" cried Rodin, exasperated by these Italian +exaggerations. "What is the object?" + +"This rescript of our very reverend and excellent General will inform +you, my clear father." + +Caboccini drew from his pocket-book a folded paper, with three seals, +which he kissed respectfully, and delivered to Rodin, who himself kissed +it in his turn, and opened it with visible anxiety. While he read it the +countenance of the Jesuit remained impassible, but the pulsation of the +arteries on his temples announced his internal agitation. Yet he put the +letter coolly into his pocket, and looking at the Roman, said to him, "Be +it as our excellent General has commanded!" + +"Then, father," cried Caboccini, with a new effusion of tenderness and +admiration, "I shall be the shadow of your light, and, in fact, your +second self. I shall have the happiness of being always with you, day and +night, and of acting as your socius, since, after having allowed you to +be without one for some time, according to your wish, and for the +interest of our blessed Company, our excellent General now thinks fit to +send me from Rome, to fill that post about your person--an unexpected, an +immense favor, which fills me with gratitude to our General, and with +love to you, my dear, my excellent father!" + +"It is well played," thought Rodin; "but I am not so soft, and 'tis only +among the blind that your Cyclops are kings!" + +The evening of the day in which this scene took place between the Jesuit +and his new socius, Ninny Moulin, after receiving in presence of +Caboccini the instructions of Rodin, went straight to Madame de la +Sainte-Colombe's. + +This woman had made her fortune, at the time of the allies taking Paris, +by keeping one of those "pretty milliner's shops," whose "pink bonnets" +have run into a proverb not extinct in these days when bonnets are not +known. Ninny Moulin had no better well to draw inspiration from when, as +now, he had to find out, as per Rodin's order, a girl of an age and +appearance which, singularly enough, were closely resembling those of +Mdlle. de Cardoville. + +No doubt of Ninny Moulin's success in this mission, for the next morning +Rodin, whose countenance wore a triumphant expression, put with his own +hand a letter into the post. + +This letter was addressed: + +"To M. Agricola Baudoin, +"No. 2, Rue Brise-Miche, +"Paris." + + + + +CHAPTER LXIII. + +FARINGHEA'S AFFECTION. + +It will, perhaps, be remembered that Djalma, when he heard for the first +time that he was beloved by Adrienne, had, in the fulness of his joy, +spoken thus to Faringhea, whose treachery he had just discovered, "You +leagued with my enemies, and I had done you no harm. You are wicked, +because you are no doubt unhappy. I will strive to make you happy, so +that you may be good. Would you have gold?--you shall have it. Would you +have a friend?--though you are a slave, a king's son offers you his +friendship." + +Faringhea had refused the gold, and appeared to accept the friendship of +the son of Kadja-sing. Endowed with remarkable intelligence, and +extraordinary power of dissimulation the half-breed had easily persuaded +the prince of the sincerity of his repentance, and obtained credit for +his gratitude and attachment from so confiding and generous a character. +Besides, what motives could Djalma have to suspect the slave, now become +his friend? Certain of the love of Mdlle. de Cardoville, with whom he +passed a portion of every day, her salutary influence would have guarded +him against any dangerous counsels or calumnies of the half-caste, a +faithful and secret instrument of Rodin, and attached by him to the +Company. But Faringhea, whose tact was amazing, did not act so lightly; +he never spoke to the prince of Mdlle. de Cardoville, and waited +unobtrusively for the confidential communications into which Djalma was +sometimes hurried by his excessive joy. A few days after the interview +last described between Adrienne and Djalma, and on the morrow of the day +when Rodin, certain of the success of Ninny Moulin's mission to Sainte +Colombe, had himself put a letter in the post to the address of Agricola +Baudoin, the half-caste, who for some time had appeared oppressed with a +violent grief, seemed to get so much worse, that the prince, struck with +the desponding air of the man, asked him kindly and repeatedly the cause +of his sorrow. But Faringhea, while he gratefully thanked the prince for +the interest he took in him, maintained the most absolute silence and +reserve on the subject of his grief. + +These preliminaries will enable the reader to understand the following +scene, which took place about noon in the house in the Rue de Clichy +occupied by the Hindoo. Contrary to his habit, Djalma had not passed that +morning with Adrienne. He had been informed the evening before, by the +young lady, that she must ask of him the sacrifice of this whole day, to +take the necessary measures to make their marriage sacred and acceptable +in the eyes of the world, and yet free from the restrictions which she +and Djalma disapproved. As for the means to be employed by Mdlle. de +Cardoville to attain this end, and the name of the pure and honorable +person who was to consecrate their union, these were secrets which, not +belonging exclusively to the young lady, could not yet be communicated to +Djalma. To the Indian, so long accustomed to devote every instant to +Adrienne, this day seemed interminable. By turns a prey to the most +burning agitation, and to a kind of stupor, in which he plunged himself +to escape from the thoughts that caused his tortures, Djalma lay +stretched upon a divan, with his face buried in his hands, as if to shut +out the view of a too enchanting vision. Suddenly, without knocking at +the door, as usual, Faringhea entered the prince's apartment. + +At the noise the half-caste made in entering Djalma started, raised his +head, and looked round him with surprise; but, on seeing the pale +agitated countenance of the slave, he rose hastily, and advancing towards +him, exclaimed, "What is the matter, Faringhea!" + +After a moment's silence, and as if struggling with a painful feeling of +hesitation, Faringhea threw himself at the feet of Djalma, and murmured +in a weak, despairing, almost supplicating voice: "I am very miserable. +Pity me, my good lord!" + +The tone was so touching, the grief under which the half-breed suffered +seemed to give to his features, generally fixed and hard as bronze, such +a heart-rending expression, that Djalma was deeply affected, and, bending +to raise him from the ground, said to him, in a kindly voice: "Speak to +me! Confidence appeases the torments of the heart. Trust me, friend--for +my angel herself said to me, that happy love cannot bear to see tears +about him." + +"But unhappy love, miserable love, betrayed love--weeps tears of blood," +replied Faringhea, with painful dejection. + +"Of what love dost thou speak?" asked Djalma, in surprise. + +"I speak of my love," answered the half-caste, with a gloomy air. + +"Of your love?" said Djalma, more and more astonished; not that the half +caste, still young, and with a countenance of sombre beauty, appeared to +him incapable of inspiring or feeling the tender passion, but that, until +now, he had never imagined him capable of conceiving so deep a sorrow. + +"My lord," resumed the half-caste, "you told me, that misfortune had made +me wicked, and that happiness would make me good. In those words, I saw a +presentiment, and a noble love entered my heart, at the moment when +hatred and treachery departed from it. I, the half-savage, found a woman, +beautiful and young, to respond to my passion. At least I thought so. But +I had betrayed you, my lord, and there is no happiness for a traitor, +even though he repent. In my turn, I have been shamefully betrayed." + +Then, seeing the surprise of the prince, the half-caste added, as if +overwhelmed with confusion: "Do not mock me, my lord! The most frightful +tortures would not have wrung this confession from me; but you, the son +of a king, deigned to call the poor slave your friend!" + +"And your friend thanks you for the confidence," answered Djalma. "Far +from mocking, he will console you. Mock you! do you think it possible?" + +"Betrayed love merits contempt and insult," said Faringhea, bitterly. +"Even cowards may point at one with scorn--for, in this country, the +sight of the man deceived in what is dearest to his soul, the very life +blood of his life, only makes people shrug their shoulders and laugh." + +"But are you certain of this treachery?" said Djalma, mildly. Then he +added, with visible hesitation, that proved the goodness of his heart: +"Listen to me, and forgive me for speaking of the past! It will only be +another proof, that I cherish no evil memories, and that I fully believe +in your repentance and affection. Remember, that I also once thought, +that she, who is the angel of my life, did not love me--and yet it was +false. Who tells you, that you are not, like me, deceived by false +appearances?" + +"Alas, my lord! could I only believe so! But I dare not hope it. My brain +wanders uncertain, I cannot come to any resolution, and therefore I have +recourse to you." + +"But what causes your suspicions?" + +"Her coldness, which sometimes succeeds to apparent tenderness. The +refusals she gives me in the name of duty. Yes," added the half-caste, +after a moment's silence, "she reasons about her love--a proof, that she +has never loved me, or that she loves me no more." + +"On the contrary, she perhaps loves you all the more, that she takes into +consideration the interest and the dignity of her love." + +"That is what they all say," replied the half-caste, with bitter irony, +as he fixed a penetrating look on Djalma; "thus speak all those who love +weakly, coldly; but those who love valiantly, never show these insulting +suspicions. For them, a word from the man they adore is a command; they +do not haggle and bargain, for the cruel pleasure of exciting the passion +of their lover to madness, and so ruling him more surely. No, what their +lover asks of them, were it to cost life and honor, they would grant it +without hesitation--because, with them, the will of the man they love is +above every other consideration, divine and human. But those crafty +women, whose pride it is to tame and conquer man--who take delight in +irritating his passion, and sometimes appear on the point of yielding to +it--are demons, who rejoice in the tears and torments of the wretch, that +loves them with the miserable weakness of a child. While we expire with +love at their feet, the perfidious creatures are calculating the effects +of their refusals, and seeing how far they can go, without quite driving +their victim to despair. Oh! how cold and cowardly are they, compared to +the valiant, true-hearted women, who say to the men of their choice: 'Let +me be thine to-day-and to-morrow, come shame, despair, and death--it +matters little! Be happy! my life is not worth one tear of thine!" + +Djalma's brow had darkened, as he listened. Having kept inviolable the +secret of the various incidents of his passion for Mdlle. de Cardoville, +he could not but see in these words a quite involuntary allusion to the +delays and refusals of Adrienne. And yet Djalma suffered a moment in his +pride, at the thought of considerations and duties, that a woman holds +dearer than her love. But this bitter and painful thought was soon +effaced from the oriental's mind, thanks to the beneficent influence of +the remembrance of Adrienne. His brow again cleared, and he answered the +half-caste, who was watching him attentively with a sidelong glance: "You +are deluded by grief. If you have no other reason to doubt her you love, +than these refusals and vague suspicions, be satisfied! You are perhaps +loved better than you can imagine." + +"Alas! would it were so, my lord!" replied the half-caste, dejectedly, as +if he had been deeply touched by the words of Djalma. "Yet I say to +myself: There is for this woman something stronger than her +love--delicacy, dignity, honor, what you will--but she does not love me +enough to sacrifice for me this something!" + +"Friend, you are deceived," answered Djalma, mildly, though the words +affected him with a painful impression. "The greater the love of a woman, +the more it should be chaste and noble. It is love itself that awakens +this delicacy and these scruples. He rules, instead of being ruled." + +"That is true," replied the half-caste, with bitter irony, "Love so rules +me, that this woman bids me love in her own fashion, and I have only to +submit." + +Pausing suddenly, Faringhea hid his face in his hands, and heaved a deep +drawn sigh. His features expressed a mixture of hate, rage, and despair, +at once so terrible and so painful, that Djalma, more and more affected, +exclaimed, as he seized the other's hand: "Calm this fury, and listen to +the voice of friendship! It will disperse this evil influence. Speak to +me!" + +"No, no! it is too dreadful!" + +"Speak, I bid thee." + +"No! leave the wretch to his despair!" + +"Do you think me capable of that?" said Djalma, with a mixture of +mildness and dignity, which seemed to make an impression on the half +caste. + +"Alas!" replied he, hesitating; "do you wish to hear more, my lord?" + +"I wish to hear all." + +"Well, then! I have not told you all--for, at the moment of making this +confession, shame and the fear of ridicule kept me back. You asked me +what reason I had to believe myself betrayed. I spoke to you of vague +suspicions, refusals, coldness. That is not all--this evening--" + +"Go on!" + +"This evening--she made an appointment--with a man that she prefers to +me." + +"Who told you so?" + +"A stranger who pitied my blindness." + +"And suppose the man deceived you--or deceives himself?" + +"He has offered me proofs of what he advances." + +"What proofs?" + +"He will enable me this evening to witness the interview. 'It may be,' +said he, 'that this appointment may have no guilt in it, notwithstanding +appearances to the contrary. Judge for yourself, have courage, and your +cruel indecision will be at an end.'" + +"And what did you answer?" + +"Nothing, my lord. My head wandered as it does now and I came to you for +advice." + +Then, making a gesture of despair, he proceeded with a savage laugh: +"Advice? It is from the blade of my kand-jiar that I should ask counsel! +It would answer: 'Blood! blood!'" + +Faringhea grasped convulsively the long dagger attached to his girdle. +There is a sort of contagion in certain forms of passion. At sight of +Faringhea's countenance, agitated by jealous fury, Djalma shuddered--for +he remembered the fit of insane rage, with which he had been possessed, +when the Princess de Saint-Dizier had defied Adrienne to contradict her, +as to the discovery of Agricola Baudoin in her bed-chamber. But then, +reassured by the lady's proud and noble bearing, Djalma had soon learned +to despise the horrible calumny, which Adrienne had not even thought +worthy of an answer. Still, two or three times, as the lightning will +flash suddenly across the clearest sky, the remembrance of that shameful +accusation had crossed the prince's mind, like a streak of fire, but had +almost instantly vanished, in the serenity and happiness of his ineffable +confidence in Adrienne's heart. These memories, however, whilst they +saddened the mind of Djalma, only made him more compassionate with regard +to Faringhea, than he might have been without this strange coincidence +between the position of the half-caste and his own. Knowing, by his own +experience, to what madness a blind fury may be carried, and wishing to +tame the half-caste by affectionate kindness, Djalma said to him in a +grave and mild tone: "I offered you my friendship. I will now act towards +you a friend." + +But Faringhea, seemingly a prey to a dull and mute frenzy, stood with +fixed and haggard eyes, as though he did not hear Djalma. + +The latter laid his hand on his shoulder, and resumed: "Faringhea, listen +to me!" + +"My lord," said the half-caste, starting abruptly, as from a dream, +"forgive me--but--" + +"In the anguish occasioned by these cruel suspicions, it is not of your +kandjiar that you must take counsel--but of your friend." + +"My lord--" + +"To this interview, which will prove the innocence or the treachery of +your beloved, you will do well to go." + +"Oh, yes!" said the half-caste, in a hollow voice, and with a bitter +smile: "I shall be there." + +"But you must not go alone." + +"What do you mean, my lord?" cried the half-caste. "Who will accompany +me?" + +"I will." + +"You, my lord?" + +"Yes--perhaps, to save you from a crime--for I know how blind and unjust +is the earliest outburst of rage." + +"But that transport gives us revenge!" cried the half-caste, with a cruel +smile. + +"Faringhea, this day is all my own. I shall not leave you," said the +prince, resolutely. "Either you shall not go to this interview, or I will +accompany you." + +The half-caste appeared conquered by this generous perseverance. He fell +at the feet of Djalma, pressed the prince's hand respectfully to his +forehead and to his lips, and said: "My lord, be generous to the end! +forgive me!" + +"For what should I forgive you?" + +"Before I spoke to you, I had the audacity to think of asking for what +you have just freely offered. Not knowing to what extent my fury might +carry me, I had thought of asking you this favor, which you would not +perhaps grant to an equal, but I did not dare to do it. I shrunk even +from the avowal of the treachery I have cause to fear, and I came only to +tell you of my misery--because to you alone in all the world I could tell +it." + +It is impossible to describe the almost candid simplicity, with which the +half-breed pronounced these words, and the soft tones, mingled with +tears, which had succeeded his savage fury. Deeply affected, Djalma +raised him from the ground, and said: "You were entitled to ask of me a +mark of friendship. I am happy in having forestalled you. Courage! be of +good cheer! I will accompany you to this interview, and if my hopes do +not deceive me, you will find you have been deluded by false +appearances." + +When the night was come, the half-breed and Djalma, wrapped in their +cloaks, got into a hackney-coach. Faringhea ordered the coachman to drive +to the house inhabited by Sainte-Colombe. + + + + +CHAPTER LXIV. + +AN EVENING AT SAINTE-COLOMBE'S. + +Leaving Djalma and Faringhea in the coach, on their way, a few words are +indispensable before continuing this scene. Ninny Moulin, ignorant of +the real object of the step he took at the instigation of Rodin, had, on +the evening before, according to orders received from the latter, offered +a considerable sum to Sainte-Colombe, to obtain from that creature (still +singularly rapacious) the use of her apartments for whole day. +Sainte-Colombe, having accepted this proposition, too advantageous to be +refused, had set out that morning with her servants, to whom she wished, +she said, in return for their good services, to give a day's pleasure in +the country. Master of the house, Rodin, in a black wig, blue spectacles, +and a cloak, and with his mouth and chin buried in a worsted +comforter--in a word, perfectly disguised--had gone that morning to take +a look at the apartments, and to give his instructions to the half-caste. +The latter, in two hours from the departure of the Jesuit, had, thanks to +his address and intelligence, completed the most important preparation +and returned in haste to Djalma, to play with detestable hypocrisy the +scene at which we have just been present. + +During the ride from the Rue de Clichy to the Rue de Richelieu, Faringhea +appeared plunged in a mournful reverie. Suddenly, he said to Djalma to a +quick tone: "My lord, if I am betrayed, I must have vengeance." + +"Contempt is a terrible revenge," answered Djalma. + +"No, no," replied the half-caste, with an accent of repressed rage. "It +is not enough. The nearer the moment approaches, the more I feel I must +have blood." + +"Listen to me--" + +"My lord, have pity on me! I was a coward to draw back from my revenge. +Let me leave you, my lord! I will go alone to this interview." + +So saying, Faringhea made a movement, as if he would spring from the +carriage. + +Djalma held him by the arm, and said: "Remain! I wilt not leave you. If +you are betrayed, you shall not shed blood. Contempt will avenge and +friendship will console you." + +"No, no, my lord; I am resolved. When I have killed--then I will kill +myself," cried the half-caste, with savage excitement. "This kandjiar for +the false ones!" added he, laying his hand on his dagger. "The poison in +the hilt for me." + +"Faringhea--" + +"If I resist you, my lord, forgive me! My destiny must be accomplished." + +Time pressed, and Djalma, despairing to calm the other's ferocious rage, +resolved to have recourse to a stratagem. + +After some minutes' silence, he said to Faringhea: "I will not leave you. +I will do all I can to save you from a crime. If I do not succeed, the +blood you shed be on your own head. This hand shall never again be locked +in yours." + +These words appeared to make a deep impression on Faringhea. He breathed +a long sigh, and, bowing his head upon his breast, remained silent and +full of thought. Djalma prepared, by the faint light of the lamps, +reflected in the interior of the coach, to throw himself suddenly on the +half-caste, and disarm him. But the latter, who saw at a glance the +intention of the prince, drew his kandjiar abruptly from his girdle, and +holding it still in its sheath, said to the prince in a half-solemn, +half-savage tone: "This dagger, in a strong hand, is terrible; and in +this phial is one of the most subtle poisons of our country." + +He touched a spring, and the knob at the top of the hilt rose like a lid, +discovering the mouth of a small crystal phial concealed in this +murderous weapon. + +"Two or three drops of this poison upon the lips," resumed the half +caste, "and death comes slowly and peacefully, in a few hours, and +without pain. Only, for the first symptom, the nails turn blue. But he +who emptied this phial at a draught would fall dead, as if struck by +lightning." + +"Yes," replied Djalma; "I know that our country produces such mysterious +poisons. But why lay such stress on the murderous properties of this +weapon?" + +"To show you, my lord, that this kandjiar would ensure the success and +impunity of my vengeance. With the blade I could destroy, and by the +poison escape from human justice. Well, my lord! this kandjiar--take +it--I give it up to you--I renounce my vengeance--rather than render +myself unworthy to clasp again your hand!" + +He presented the dagger to the prince, who, as pleased as surprised at +this unexpected determination, hastily secured the terrible weapon +beneath his own girdle; whilst the half-breed continued, in a voice of +emotion: "Deep this kandjiar, my lord--and when you have seen and heard +all that we go to hear and see--you shall either give me the dagger to +strike a wretch--or the poison, to die without striking. You shall +command; I will obey." + +Djalma was about to reply, when the coach stopped at the house inhabited +by Sainte-Colombe. The prince and the half-caste, well enveloped in their +mantles, entered a dark porch, and the door was closed after them. +Faringhea exchanged a few words with the porter, and the latter gave him +a key. The two Orientals soon arrived at Sainte-Colombe's apartments, +which had two doors opening upon the landing-place, besides a private +entrance from the courtyard. As he put the key into the lock, Faringhea +said to Djalma, in an agitated voice: "Pity my weakness, my lord--but, at +this terrible moment, I tremble and hesitate. It were perhaps better to +doubt--or to forget!" + +Then, as the prince was about to answer, the half-caste exclaimed: "No! +we must have no cowardice!" and, opening the door precipitately, he +entered, followed by Djalma. + +When the door was again closed, the prince and the half-caste found +themselves in a dark and narrow passage. "Your hand, my lord--let me +guide you--walk lightly," said Faringhea, in a low whisper. + +He extended his hand to the prince, who took hold of it, and they both +advanced silently through the darkness. After leading Djalma some +distance, and opening and closing several doors, the half-caste stopped +abruptly, and abandoning the hand which he had hitherto held, said to the +prince: "My lord, the decisive moment approaches; let us wait here for a +few seconds." + +A profound silence followed these words of the half-caste. The darkness +was so complete, that Djalma could distinguish nothing. In about a +minute, he heard Faringhea moving away from him; and then a door was +suddenly opened, and as abruptly closed and locked. This circumstance +made Djalma somewhat uneasy. By a mechanical movement, he laid his hand +upon his dagger, and advanced cautiously towards the side, where he +supposed the door to be. + +Suddenly, the half-caste's voice struck upon his ear, though it was +impossible to guess whence it came. "My lord," it said, "you told me, you +were my friend. I act as a friend. If I have employed stratagem to bring +you hither, it is because the blindness of your fatal passion would +otherwise have prevented your accompanying me. The Princess de Saint +Dizier named to you Agricola Baudoin, the lover of Adrienne de +Cardoville. Listen--look--judge!" + +The voice ceased. It appeared to have issued from one corner of the room. +Djalma, still in darkness, perceived too late into what a snare he had +fallen, and trembled with rage--almost with alarm. + +"Faringhea!" he exclaimed; "where am I? where are you? Open the door on +your life! I would leave this place instantly." + +Extending his arms, the prince advanced hastily several steps, but he +only touched a tapestried wall; he followed it, hoping to find the door, +and he at length found it; but it was locked, and resisted all his +efforts. He continued his researches, and came to a fireplace with no +fire in it, and to a second door, equally fast. In a few moments, he had +thus made the circle of the room, and found himself again at the +fireplace. The anxiety of the prince increased more and more. He called +Faringhea, in a voice trembling with passion. There was no answer. +Profound silence reigned without, and complete darkness within. Ere long, +a perfumed vapor, of indescribable sweetness, but very subtle and +penetrating, spread itself insensibly through the little room in which +Djalma was. It might be, that the orifice of a tube, passing through one +of the doors of the room, introduced this balmy current. At the height of +angry and terrible thoughts, Djalma paid no attention to this odor--but +soon the arteries of his temples began to beat violently, a burning heat +seemed to circulate rapidly through his veins, he felt a sensation of +pleasure, his resentment died gradually away, and a mild, ineffable +torpor crept over him, without his being fully conscious of the mental +transformation that was taking place. Yet, by a last effort of the +wavering will, Djalma advanced once more to try and open one of the +doors; he found it indeed, but at this place the vapor was so strong, +that its action redoubled, and, unable to move a step further, Djalma was +obliged to support himself by leaning against the wall.[43] + +Then a strange thing happened. A faint light spread itself gradually +through an adjoining apartment, and Djalma now perceived, for the first +time, the existence of a little round window, in the wall of the room in +which he was. On the side of the prince, this opening was protected by a +slight but strong railing, which hardly intercepted the view. On the +other side a thick piece of plate-glass was fixed at the distance of two +or three inches from the railing in question. The room, which Djalma saw +through this window, and through which the faint light was now gradually +spreading, was richly furnished. Between two windows, hung with crimson +silk curtains, stood a kind of wardrobe, with a looking-glass front; +opposite the fireplace in which glowed the burning coals, was a long, +wide divan, furnished with cushions. + +In another second a woman entered this apartment. Her face and figure +were invisible, being wrapped in a long, hooded mantle, of peculiar form, +and a dark color. The sight of this mantle made Djalma start. To the +pleasure he at first felt succeeded a feverish anxiety, like the growing +fumes of intoxication. There was that strange buzzing in his ears which +we experience when we plunge into deep waters. It was in a kind of +delirium that Djalma looked on at what was passing in the next room. The +woman who had just appeared entered with caution, almost with fear. +Drawing aside one of the window curtains, she glanced through the closed +blinds into the street. Then she returned slowly to the fireplace, where +she stood for a moment pensive, still carefully enveloped in her mantle. +Completely yielding to the influence of the vapor, which deprived him of +his presence of mind--forgetting Faringhea, and all the circumstances +that had accompanied his arrival at this house--Djalma concentrated all +the powers of his attention on the spectacle before him, at which he +seemed to be present as in a dream. + +Suddenly Djalma saw the woman leave the fireplace and advance towards the +looking-glass. Turning her face toward it, she allowed the mantle to +glide down to her feet. Djalma was thunderstruck. He saw the face of +Adrienne de Cardoville. Yes, Adrienne, as he had seen her the night +before, attired as during her interview with the Princess de Saint +Dizier--the light green dress, the rose-colored ribbons, the white head +ornaments. A network of white beads concealed her back hair, and +harmonized admirably with the shining gold of her ringlets. Finally, as +far as the Hindoo could judge through the railing and the thick glass, +and in the faint light, it was the figure of Adrienne, with her marble +shoulders and swan-like neck, so proud and so graceful. In a word, he +could not, he did not doubt that it was Adrienne de Cardoville. Djalma +was bathed in a burning dew, his dizzy excitement increased, and, with +bloodshot eye and heaving bosom, he remained motionless, gazing almost +without the power of thought. The young lady, with her back still turned +towards Djalma, arranged her hair with graceful art, took off the network +which formed her head-dress, placed it on the chimney-piece, and began to +unfasten her gown; then, withdrawing from the looking-glass, she +disappeared for an instant from Djalma's view. + +"She is expecting Agricola Baudoin, her lover," said a voice, which +seemed to proceed from the wall of the dark room in which Djalma was. + +Notwithstanding his bewilderment, these terrible words, "She is expecting +Agricola Baudoin, her lover," passed like a stream of fire through the +brain and heart of the prince. A cloud of blood came over his eyes, he +uttered a hollow moan, which the thickness of the glass prevented from +being heard in the next room, and broke his nails in attempting to tear +down the iron railing before the window. + +Having reached this paroxysm of delirious rage, Djalma saw the uncertain +light grow still fainter, as if it had been discreetly obscured, and, +through the vapory shadow that hung before him, he perceived the young +lady returning, clad in a long white dressing-gown, and with her golden +curls floating over her naked arms and shoulders. She advanced cautiously +in the direction of a door which was hid from Djalma's view. At this +moment, one of the doors of the apartment in which the prince was +concealed was gently opened by an invisible hand. Djalma noticed it by +the click of the lock, and by the current of fresh air which streamed +upon his face, for he could see nothing. This door, left open for Djalma, +like that in the next room, to which the young lady had drawn near, led +to a sort of ante-chamber communicating with the stairs, which some one +now rapidly ascended, and, stopping short, knocked twice at the outer +door. + +"Here comes Agricola Baudoin. Look and listen!" said the same voice that +the prince had already heard. + +Mad, intoxicated, but with the fixed idea and reckless determination of a +madman or a drunkard, Djalma drew the dagger which Faringhea had left in +his possession, and stood in motionless expectation. Hardly were the two +knocks heard before the young lady quitted the apartment, from which +streamed a faint ray of light, ran to the door of the staircase, so that +some faint glimmer reached the place where Djalma stood watching, his +dagger in his hand. He saw the young lady pass across the ante-chamber, +and approach the door of the staircase, where she said in a whisper: "Who +is there?" + +"It is I--Agricola Baudoin," answered, from, without, a manly voice. + +What followed was rapid as lightning, and must be conceived rather than +described. Hardly had the young lady drawn the bolt of the door, hardly +had Agricola Baudoin stepped across the threshold, than Djalma, with the +bound of a tiger, stabbed as it were at once, so rapid were the strokes, +both the young lady, who fell dead on the floor, and Agricola, who sank, +dangerously wounded, by the side of the unfortunate victim. This scene of +murder, rapid as thought, took place in the midst of a half obscurity. +Suddenly the faint light from the chamber was completely extinguished, +and a second after, Djalma felt his arm seized in the darkness by an iron +grasp, and the voice of Faringhea whispered: "You are avenged. Come; we +can secure our retreat." Inert, stupefied at what he had done, Djalma +offered no resistance, and let himself be dragged by the half-caste into +the inner apartment, from which there was another way out. + +When Rodin had exclaimed, in his admiration of the generative power of +thought, that the word NECKLACE had been the germ of the infernal project +he then contemplated, it was, that chance had brought to his mind the +remembrance of the too famous affair of the diamond necklace, in which a +woman, thanks to her vague resemblance to Queen Marie Antoinette, being +dressed like that princess, and favored by the uncertainty of a twilight, +had played so skillfully the part of her unfortunate sovereign, as to +make the Cardinal Prince de Rohan, though familiar with the court, the +complete dupe of the illusion. Having once determined on his execrable +design, Rodin had sent Jacques Dumoulin to Sainte-Colombe, without +telling him the real object of his mission, to ask this experienced woman +to procure a fine young girl, tall, and with red hair. Once found, a +costume exactly resembling that worn by Adrienne, and of which the +Princess de Saint-Dizier gave the description to Rodin (though herself +ignorant of this new plot), was to complete the deception. The rest is +known, or may be guessed. The unfortunate girl, who acted as Adrienne's +double, believed she was only aiding in a jest. As for Agricola, he had +received a letter, in which he was invited to a meeting that might be of +the greatest importance to Mdlle. de Cardoville. + +[43] See the strange effect of hasheesh. To the effect of this is +attributed the kind of hallucination which seized on those unhappy +persons, whom the Prince of the Assassins (the Old Man of the Mountain) +used as the instruments of his vengeance. + + + + +CHAPTER LXV. + +THE NUPTIAL BED. + +The mild light of a circular lamp of oriental alabaster, suspended from +the ceiling by three silver chains, spreads a faint lustre through the +bed-chamber of Adrienne de Cardoville. + +The large ivory bedstead, inlaid with mother-of-pearl, is not at present +occupied, and almost disappears beneath snowy curtains of lace and +muslin, transparent and vapory as clouds. On the white marble +mantlepiece, from beneath which the fire throws ruddy beams on the ermine +carpet, is the usual basket filled with a bush of red camellias, in the +midst of their shining green leaves. A pleasant aromatic odor, rising +from a warm and perfumed bath in the next room, penetrates every corner +of the bed-chamber. All without is calm and silent. It is hardly eleven +o'clock. The ivory door, opposite to that which leads to the bath-room, +opens slowly. Djalma appears. Two hours have elapsed since he committed a +double murder, and believed that he had killed Adrienne in a fit of +jealous fury. + +The servants of Mdlle. de Cardoville, accustomed to Djalma's daily +visits, no longer announced his arrival, and admitted him without +difficulty, having received no orders to the contrary from their +mistress. He had never before entered the bed-chamber, but, knowing that +the apartment the lady occupied was on the first floor of the house, he +had easily found it. As he entered that virgin sanctuary, his countenance +was pretty calm, so well did he control his feelings, only a slight +paleness tarnished the brilliant amber of his complexion. He wore that +day a robe of purple cashmere, striped with silver--a color which did not +show the stains of blood upon it. Djalma closed the door after him, and +tore off his white turban, for it seemed to him as if a band of hot iron +encircled his brow. His dark hair streamed around his handsome face. He +crossed his arms upon his bosom, and looked slowly about him. When his +eyes rested on Adrienne's bed, he started suddenly, and his cheek grew +purple. Then he drew his hand across his brow, hung down his head, and +remained standing for some moments in a dream, motionless as a statue. + +After a mournful silence of a few seconds' duration, Djalma fell upon his +knees, and raised his eyes to heaven. The Asiatic's countenance was +bathed in tears, and no longer expressed any violent passion. On his +features was no longer the stamp of hate, or despair, or the ferocious +joy of vengeance gratified. It was rather the expression of grief at once +simple and immense. For several minutes he was almost choked with sobs, +and tears ran freely down his cheeks. + +"Dead! dead!" he murmured, in a half-stifled voice. "She, who this +morning slept so peacefully in this chamber! And I have killed her. Now +that she is dead, what is her treachery to me? I should not have killed +her for that. She had betrayed me; she loved the man whom I slew--she +loved him! Alas! I could not hope to gain the preference," added he, with +a touching mixture of resignation and remorse; "I, poor, untaught +youth--how could I merit her love? It was my fault that she did not love +me; but, always generous, she concealed from me her indifference, that +she might not make me too unhappy--and for that I killed her. What was +her crime? Did she not meet me freely? Did she not open to me her +dwelling? Did she not allow me to pass whole days with her? No doubt she +tried to love me, and could not. I loved her with all the faculties of my +soul, but my love was not such as she required. For that, I should not +have killed her. But a fatal delusion seized me and, after it was done, I +woke as from a dream. Alas! it was not a dream: I have killed her. And +yet--until this evening--what happiness I owed to her--what hope--what +joy! She made my heart better, nobler, more generous. All came from her," +added the Indian, with a new burst of grief. "That remained with me--no +one could take from me that treasure of the past--that ought to have +consoled me. But why think of it? I struck them both--her and the +man--without a struggle. It was a cowardly murder--the ferocity of the +tiger that tears its innocent prey!" + +Djalma buried his face in his hands. Then, drying his tears, he resumed, +"I know, clearly, that I mean to die also. But my death will not restore +her to life!" + +He rose from the ground, and drew from his girdle Faringhea's bloody +dagger; then, taking the little phial from the hilt, he threw the blood +stained blade upon the ermine carpet, the immaculate whiteness of which +was thus slightly stained with red. + +"Yes," resumed Djalma, holding the phial with a convulsive grasp, "I know +well that I am about to die. It is right. Blood for blood; my life for +hers. How happens it that my steel did not turn aside? How could I kill +her?--but it is done--and my heart is full of remorse, and sorrow, an +inexpressible tenderness--and I have come here--to die! + +"Here, in this chamber," he continued, "the heaven of my burning +visions!" And then he added, with a heartrending accent, as he again +buried his face in his hands, "Dead! dead!" + +"Well! I too shall soon be dead," he resumed, in a firmer voice. "But, +no! I will die slowly, gradually. A few drops of the poison will suffice; +and, when I am quite certain of dying, my remorse will perhaps be less +terrible. Yesterday, she pressed my hand when we parted. Who could have +foretold me this?" The Indian raised the phial resolutely to his lips. He +drank a few drops of the liquor it contained, and replaced it on a little +ivory table close to Adrienne's bed. + +"This liquor is sharp and hot," said he. "Now I am certain to die. Oh! +that I may still have time to feast on the sight and perfume of this +chamber--to lay my dying head on the couch where she has reposed." + +Djalma fell on his knees beside the bed, and leaned against it his +burning brow. At this moment, the ivory door, which communicated with the +bath-room, rolled gently on its hinges, and Adrienne entered. The young +lady had just sent away her woman, who had assisted to undress her. She +wore a long muslin wrapper of lustrous whiteness. Her golden hair, neatly +arranged in little plaits, formed two bands, which gave to her sweet face +an extremely juvenile air. Her snowy complexion was slightly tinged with +rose-color, from the warmth of the perfumed bath, which she used for a +few seconds every evening. When she opened the ivory door, and placed her +little naked foot, in its white satin slipper, upon the ermine carpet, +Adrienne was dazzlingly beautiful. Happiness sparkled in her eyes, and +adorned her brow. All the difficulties relative to her union with Djalma +had now been removed. In two days she would be his. The sight of the +nuptial chamber oppressed her with a vague and ineffable languor. The +ivory door had been opened so gently, the lady's first steps were so soft +upon the fur carpet, that Djalma, still leaning against the bed, had +heard nothing. But suddenly a cry of surprise and alarm struck upon his +ear. He turned round abruptly. Adrienne stood before him. + +With an impulse of modesty, Adrienne closed her nightdress over her +bosom, and hastily drew back, still more afflicted than angry at what she +considered a guilty attempt on the part of Djalma. Cruelly hurt and +offended, she was about to reproach him with his conduct, when she +perceived the dagger, which he had thrown down upon the ermine carpet. At +sight of this weapon, and the expression of fear and stupor which +petrified the features of Djalma, who remained kneeling, motionless, with +his body thrown back, hands stretched out, his eyes fixed and wildly +staring Adrienne, no longer dreading an amorous surprise, was seized with +an indescribable terror, and, instead of flying from the prince, advanced +several steps towards him, and said, in an agitated voice, whilst she +pointed to the kandjiar, "My friend, why are you here? what ails you? why +this dagger?" + +Djalma made no answer. At first, the presence of Adrienne seemed to him a +vision, which he attributed to the excitement of his brain, already (it +might be) under the influence of the poison. But when the soft voice +sounded in his ears--when his heart bounded with the species of electric +shock, which he always felt when he met the gaze of that woman so +ardently beloved--when he had contemplated for an instant that adorable +face, so fresh and fair, in spite of its expression of deep +uneasiness--Djalma understood that he was not the sport of a dream, but +that Mdlle. de Cardoville was really before his eyes. + +Then, as he began fully to grasp the thought that Adrienne was not dead, +though he could not at all explain the prodigy of her resurrection, the +Hindoo's countenance was transfigured, the pale gold of his complexion +became warm and red, his eyes (tarnished by tears of remorse) shone with +new radiance, and his features, so lately contracted with terror and +despair, expressed all the phases of the most ecstatic joy. Advancing, +still on his knees, towards Adrienne, he lifted up to her his trembling +hands, and, too deeply affected to pronounce a word, he gazed on her with +so much amazement, love, adoration, gratitude, that the young lady, +fascinated by those inexplicable looks, remained mute also, motionless +also, and felt, by the precipitate beating of her heart, and by the +shudder which ran through her frame, that there was here some dreadful +mystery to be unfolded. + +At last, Djalma, clasping his hands together, exclaimed with an accent +impossible to describe, "Thou art not dead!" + +"Dead!" repeated the young lady, in amazement. + +"It was not thou, really not thou, whom I killed? God is kind and just!" + +And as he pronounced these words with intense joy, the unfortunate youth +forgot the victim whom he had sacrificed in error. + +More and more alarmed, and again glancing at the dagger en which she now +perceived marks of blood--a terrible evidence, in confirmation of the +words of Djalma--Mdlle. de Cardoville exclaimed, "You have killed some +one, Djalma! Oh! what does he say? It is dreadful!" + +"You are alive--I see you--you are here," said Djalma, in a voice +trembling with rapture. "You are here--beautiful! pure! for it was not +you! Oh, no! had it been you, the steel would have turned back upon +myself." + +"You have killed some one?" cried the young lady, beside her with this +unforeseen revelation, and clasping her hands in horror. "Why? whom did +you kill?" + +"I do not know. A woman that was like you--a man that I thought your +lover--it was an illusion, a frightful dream--you are alive--you are +here!" + +And the oriental wept for joy. + +"A dream? but no, it is not a dream. There is blood upon that dagger!" +cried the young lady, as she pointed wildly to the kandjiar. "I tell you +there is blood upon it!" + +"Yes. I threw it down just now, when I took the poison from it, thinking +that I had killed you." + +"The poison!" exclaimed Adrienne, and her teeth chattered convulsively. +"What poison?" + +"I thought I had killed you, and I came here to die." + +"To die? Oh! wherefore? who is to die?" cried the young lady, almost in +delirium. + +"I," replied Djalma, with inexpressible tenderness, "I thought I had +killed you--and I took poison." + +"You!" exclaimed Adrienne, becoming pale as death. "You!" + +"Yes." + +"Oh! it is not true!" said the young lady, shaking her head. + +"Look!" said the Asiatic. Mechanically, he turned towards the +bed--towards the little ivory table, on which sparkled the crystal phial. + +With a sudden movement, swifter than thought, swifter, it may be, than +the will, Adrienne rushed to the table, seized the phial, and applied it +eagerly to her lips. + +Djalma had hitherto remained on his knees; but he now uttered a terrible +cry, made one spring to the drinker's side, and dragged away the phial, +which seemed almost glued to her mouth. + +"No matter! I have swallowed as much as you," said Adrienne, with an air +of gloomy triumph. + +For an instant, there followed an awful silence. Adrienne and Djalma +gazed upon each other, mute, motionless, horror-struck. The young lady +was the first to break this mournful silence, and said in a tone which +she tried to make calm and steady, "Well! what is there extraordinary in +this? You have killed, and death most expiate your crime. It is just. I +will not survive you. That also is natural enough. Why look at me thus? +This poison has a sharp taste--does it act quickly! Tell me, my Djalma!" + +The prince did not answer. Shuddering through all his frame, he looked +down upon his hands. Faringhea had told the truth; a slight violet tint +appeared already beneath the nails. Death was approaching, slowly, almost +insensibly, but not the less certain. Overwhelmed with despair at the +thought that Adrienne, too, was about to die, Djalma felt his courage +fail him. He uttered a long groan, and hid his face in his hands. His +knees shook under him, and he felt down upon the bed, near which he was +standing. + +"Already?" cried the young lady in horror, as she threw herself on her +knees at Djalma's feet. "Death already? Do you hide your face from me?" + +In her fright, she pulled his hands from before his face. That face was +bathed in tears. + +"No, not yet," murmured he, through his sobs. "The poison is slow." + +"Really!" cried Adrienne, with ineffable joy. Then, kissing the hands of +Djalma, she added tenderly, "If the poison is slow, why do you weep?" + +"For you! for you!" said the Indian, in a heart-rending tone. + +"Think not of me," replied Adrienne, resolutely. "You have killed, and we +must expiate the crime. I know not what has taken place; but I swear by +our love that you did not do evil for evil's sake. There is some horrible +mystery in all this." + +"On a pretence which I felt bound to believe," replied Djalma, speaking +quickly, and panting for breath, "Faringhea led me to a certain house. +Once there, he told me that you had betrayed me. I did not believe him, +but I know not what strange dizziness seized upon me--and then, through a +half-obscurity, I saw you--" + +"Me!" + +"No--not you--but a woman resembling you, dressed like you, so that I +believed the illusion--and then there came a man--and you flew to meet +him--and I--mad with rage--stabbed her, stabbed him, saw them fall--and +so came here to die. And now I find you only to cause your death. Oh, +misery! misery! that you should die through me!" + +And Djalma, this man of formidable energy, began again to weep with the +weakness of a child. At sight of this deep, touching, passionate despair, +Adrienne, with that admirable courage which women alone possess in love, +thought only of consoling Djalma. By an effort of superhuman passion, as +the prince revealed to her this infernal plot, the lady's countenance +became so splendid with an expression of love and happiness, that the +East Indian looked at her in amazement, fearing for an instant that he +must have lost his reason. + +"No more tears, my adored!" cried the young lady, exultingly. "No more +tears--but only smiles of joy and love! Our cruel enemies shall not +triumph!" + +"What do you say?" + +"They wished to make us miserable. We pity them. Our felicity shall be +the envy of the world!" + +"Adrienne--bethink you--" + +"Oh! I have all my senses about me. Listen to me, my adored! I now +understand it all. Falling into a snare, which these wretches spread for +you, you have committed murder. Now, in this country, murder leads to +infamy, or the scaffold--and to-morrow--to-night, perhaps--you would be +thrown into prison. But our enemies have said: 'A man like Prince Djalma +does not wait for infamy--he kills himself. A woman like Adrienne de +Cardoville does not survive the disgrace or death of her lover--she +prefers to die.'" + +"Therefore a frightful death awaits them both," said the black-robed men; +"and that immense inheritance, which we covet--'" + +"And for you--so young, so beautiful so innocent--death is frightful, and +these monsters triumph!" cried Djalma. "They have spoken the truth!" + +"They have lied!" answered Adrienne. "Our death shall be celestial. This +poison is slow--and I adore you, my Djalma!" + +She spoke those words in a low voice, trembling with passionate love, +and, leaning upon Djalma's knees, approached so near, that he felt her +warm breath upon his cheek. As he felt that breath, and saw the humid +flame that darted from the large, swimming eyes of Adrienne, whose half +opened lips were becoming of a still deeper and brighter hue, the Indian +started--his young blood boiled in his veins--he forgot everything--his +despair, and the approach of death, which as yet (as with Adrienne), only +showed itself in a kind of feverish ardor. His face, like the young +girl's, became once more splendidly beautiful. + +"Oh, my lover! my husband! how beautiful you are!" said Adrienne, with +idolatry. "Those eyes--that brow--those lips--how I love them!--How many +times has the remembrance of your grace and beauty, coupled with your +love, unsettled my reason, and shaken my resolves--even to this moment, +when I am wholly yours!--Yes, heaven wills that we should be united. Only +this morning, I gave to the apostolic man, that was to bless our union, +in thy name and mine, a royal gift--a gift, that will bring joy and peace +to the heart of many an unfortunate creature. Then what have we to +regret, my beloved? Our immortal souls will pass away in a kiss, and +ascend, full of love, to that God who is all love!" + +"Adrienne!" + +"Djalma!" + +The light, transparent curtains fell like a cloud over that nuptial and +funereal couch. Yes, funereal; for, two hours after, Adrienne and Djalma +breathed their last sigh in a voluptuous agony. + + + + +CHAPTER LXVI. + +A DUEL TO THE DEATH. + +Adrienne and Djalma died on the 30th of May. The following scene took +place on the 31st, the eve of the day appointed for the last convocation +of the heirs of Marius de Rennepont. The reader will no doubt remember +the room occupied by M. Hardy, in the "house of retreat," in the Rue de +Vaugirard--a gloomy and retired apartment, opening on a dreary little +garden, planted with yew-trees, and surrounded by high walls. To reach +this chamber, it was necessary to cross two vast rooms, the doors of +which, once shut, intercepted all noise and communication from without. +Bearing this in mind, we may go on with our narrative. For the last three +or four days, Father d'Aigrigny occupied this apartment. He had not +chosen it, but had been induced to accept it, under most plausible +pretexts, given him at the instigation of Rodin. It was about noon. +Seated in an arm-chair, by the window opening on the little garden, +Father d'Aigrigny held in his hand a newspaper, in which he read as +follows, under the head of "Paris:" + +"Eleven p.m.--A most horrible and tragical event has just excited the +greatest consternation in the quarter of the Rue de Richelieu. A double +murder has been committed, on the person of a young man and woman. The +girl was killed on the spot, by the stroke of a dagger; hopes are +entertained of saving the life of the young man. The crime is attributed +to jealousy. The officers of justice are investigating the matter. We +shall give full particulars tomorrow." + +When he had read these lines, Father d'Aigrigny threw down the paper and +remained in deep thought. + +"It is incredible," said he, with bitter envy, in allusion to Rodin. "He +has attained his end. Hardly one of his anticipations has been defeated. +This family is annihilated, by the mere play of the passions, good and +evil that he has known how to set in motion. He said it would be so. Oh! +I must confess," added Father d'Aigrigny, with a jealous and hateful +smile, "that Rodin is a man of rare dissimulation, patience, energy, +obstinacy and intelligence. Who would have told a few months ago, when he +wrote under my orders, a discreet and humble socius, that he had already +conceived the most audacious ambition, and dared to lift his eyes to the +Holy See itself? that, thanks to intrigues and corruption, pursued with +wondrous ability, these views were not so unreasonable? Nay, that this +infernal ambition would soon be realized, were it not that the secret +proceedings of this dangerous man have long been as secretly +watched?--Ah!" sneered Father d'Aigrigny, with a smile of irony and +triumph, "you wish to be a second Sixtus V., do you? And, not content +with this audacious pretension, you mean, if successful, to absorb our +Company in the Papacy, even as the Sultan has absorbed the Janissaries. +Ah! You would make us your stepping-stone to power! And you have thought +to humiliate and crush me with your insolent disdain! But patience, +patience: the day of retribution approaches. I alone am the depository of +our General's will. Father Caboccini himself does not know that. The fate +of Rodin is in my hands. Oh! it will not be what he expects. In this +Rennepont affair (which, I must needs confess, he has managed admirably), +he thinks to outwit us all, and to work only for himself. But +to-morrow--" + +Father d'Aigrigny was suddenly disturbed in these agreeable reflections. +He heard the door of the next room open, and, as he turned round to see +who was coming, the door of the apartment in which he was turned upon its +hinges. Father d'Aigrigny started with surprise, and became almost +purple. Marshal Simon stood before him. And, behind the marshal, in the +shadow of the door, Father d'Aigrigny perceived the cadaverous face of +Rodin. The latter cast on him one glance of diabolical delight, and +instantly disappeared. The door was again closed, and Father d'Aigrigny +and Marshal Simon were left alone together. The father of Rose and +Blanche was hardly recognizable. His gray hair had become completely +white. His pale, thin face had not been shaved for some days. His hollow +eyes were bloodshot and restless, and had in them something wild and +haggard. He was wrapped in a large cloak, and his black cravat was tied +loosely about his neck. In withdrawing from the apartment, Rodin had (as +if by inadvertence) double-locked the door on the outside. When he was +alone with the Jesuit, the marshal threw back his cloak from his +shoulders, and Father d'Aigrigny could see two naked swords, stuck +through a silk handkerchief which served him as a belt. + +Father d'Aigrigny understood it all. He remembered how, a few days +before, Rodin had obstinately pressed him to say what he would do if the +marshal were to strike him in the face. There could be no doubt that he, +who thought to have held the fate of Rodin in his hands, had been brought +by the latter into a fearful peril; for he knew that, the two outer rooms +being closed, there was no possibility of making himself heard, and that +the high walls of the garden only bordered upon some vacant lots. The +first thought which occurred to him, one by no means destitute of +probability, was that Rodin, either by his agents at Rome, or by his own +incredible penetration, had learned that his fate depended on Father +d'Aigrigny, and hoped therefore to get rid of him, by delivering him over +to the inexorable vengeance of the father of Rose and Blanche. Without +speaking a word, the marshal unbound the handkerchief from his waist, +laid the two swords upon the table, and, folding his arms upon his +breast, advanced slowly towards Father d'Aigrigny. Thus these two men, +who through life had pursued each other with implacable hatred, at length +met face to face--they, who had fought in hostile armies, and measured +swords in single combat, and one of whom now came to seek vengeance for +the death of his children. As the marshal approached, Father d'Aigrigny +rose from his seat. He wore that day a black cassock, which rendered +still more visible the pale hue, which had now succeeded to the sudden +flush on his cheek. For a few seconds, the two men stood face to face +without speaking. The marshal was terrific in his paternal despair. His +calmness, inexorable as fate, was more impressive than the most furious +burst of anger. + +"My children are dead," said he at last, in a slow and hollow tone. "I +come to kill you." + +"Sir," cried Father d'Aigrigny, "listen to me. Do not believe--" + +"I must kill you," resumed the marshal, interrupting the Jesuit; "your +hate followed my wife into exile, where she perished. You and your +accomplices sent my children to certain death. For twenty years you have +been my evil genius. I must have your life, and I will have it." + +"My life belongs, first, to God," answered Father d'Aigrigny, piously, +"and then to who likes to take it." + +"We will fight to the death in this room," said the marshal; "and, as I +have to avenge my wife and children, I am tranquil as to the result." + +"Sir," answered Father d'Aigrigny, coldly, "you forget that my profession +forbids me to fight. Once I accepted your challenge--but my position is +changed since then." + +"Ah!" said the marshal, with a bitter smile; "you refuse to fight because +you are a priest?" + +"Yes, sir--because I am a priest." + +"So that, because he is a priest, a wretch like you may commit any crime, +any baseness, under shelter of his black gown?" + +"I do not understand a word of your accusations. In any case, the law is +open," said Father d'Aigrigny, biting his pale lips, for he felt deeply +the insult offered by the marshal; "if you have anything to complain of, +appeal to that law, before which all are equal." + +Marshal Simon shrugged his shoulders in angry disdain. "Your crimes +escape the law--and, could it even reach you, that would not satisfy my +vengeance, after all the evil you have done me, after all you have taken +from me," said the marshal; and, at the memory of his children, his voice +slightly trembled; but he soon proceeded, with terrible calmness: "You +must feel that I now only live for vengeance. And I must have such +revenge as is worth the seeking--I must have your coward's heart +palpitating on the point of my sword. Our last duel was play; this will +be earnest--oh! you shall see." + +The marshal walked up to the table, where he had laid the two swords. +Father d'Aigrigny needed all his resolution to restrain himself. The +implacable hate which he had always felt for Marshal Simon, added to +these insults, filled him with savage ardor. Yet he answered, in a tone +that was still calm: "For the last time, sir, I repeat to you, that my +profession forbids me to fight." + +"Then you refuse?" said the marshal, turning abruptly towards him. + +"I refuse." + +"Positively?" + +"Positively. Nothing on earth should force me to it." + +"Nothing." + +"No, sir; nothing." + +"We shall see," said the marshal, as his hand fell with its full force on +the cheek of Father d'Aigrigny. + +The Jesuit uttered a cry of fury; all his blood rushed to his face, so +roughly handled; the courage of the man (for he was brave), his ancient +military ardor, carried him away; his eyes sparkled, and, with teeth +firmly set, and clenched fists, he advanced towards the marshal, +exclaiming: "The swords! the swords!" + +But suddenly, remembering the appearance of Rodin, and the interest which +the latter had in bringing about this encounter, he determined to avoid +the diabolical snare laid by his former socius, and so gathered +sufficient resolution to restrain his terrible resentment. + +To his passing fury succeeded a calm, full of contrition; and, wishing to +play his part out to the end, he knelt down, and bowing his head and +beating his bosom, repeated: "Forgive me, Lord, for yielding to a +movement of rage! and, above all, forgive him who has injured me!" + +In spite of his apparent resignation, the Jesuit's voice was neatly +agitated. He seemed to feel a hot iron upon his cheek, for never before +in his life, whether as a soldier or a priest, had he suffered such an +insult. He had thrown himself upon his knees, partly from religious +mummery, and partly to avoid the gaze of the marshal, fearing that, were +he to meet his eye, he should not be able to answer for himself, but give +way to his impetuous feelings. On seeing the Jesuit kneel down, and on +hearing his hypocritical invocation, the marshal, whose sword was in his +hand, shook with indignation. + +"Stand up, scoundrel!" he said, "stand up, wretch!" And he spurned the +Jesuit with his boot. + +At this new insult, Father d'Aigrigny leaped up, as if he had been moved +by steel springs. It was too much; he could bear no more. Blinded with +rage, he rushed to the able, caught up the other sword, and exclaimed, +grinding his teeth together: "Ah! you will have blood. Well then! it +shall be yours--if possible!" + +And the Jesuit, still in all the vigor of manhood, his face purple, his +large gray eyes sparkling with hate, fell upon his guard with the ease +and skill of a finished swordsman. + +"At last!" cried the marshal, as their blades were about to cross. + +But once more reflection came to damp the fire of the Jesuit. He +remembered how this hazardous duel would gratify the wishes of Rodin, +whose fate was in his hands, and whom he hated perhaps even more than the +marshal. Therefore, in spite of the fury which possessed him, in spite of +his secret hope to conquer in this combat, so strong and healthy did he +feel himself, and so fatal had been the effects of grief on the +constitution of Marshal Simon, he succeeded in mastering his rage, and, +to the amazement of the marshal, dropped the point of his sword, +exclaiming: "I am a minister of the Lord, and must not shed blood. +Forgive ne, heaven! and, oh! forgive my brother also." + +Then placing the blade beneath his heel, he drew the hilt suddenly +towards him, and broke the weapon into two pieces. The duel was no longer +possible. Father d'Aigrigny had put it out of his own power to yield to a +new burst of violence, of which he saw the imminent danger. Marshal Simon +remained for an instant mute and motionless with surprise and +indignation, for he also saw that the duel was now impossible. But, +suddenly, imitating the Jesuit, the marshal placed his blade also under +his heel, broke it in half, and picking up the pointed end, about +eighteen inches in length tore off his black silk cravat, rolled it round +the broken part so as to form a handle, and said to Father d'Aigrigny: +"Then we will fight with daggers." + +Struck with this mixture of coolness and ferocity, the Jesuit exclaimed: +"Is this then a demon of hell?" + +"No; it is a father, whose children have been murdered," said the +marshal, in a hollow voice, whilst he fitted the blade to his hand, and a +tear stood in the eye, that instantly after became fierce and ardent. + +The Jesuit saw that tear. There was in this mixture of vindictive rage +and paternal grief something so awful, and yet so sacred, that for the +first time in his life Father d'Aigrigny felt fear--cowardly, ignoble +fear--fear for his own safety. While a combat with swords was in +question, in which skill, agility, and experience are such powerful +auxiliaries to courage, his only difficulty had been to repress the ardor +of his hate--but when he thought of the combat proposed, body to body, +face to face, heart to heart, he trembled, grew pale, and exclaimed: "A +butchery with knives?--never!" + +His countenance and the accent betrayed his alarm, so that the marshal +himself was struck with it, and fearing to lose his revenge, he cried: +"After all, he is a coward! The wretch had only the courage or the vanity +of a fencer. This pitiful renegade--this traitor to his country--whom I +have cuffed, kicked--yes, kicked, most noble marquis!--shame of your +ancient house--disgrace to the rank of gentleman, old or new--ah! it is +not hypocrisy, it is not calculation, as I at first thought--it is fear! +You need the noise of war, and the eyes of spectators to give you +courage--" + +"Sir--have a care!" said Father d'Aigrigny, stammering through his +clenched teeth, for rage and hate now made him forget his fear-"Must I +then spit on you, to make the little blood you have left rise to your +face?" cried the exasperated marshal. + +"Oh! this is too much! too much!" said the Jesuit, seizing the pointed +piece of the blade that lay at his feet. + +"It is not enough!" said the marshal, panting for breath. "There, Judas!" +and he spat in his face. + +"If you will not fight now," added the marshal, "I will beat you like a +dog, base child-murderer!" + +On receiving the uttermost insult which can be offered to an already +insulted man, Father d'Aigrigny lost all his presence of mind, forgot his +interests, his resolutions, his fears, forgot even Rodin--felt only the +frenzied ardor of revenge--and, recovering his courage, rejoiced in the +prospect of a close struggle, in which his superior strength promised +success over the enfeebled frame of the marshal for, in this kind of +brutal and savage combat, physical strength offers an immense advantage. +In an instant, Father d'Aigrigny had rolled his handkerchief round the +broken blade, and rushed upon Marshal Simon, who received the shock with +intrepidity. For the short time that this unequal struggle +lasted--unequal, for the marshal had since some days been a prey to a +devouring fever, which had undermined his strength--the two combatants, +mute in their fury, uttered not a word or a cry. Had any one been present +at this horrible scene, it would have been impossible for him to tell how +they dealt their blows. He would have seen two heads--frightful, livid, +convulsed--rising, falling, now here, now there--arms, now stiff as bars +of iron, and now twisting like serpents--and, in the midst of the +undulation of the blue coat of the marshal and the black cassock of the +Jesuit, from time to time the sudden gleam of the steel. He would have +heard only a dull stamping, and now and then a deep breath. In about two +minutes at most, the two adversaries fell, and rolled one over the other. +One of them--it was Father d'Aigrigny--contrived to disengage himself +with a violent effort, and to rise upon his knees. His arms fell +powerless by his side; and then the dying voice of the marshal murmured: +"My children! Dagobert!" + +"I have killed him," said Father d'Aigrigny, in a weak voice; "but I +feel--that I am wounded--to death." + +Leaning with one hand on the ground, the Jesuit pressed the other to his +bosom. His black cassock was pierced through and through, but the blades, +which had served for the combat, being triangular and very sharp, the +blood instead of issuing from the wounds, was flowing inwards. + +"Oh! I die--I choke," said Father d'Aigrigny, whose features were already +changing with the approach of death. + +At this moment, the key turned twice in the door, Rodin appeared on the +threshold, and, thrusting in his head, he said in a humble and discreet +voice: "May I come in?" + +At this dreadful irony, Father d'Aigrigny strove to rise, and rush upon +Rodin; but he fell back exhausted; the blood was choking him. + +"Monster of hell!" he muttered, casting on Rodin a terrible glance of +rage and agony. "Thou art the cause of my death." + +"I always told you, my dear father, that your old military habits would +be fatal to you," answered Rodin with a frightful smile. "Only a few days +ago, I gave you warning, and advised you take a blow patiently from this +old swordsman--who seems to have done with that work forever, which is +well--for the Scripture says: 'All they that take the sword shall perish +with the sword.' And then this Marshal Simon might have had some claim on +his daughter's inheritance. And, between ourselves, my dear father, what +was I to do? It was necessary to sacrifice you for the common interest; +the rather, that I well knew what you had in pickle for me to-morrow. But +I am not so easily caught napping." + +"Before I die," said Father d'Aigrigny, in a failing voice, "I will +unmask you." + +"Oh, no, you will not," said Rodin, shaking his head with a knowing air; +"I alone, if you please, will receive your last confession." + +"Oh! this is horrible," moaned Father d'Aigrigny, whose eyes were +closing. "May God have mercy on me, if it is not too late!--Alas! at this +awful moment, I feel that I have been a great sinner--" + +"And, above all, a great fool," said Rodin, shrugging his shoulders, and +watching with cold disdain the dying moments of his accomplice. + +Father d'Aigrigny had now but a few minutes more to live. Rodin perceived +it, and said: "It is time to call for help." And the Jesuit ran, with an +air of alarm and consternation, into the courtyard of the house. + +Others came at his cries; but, as he had promised, Rodin had only quitted +Father d'Aigrigny as the latter had breathed his last sigh. + +That evening, alone in his chamber, by the glimmer of a little lamp, +Rodin sat plunged in a sort of ecstatic contemplation, before the print +representing Sixtus V. The great house-clock struck twelve. At the last +stroke, Rodin drew himself up in all the savage majesty of his infernal +triumph, and exclaimed: "This is the first of June. There are no more +Renneponts!--Methinks, I hear the hour from the clock of St. Peter's at +Rome striking!" + + + + +CHAPTER LXVII. + +A MESSAGE. + +While Rodin sat plunged in ambitious reverie, contemplating the portrait +of Sixtus V., good little Father Caboccini, whose warm embraces had so +much irritated the first mentioned personage, went secretly to Faringhea, +to deliver to him a fragment of an ivory crucifix, and said to him with +his usual air of jovial good-nature: "His Excellency Cardinal Malipieri, +on my departure from Rome, charged me to give you this only on the 31st +of May." + +The half-caste, who was seldom affected by anything, started abruptly, +almost with an expression of pain. His face darkened, and bending upon +the little father a piercing look, he said to him: "You were to add +something." + +"True," replied Father Caboccini; "the words I was to add are these: +'There is many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip.'" + +"It is well," said the other. Heaving a deep sigh, he joined the fragment +of the ivory crucifix to a piece already in his possession; it fitted +exactly. + +Father Caboccini looked at him with curiosity, for the cardinal had only +told him to deliver the ivory fragment to Faringhea, and to repeat the +above words. Being somewhat mystified with all this, the reverend father +said to the half-caste: "What are you going to do with that crucifix?" + +"Nothing," said Faringhea, still absorbed in painful thought. + +"Nothing?" resumed the reverend father, in astonishment. "What, then, was +the use of bringing it so far?" + +Without satisfying his curiosity, Faringhea replied: "At what hour to +morrow does Father Rodin go to the Rue Saint Francois?" + +"Very early." + +"Before leaving home, he will go to say prayers in the chapel?" + +"Yes, according to the habit of our reverend fathers." + +"You sleep near him?" + +"Being his socius, I occupy the room next to his." + +"It is possible," said Faringhea, after a moment's silence, "that the +reverend father, full of the great interests which occupy his mind, might +forget to go to the chapel. In that case, pray remind him of this pious +duty." + +"I shall not fail." + +"Pray do not fail," repeated Faringhea, anxiously. + +"Be satisfied," said the good little father; "I see that you take great +interest in his salvation." + +"Great interest." + +"It is very praiseworthy in you. Continue as you have begun, and you may +one day belong, completely to our Company," said Father Caboccini, +affectionately. + +"I am as yet but a poor auxiliary member," said Faringhea, humbly; "but +no one is more devoted to the Society, body and soul. Bowanee is nothing +to it." + +"Bowanee! who is that, my good friend?" + +"Bowanee makes corpses which rot in the ground. The Society makes corpses +which walk about." + +"Ah, yes! Perinde ac cadaver--they were the last words of our great +saint, Ignatius de Loyola. But who is this Bowanee?" + +"Bowanee is to the Society what a child is to a man," replied the +Asiatic, with growing excitement. "Glory to the Company--glory! Were my +father its enemy, I would kill my father. The man whose genius inspires +me most with admiration, respect, and terror--were he its enemy, I would +kill, in spite of all," said the half-caste, with an effort. Then, after +a moment's silence, he looked full in Caboccini's face, and added: "I say +this, that you may report my words to Cardinal Malipieri, and beg him to +mention them to--" + +Faringhea stopped short. "To whom should the cardinal mention your +words?" asked Caboccini. + +"He knows," replied the half-caste, abruptly. "Good night!" + +"Good-night, my friend! I can only approve of your excellent sentiments +with regard to our Company. Alas! it is in want of energetic defenders, +for there are said to be traitors in its bosom." + +"For those," said Faringhea, "we must have no pity." + +"Certainly," said the good little father; "we understand one another." + +"Perhaps," said the half-caste. "Do not, at all events, forget to remind +Father Rodin to go to chapel to-morrow morning." + +"I will take care of that," said Father Caboccini. + +The two men parted. On his return to the house, Caboccini learned that a +courier, only arrived that night from Rome, had brought despatches to +Rodin. + + + + +CHAPTER LXVIII. + +THE FIRST OF JUNE. + +The chapel belonging to the house of the reverend fathers in the Rue de +Vaugirard, was gay and elegant. Large panes of stained glass admitted a +mysterious light; the altar shone with gold and silver; and at the +entrance of this little church, in an obscure corner beneath the organ +loft, was a font for holy water in sculptured marble. It was close to +this font, in a dark nook where he could hardly be seen, that Faringhea +knelt down, early on the 1st of June, as soon indeed as the chapel doors +were opened. The half-caste was exceedingly sad. From time to time he +started and sighed, as if agitated by a violent internal struggle. This +wild, untamable being, possessed with the monomania of evil and +destruction, felt, as may be imagined, a profound admiration for Rodin, +who exercised over him a kind of magnetic fascination. The half-caste, +almost a wild beast in human form, saw something supernatural in the +infernal genius of Rodin. And the latter, too sagacious not to have +discovered the savage devotion of this wretch, had made, as we have seen, +good use of him, is bringing about the tragical termination of the loves +of Adrienne and Djalma. But what excited to an incredible degree the +admiration of Faringhea, was what he knew of the Society of Jesus. This +immense, occult power, which undermined the world by its subterraneous +ramifications, and reached its ends by diabolical means, had inspired the +half-caste with a wild enthusiasm. And if anything in the world surpassed +his fanatical admiration for Rodin, it was his blind devotion to the +Company of Ignatius de Loyola, which, as he said, could make corpses that +walk about. Hid in the shadow of the organ-loft, Faringhea was reflecting +deeply on these things, when footsteps were heard, and Rodin entered the +chapel, accompanied by his socius, the little one-eyed father. + +Whether from absence of mind, or that the shadow of the orange-loft +completely concealed the half-caste, Rodin dipped his fingers into the +font without perceiving Faringhea, who stood motionless as a statue, +though a cold sweat streamed from his brow. The prayer of Rodin was, as +may be supposed, short; he was in haste to get to the Rue Saint-Francois. +After kneeling down with Father Caboccini for a few seconds, he rose, +bowed respectfully to the altar, and returned towards the door, followed +by his socius. At the moment Rodin approached the font he perceived the +tall figure of the half-caste standing out from the midst of the dark +shadow; advancing a little, Faringhea bowed respectfully to Rodin, who +said to him, in a low voice; "Come to me at two o'clock." + +So saying, Rodin stretched forth his hand to dip it into the holy water; +but Faringhea spared him the trouble, by offering him the sprinkling +brush, which generally stood in the font. + +Pressing between his dirty fingers the damp hairs of the brush, which the +half-caste held by the handle, Rodin wetted his thumb and forefinger, +and, according to custom, traced the sign of the cross upon his forehead. +Then, opening the door of the chapel, he went out, after again repeating +to Faringhea: "Come to me at two o'clock." + +Thinking he would also make use of the sprinkling-brush, which, +Faringhea, still motionless, held with a trembling hand, Father Caboccini +stretched out his fingers to reach it, when the half-breed, as if +determined to confine his favors to Rodin, hastily withdrew the +instrument. Deceived in his expectation, Father Caboccini lost no time in +following Rodin, whom he was not to leave that day for a single moment, +and, getting into a hackney-coach with him, set out for the Rue +Saint-Francois. It is impossible to describe the look which the half +breed fixed upon Rodin as the latter quitted the chapel. Left alone in +the sacred edifice, Faringhea sank upon the stones, half kneeling, half +crouching, with his face buried in his hands. As the coach drew near the +quarter of the Marais, in which was situated the house of Marius de +Rennepont, a feverish agitation, and the devouring impatience of triumph, +were visible on the countenance of Rodin. Two or three times he opened +his pocketbook, and read and arranged the different certificates of death +of the various members of the Rennepont family; and from time to time he +thrust his head anxiously from the coach-window, as if he had wished to +hasten the slow progress of the vehicle. + +The good little father, his socius, did not take his eye off Rodin, and +his look had a strange and crafty expression. At last the coach entered +the Rue Saint-Francois, and stopped before the iron-studded door of the +old house, which had been closed for a century and a half. Rodin sprang +from the coach with the agility of a young man, and knocked violently at +the door, whilst Father Caboccini, less light of foot, descended more +prudently to the ground. No answer was returned to the loud knocking of +Rodin. Trembling with anxiety, he knocked again. This time, as he +listened attentively, he heard slow steps approaching. They stopped at +some distance from the door, which was not yet opened. + +"It is keeping one upon red-hot coals," said Rodin, for he felt as if +there was a burning fire in his chest. He again shook the door violently, +and began to gnaw his nails according to his custom. + +Suddenly the door opened, and Samuel, the Jew guardian, appeared beneath +the porch. The countenance of the old man expressed bitter grief. Upon +his venerable cheeks were the traces of recent tears, which he strove to +dry with his trembling hands, as he opened the door to Rodin. + +"Who are you, gentlemen?" said Samuel. + +"I am the bearer of a power of attorney from the Abbe Gabriel, the only +living representative of the Rennepont family," answered Rodin, hastily. +"This gentleman is my secretary," added he, pointing to Father Caboccini, +who bowed. + +After looking attentively at Rodin, Samuel resumed: "I recognize you, +sir. Please to follow me." And the old guardian advanced towards the +house in the garden, making a sign to the two reverend fathers to follow. + +"That confounded old man kept me so long at the door," said Rodin to his +socius, "that I think I have caught a cold in consequence. My lips and +throat are dried up, like parchment baked at the fire." + +"Will you not take something, my dear, good father? Suppose you were to +ask this man for a glass of water," cried the little one-eyed priest, +with tender solicitude. + +"No, no," answered Rodin; "it is nothing. I am devoured by impatience. +That is all." + +Pale and desolate, Bathsheba, the wife of Samuel, was standing at the +door of the apartment she occupied with her husband, in the building next +the street. As the Jew passed before her, he said, in Hebrew: "The +curtains of the Hall of Mourning?" + +"Are closed." + +"And the iron casket?" + +"Is prepared," answered Bathsheba, also in Hebrew. + +After pronouncing these words, completely unintelligible to Rodin and +Caboccini, Samuel and Bathsheba exchanged a bitter smile, notwithstanding +the despair impressed on their countenances. + +Ascending the steps, followed by the two reverend fathers, Samuel entered +the vestibule of the house, in which a lamp was burning. Endowed with an +excellent local memory, Rodin was about to take the direction of the Red +Saloon, in which had been held the first convocation of the heirs, when +Samuel stopped him, and said: "It is not that way." + +Then, taking the lamp, he advanced towards a dark staircase, for the +windows of the house had not been un-bricked. + +"But," said Rodin, "the last time, we met in a saloon on the ground +floor." + +"To-day, we must go higher," answered Samuel, as he began slowly to ascend +the stairs. + +"Where to? higher!" said Rodin, following him. + +"To the Hall of Mourning," replied the Jew, and he continued to ascend. + +"What is the Hall of Mourning?" resumed Rodin, in some surprise. + +"A place of tears and death," answered the Israelite; and he kept on +ascending through the darkness, for the little lamp threw but a faint +light around. + +"But," said Rodin, more and more astonished, and stopping short on the +stairs, "why go to this place?" + +"The money is there," answered Samuel, and he went on, + +"Oh? if the money is there, that alters the case," replied Rodin; and he +made haste to regain the few steps he had lost by stopping. + +Samuel continued to ascend, and, at a turn of the staircase, the two +Jesuits could see by the pale light of the little lamp, the profile of +the old Israelite, in the space left between the iron balustrade and the +wall, as he climbed on with difficulty above them. Rodin was struck with +the expression of Samuel's countenance. His black eyes, generally so +calm, sparkled with ardor. His features, usually impressed with a mixture +of sorrow, intelligence, and goodness, seemed to grow harsh and stern, +and his thin lips wore a strange smile. + +"It is not so very high," whispered Rodin to Caboccini, "and yet my legs +ache, and I am quite out of breath. There is a strange throbbing too in +my temples." + +In fact, Rodin breathed hard, and with difficulty. To this confidential +communication, good little Father Caboccini, in general so full of tender +care for his colleague, made no answer. He seemed to be in deep thought. + +"Will we soon be there?" said Rodin, impatiently, to Samuel. + +"We are there," replied the Israelite. + +"And a good thing too," said Rodin. + +"Very good," said the Jew. + +Stopping in the midst of a corridor, he pointed with the hand in which he +held the lamp to a large door from which streamed a faint light. In +spite of his growing surprise. Rodin entered resolutely, followed by +Father Caboccini and Samuel. The apartment in which these three +personage, now found themselves was very large. The daylight only +entered from a belvedere in the roof, the four sides of which had been +covered with leaden plates, each of which was pierced with seven holes, +forming a cross, thus: + + * + * * * + * + * + * + +Now, the light being only admitted through these holes, the obscurity +would have been complete, had it not been for a lamp, which burned on a +large massive slab of black marble, fixed against one of the walls. One +would have taken it for a funeral chamber, for it was all hung with black +curtains, fringed with white. There was no furniture, save the slab of +black marble we have already mentioned. On this slab was an iron casket, +of the manufacture of the seventeenth century, admirably adorned with +open work, like lace made of metal. + +Addressing Rodin, who was wiping his forehead with his dirty +handkerchief, and looking round him with surprise, but not fear, Samuel +said to him: "The will of the testator, however strange it may appear, is +sacred with me, and must be accomplished in all things." + +"Certainly," said Rodin; "but what are we to do here?" + +"You will know presently, sir. You are the representative of the only +remaining heir of the Rennepont family, the Abbe Gabriel de Rennepont?" + +"Yes, sir, and here are my papers," replied Rodin. + +"To save time," resumed Samuel, "I will, previous to the arrival of the +magistrate, go through the inventory of the securities contained in this +casket, which I withdrew yesterday from the custody of the Bank of +France." + +"The securities are there?" cried Rodin, advancing eagerly towards the +casket. + +"Yes, sir," replied Samuel, "as by the list. Your secretary will call +them over, and I will produce each in turn. They can then be replaced in +the casket, which I will deliver up to you in presence of the +magistrate." + +"All this seems perfectly correct," said Rodin. + +Samuel delivered the list to Father Caboccini, and approaching the +casket, touched a spring, which was not seen by Rodin. The heavy lid flew +open, and, while Father Caboccini read the names of the different +securities, Samuel showed them to Rodin, who returned them to the old +Jew, after a careful examination. This verification did not last long, +for this immense fortune was all comprised, as we already know, in eight +government securities, five hundred thousand francs in bank-note, thirty +five thousand francs in gold, and two hundred and fifty francs in +silver--making in all an amount of two hundred and twelve millions, one +hundred and seventy-five thousand francs. When Rodin had counted the last +of the five hundred bank-notes, of a thousand francs each, he said, as he +returned them to Samuel: "It is quite right. Two hundred and twelve +millions, one hundred and seventy-five thousand francs!" + +He was no doubt almost choked with joy, for he breathed with difficulty, +his eyes closed, and he was obliged to lean upon Father Caboccini's arm, +as he said to him in an altered voice: "It is singular. I thought myself +proof against all such emotions; but what I feel is extraordinary." + +The natural paleness of the Jesuit increased so much, and he seemed so +much agitated with convulsive movements, that Father Caboccini exclaimed: +"My dear father, collect yourself; do not let success overcome you thus." + +Whilst the little one-eyed man was, attending to Rodin, Samuel carefully +replaced the securities in the iron casket. Thanks to his unconquerable +energy, and to the joy he felt at seeing himself so near the term of his +labors, Rodin mastered this attack of weakness, and drawing himself up, +calm and proud, he said to Caboccini: "It is nothing. I did not survive +the cholera to die of joy on the first of June." + +And, though still frightfully pale, the countenance of the Jesuit shone +with audacious confidence. But now, when Rodin appeared to be quite +recovered, Father Caboccini seemed suddenly transformed. Though short, +fat, and one-eyed, his features assumed on the instant so firm, harsh, +and commanding an expression, that Rodin recoiled a step as he looked at +him. Then Father Caboccini, drawing a paper from his pocket, kissed it +respectfully, glanced sternly at Rodin, and read as follows, in a severe +and menacing tone: + +"'On receipt of the present rescript, the Reverend Father Rodin will +deliver up all his powers to the Reverend Father Caboccini, who is alone +commissioned, with the Reverend Father d'Aigrigny, to receive the +inheritance of the Rennepont family, if, in His eternal justice, the Lord +should restore this property, of which our Company has been wronged. + +"'Moreover, on receipt of the present rescript, the Reverend Father +Rodin, in charge of a person to be named by the Reverend Father +Caboccini, shall be conveyed to our house in the Town of Laval, to be +kept in strict seclusion in his cell until further orders.'" + +Then Father Caboccini handed the rescript to Rodin, that the latter might +read the signature of the General of the Company. Samuel, greatly +interested by this scene, drew a few steps nearer, leaving the casket +half-open. Suddenly, Rodin burst into a loud laugh--a laugh of joy, +contempt and triumph, impossible to describe. Father Caboccini looked at +him with angry astonishment; when Rodin, growing still more imperious and +haughty, and with an air of more sovereign disdain than ever, pushed +aside the paper with the back of his dirty hand and said: "What is the +date of that scribble?" + +"The eleventh of May," answered Father Caboccini in amazement. + +"Here is a brief, that I received last night from Rome, under date of the +eighteenth. It informs me that I am appointed GENERAL OF THE ORDER. +Read!" + +Father Caboccini took the paper, read it, and remained thunderstruck. +Then, returning it humbly to Rodin, he respectfully bent his knee before +him. Thus seemed the ambitious views of Rodin accomplished. In spite of +the hatred and suspicion of that party, of which Cardinal Malipieri was +the representative and the chief, Rodin, by address and craft, audacity +and persuasion, and in consequence of the high esteem in which his +partisans at Rome held his rare capacity, had succeeded in deposing his +General, and in procuring his own elevation to that eminent post. Now, +according to his calculation, aided by the millions he was about to +possess, it would be but one step from that post to the pontifical +throne. A mute witness of this scene, Samuel smiled also with an air of +triumph, as he closed the casket by means of the spring known only to +himself. That metallic sound recalled Rodin from the heights of his mad +ambition to the realities of life, and he said to Samuel in a sharp +voice: "You have heard? These millions must be delivered to me alone." + +He extended his hands eagerly and impatiently towards the casket, as if +he would have taken possession of it, before the arrival of the +magistrate. Then Samuel in his turn seemed transfigured, and, folding his +arms upon his breast, and drawing up his aged form to its full height, he +assumed a threatening and imposing air. His eyes flashed with +indignation, and he said in a solemn tone: "This fortune--at first the +humble remains of the inheritance of the most noble of men, whom the +plots of the sons of Loyola drove to suicide--this fortune, which has +since become royal in amount, thanks to the sacred probity of three +generations of faithful servants--this fortune shall never be the reward +of falsehood, hypocrisy and murder. No! the eternal justice of heaven +will not allow it." + +"On murder? what do you mean, sir?" asked Rodin, boldly. + +Samuel made no answer. He stamped his foot, and extended his arm slowly +towards the extremity of the apartment. Then Rodin and Father Caboccini +beheld an awful spectacle. The draperies on the wall were drawn aside, as +if by an invisible hand. Round a funeral vault, faintly illumined-by the +bluish light of a silver lamp, six dead bodies were ranged upon black +biers, dressed in long black robes. They were: Jacques Rennepont +--Francois Hardy--Rose and Blanche Simon--Adrienne and Djalma. They +appeared to be asleep. Their eyelids were closed, their hands crossed +over their breasts. Father Caboccini, trembling in every limb, made the +sign of the cross, and retreating to the opposite wall, buried his face +in his hands. Rodin on the contrary, with agitated countenance, staring +eyes, and hair standing on end, yielding to an invincible attraction, +advanced towards those inanimate forms. One would have said that these +last of the Renneponts had only just expired. They seemed to be in the +first hour of the eternal sleep.[44] + +"Behold those whom thou host slain!" cried Samuel, in a voice broken with +sobs. "Yea! your detestable plots caused their death--and, as they fell +one by one, it was my pious care to obtain possession of their poor +remains, that they may all repose in the same sepulchre. +Oh!--cursed--cursed--cursed--be thou who has killed them! But their +spoils shall escape thy murderous hands." + +Rodin, still drawn forward in spite of himself, had approached the +funeral couch of Djalma. Surmounting his first alarm, the Jesuit, to +assure himself that he was not the sport of frightful dream, ventured to +touch the hands of the Asiatic--and found that they were damp and pliant, +though cold as ice. + +The Jesuit drew back in horror. For some seconds, he trembled +convulsively. But, his first amazement over, reflection returned, and, +with reflection came that invincible energy, that infernal obstinacy of +character, that gave him so much power. Steadying himself on his legs, +drawing his hand across his brow, raising his head, moistening his lips +two or three times before he spoke--for his throat and mouth grew ever +drier and hotter, without his being able to explain the cause--he +succeeded in giving to his features an imperious and ironical expression, +and, turning towards Samuel, who wept in silence, he said to him, in a +hoarse, guttural voice: "I need not show you the certificates of their +death. There they are in person." And he pointed with his bony hand to +the six dead bodies. + +At these words of his General, Father Caboccini again made the sign of +the cross, as if he had seen a fiend. + +"Oh, my God!" cried Samuel; "Thou hast quite abandoned this man. With +what a calm look he contemplates his victims!" + +"Come, sir!" said Rodin, with a horrid smile; "this is a natural waxwork +exhibition, that is all. My calmness proves my innocence--and we had best +come at once to business. I have an appointment at two o'clock. So let us +carry down this casket." + +He advanced towards the marble slab. Seized with indignation and horror, +Samuel threw himself before him, and, pressing with all his might on a +knob in the lid of the casket--a knob which yielded to the pressure--he +exclaimed: "Since your infernal soul is incapable of remorse, it may +perhaps be shaken by disappointed avarice." + +"What does he say?" cried Rodin. "What is he doing?" + +"Look!" said Samuel, in his turn assuming an air of savage triumph. "I +told you, that the spoils of your victims should escape your murderous +hands." + +Hardly had he uttered these words, before through the open-work of the +iron casket rose a light cloud of smoke, and an odor as of burnt paper +spread itself through the room. Rodin understood it instantly. "Fire!" he +exclaimed, as he rushed forward to seize the casket. It had been made +fast to the heavy marble slab. + +"Yes, fire," said Samuel. "In a few minutes, of that immense treasure +there will remain nothing but ashes. And better so, than that it should +belong to you or yours. This treasure is not mine, and it only remains +for me to destroy it--since Gabriel de Rennepont will be faithful to the +oath he has taken." + +"Help! water! water!" cried Rodin, as he covered the casket with his +body, trying in vain to extinguish the flames, which, fanned by the +current of air, now issued from the thousand apertures in the lid; but +soon the intensity of the fire diminished, a few threads of bluish smoke +alone mounted upwards--and then, all was extinct. + +The work was done! Breathless and faint, Rodin leaned against the marble +slab. For the first time in his life, he wept; large tears of rage rolled +down his cadaverous cheeks. But suddenly, dreadful pains, at first dull, +but gradually augmenting in intensity, seized on him with so much fury, +though he employed all his energy to struggle against them, that he fell +on his knees, and, pressing his two hands to his chest, murmured with an +attempt to smile: "It is nothing. Do not be alarmed. A few spasms--that +is all. The treasure is destroyed--but I remain General of the Order. Oh! +I suffer. What a furnace!" he added, writhing in agony. "Since I entered +this cursed house, I know not what ails me. If--I had not lived on +roots--water--bread--which I go myself to buy--I should think--I was +poisoned--for I triumph--and Cardinal Malipieri has long arms. Yes--I +still triumph--for I will not die--this time no more than the other--I +will not die!" + +Then, as he stretched out his arms convulsively, he continued: "It is +fire that devours my entrails. No doubt, they have tried to poison me. +But when? but how?" + +After another pause, Rodin again cried out, in a stifled voice: "Help! +help me, you that stand looking on--like, spectres!--Help me, I say!" + +Horror-struck at this dreadful agony, Samuel and Father Caboccini were +unable to stir. + +"Help!" repeated Rodin, in a tone of strangulation, "This poison is +horrible.--But how--" Then, with a terrific cry of rage, as if a sudden +idea had struck him, he exclaimed: "Ha! Faringhea--this morning--the holy +water--he knows such subtle poisons. Yes--it is he--he had an interview +with Malipieri. The demon!--Oh! it was well played. The Borgias are still +the same. Oh! it is all over. I die. They will regret me, the fools!--Oh! +hell! hell! The Church knows not its loss--but I burn--help!" + +They came to his assistance. Quick steps were heard upon the stairs, and +Dr. Baleinier, followed by the Princess de Saint-Dizier, appeared at the +entrance of the Hall of Mourning. The princess had learned vaguely that +morning the death of Father d'Aigrigny, and had come to question Rodin +upon the subject. When this woman, entering the room, suddenly saw the +frightful spectacle that offered itself to her view--when she saw Rodin +writhing in horrible agony, and, further on, by the light of the +sepulchral lamp, those six corpses--and, amongst them, her own niece, and +the two orphans whom she had sent to meet their death--she stood +petrified with horror, and her reason was unable to withstand the shock. +She looked slowly round her, and then raised her arms on high, and burst +into a wild fit of laughter. She had gone mad. Whilst Dr. Baleinier +supported the head of Rodin, who expired in his arms, Faringhea appeared +at the door; remaining in the shade, he cast a ferocious glance at the +corpse of the Jesuit. "He would have made himself the chief of the +Company of Jesus, to destroy it," said he; "with me, the Company of Jesus +stands in the place of Bowanee. I have obeyed the cardinal!" + +[44] Should this appear incredible, we would remind the reader of the +marvellous discoveries in the art of embalming--particularly Dr. +Gannal's. + + + + +EPILOGUE. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +FOUR YEARS AFTER. + +Four years had elapsed, since the events we have just related, when +Gabriel de Rennepont wrote the following letter to Abbe Joseph +Charpentier, curate of the Parish of Saint-Aubin, a hamlet of Sologne: + +"Springwater Farm, +"June 2d, 1836. + +"Intending to write to you yesterday, my bear Joseph, I seated myself at +the little old black table, that you will remember well. My window looks, +you know, upon the farmyard, and I can see all that takes place there. +These are grave preliminaries, my friend, but I am coming to the point. I +had just taken my seat at the table, when, looking from the window, this +is what I saw. You, my dear Joseph, who can draw so well, should have +been there to have sketched the charming scene. The sun was sinking, the +sky serene, the air warm and balmy with the breath of the hawthorn, +which, flowering by the side of a little rivulet, forms the edge which +borders the yard. Under the large pear-tree, close to the wall of the +barn, sat upon the stone bench my adopted father, Dagobert, that brave +and honest soldier whom you love so much. He appeared thoughtful, his +white head was bowed on his bosom; with absent mind, he patted old +Spoil-sport, whose intelligent face was resting on his master's knees. By +his side was his wife, my dear adopted mother, occupied with her sewing; +and near them, on a stool, sat Angela, the wife of Agricola, nursing her +last-born child, while the gentle Magdalen, with the eldest boy in her +lap, was occupied in teaching him the letters of the alphabet. Agricola +had just returned from the fields, and was beginning to unyoke his +cattle, when, struck, like me, no doubt, with this picture, he stood +gazing on it for a moment, with his hand still leaning on the yoke, +beneath which bent submissive the broad foreheads of his two large black +oxen. I cannot express to you, my friend, the enchanting repose of this +picture, lighted by the last rays of the sun, here and there broken by +the thick foliage. What various and touching types! The venerable face of +the soldier--the good, loving countenance of my adopted mother--the fresh +beauty of Angela, smiling on her little child--the soft melancholy of the +hunchback, now and then pressing her lips to the fair, laughing cheek of +Agricola's eldest son--and then Agricola himself, in his manly beauty, +which seems to reflect so well the valor and honesty of his heart! Oh, my +Friend! in contemplating this assemblage of good, devoted, noble, and +loving beings, so dear to each other, living retired in a little farm of +our poor Sologne, my heart rose towards heaven with a feeling of +ineffable gratitude. This peace of the family circle--this clear evening, +with the perfume of the woods and wild flowers wafted on the breeze--this +deep silence, only broken by the murmur of the neighboring rill--all +affected me with one of these passing fits of vague and sweet emotion, +which one feels but cannot express. You well know it, my friend, who, in +your solitary walks, in the midst of your immense plains of flowering +heath, surrounded by forests of fir trees, often feel your eyes grow +moist, without being able to explain the cause of that sweet melancholy, +which I, too, have often felt, during those glorious nights passed in the +profound solitudes of America. + +"But, alas! a painful incident disturbed the serenity of the picture. +Suddenly I heard Dagobert's wife say to him: 'My dear--you are weeping!' + +"At these words, Agricola, Angela, and Magdalen gathered round the +soldier. Anxiety was visible upon every face. Then, as he raised his head +abruptly, one could see two large tears trickle down his cheek to his +white moustache. 'It is nothing, my children,' said he, in a voice of +emotion 'it is nothing. Only, to-day is the first of June--and this day +four years--' He could not complete the sentence; and, as he raised his +hands to his eyes, to brush away the tears, we saw that he held between +his fingers a little bronze chain, with a medal suspended to it. That is +his dearest relic. Four years ago, almost dying with despair at the loss +of the two angels, of whom I have so often spoken to you, my friend, he +took from the neck of Marshal Simon, brought home dead from a fatal duel, +this chain and medal which his children had so long worn. I went down +instantly, as you may suppose, to endeavor to soothe the painful +remembrances of this excellent man; gradually, he grew calmer, and the +evening was passed in a pious and quiet sadness. + +"You cannot imagine, my friend, when I returned to my chamber, what cruel +thoughts came to my mind, as I recalled those past events, from which I +generally turn away with fear and horror. Then I saw once more the +victims of those terrible and mysterious plots, the awful depths of which +have never been penetrated thanks to the death of Father d'A. and Father +R., and the incurable madness of Madame de St.-D., the three authors or +accomplices of the dreadful deeds. The calamities occasioned by them are +irreparable; for those who were thus sacrificed to a criminal ambition, +would have been the pride of humanity by the good they would have done. +Ah, my friend! if you had known those noble hearts; if you had known the +projects of splendid charity, formed by that young lady, whose heart was +so generous, whose mind so elevated, whose soul so great! On the eve of +her death, as a kind of prelude to her magnificent designs, after a +conversation, the subject of which I must keep secret, even from you, she +put into my hands a considerable sum, saying, with her usual grace and +goodness: 'I have been threatened with ruin, and it might perhaps come. +What I now confide to you will at least be safe--safe--for those who +suffer. Give much--give freely--make as many happy hearts as you can. My +happiness shall have a royal inauguration!!' I do not know whether I ever +told you, my friend, that, after those fatal events, seeing Dagobert and +his wife reduced to misery, poor 'Mother Bunch' hardly able to earn a +wretched subsistence, Agricola soon to become a father, and myself +deprived of my curacy, and suspended by my bishop, for having given +religious consolations to a Protestant, and offered up prayers at the +tomb of an unfortunate suicide--I considered myself justified in +employing a small portion of the sum intrusted to me by Mdlle. de +Cardoville in the purchase of this farm in Dagobert's name. + +"Yes, my friend, such is the origin of my fortune. The farmer to whom +these few acres formerly belonged, gave us the rudiments of our +agricultural education, and common sense, and the study of a few good +practical books, completed it. From an excellent workman, Agricola has +become an equally excellent husbandman; I have tried to imitate him, and +have put my hand also to the plough there is no derogation in it, for the +labor which provides food for man is thrice hallowed, and it is truly to +serve and glorify God, to cultivate and enrich the earth He has created. +Dagobert, when his first grief was a little appeased, seemed to gather +new vigor from this healthy life of the fields; and, during his exile in +Siberia, he had already learned to till the ground. Finally, my dear +adopted mother and sister, and Agricola's good wife, have divided between +them the household cares; and God has blessed this little colony of +people, who, alas! have been sorely tried by misfortune, and who now only +ask of toil and solitude, a quite, laborious, innocent life, and oblivion +of great sorrows. Sometimes, in our winter evenings, you have been able +to appreciate the delicate and charming mind of the gentle 'Mother +Bunch,' the rare poetical imagination of Agricola, the tenderness of his +mother, the good sense of his father, the exquisite natural grace of +Angela. Tell me, my friend, was it possible to unite more elements of +domestic happiness? What long evenings have we passed round the fire of +crackling wood, reading, or commenting on a few immortal works, which +always warm the heart, and enlarge the soul! What sweet talk have we had, +prolonged far into the night! And then Agricola's pastorals, and the +timid literary confidences of Magdalen! And the fresh, clear voice of +Angela, joined to the deep manly tones of Agricola, in songs of simple +melody! And the old stories of Dagobert, so energetic and picturesque in +their warlike spirit! And the adorable gayety of the children, in their +sports with good old Spoil-sport, who rather lends himself to their play +than takes part in it--for the faithful, intelligent creature seems +always to be looking for somebody, as Dagobert says--and he is right. +Yes, the dog also regrets those two angels, of whom he was the devoted +guardian! + +"Do not think, my friend, that our happiness makes us forgetful. No, no; +not a day passes without our repeating, with pious and tender respect, +those names so dear to our heart. And these painful memories, hovering +forever about us, give to our calm and happy existence that shade of mild +seriousness which struck you so much. No doubt, my friend, this kind of +life, bounded by the family circle, and not extending beyond, for the +happiness or improvement of our brethren, may be set down as selfish; +but, alas! we have not the means--and though the poor man always finds a +place at our frugal table, and shelter beneath our roof, we must renounce +all great projects of fraternal action. The little revenue of our farm +just suffices to supply our wants. Alas! when I think over it, +notwithstanding a momentary regret, I cannot blame my resolution to keep +faithfully my sacred oath, and to renounce that great inheritance, which, +alas! had become immense by the death of my kindred. Yes, I believe I +performed a duty, when I begged the guardian of that treasure to reduce +it to ashes, rather than let it fall into the hands of people, who would +have made an execrable use of it, or to perjure myself by disputing a +donation which I had granted freely, voluntarily, sincerely. And yet, +when I picture to myself the realization of the magnificent views of--my +ancestor--an admirable Utopia, only possible with immense resources--and +which Mdlle. de Cardoville hoped to carry into execution, with the aid of +M. Francois Hardy, of Prince Djalma, of Marshal Simon and his daughters, +and of myself--when I think of the dazzling focus of living forces, which +such an association would have been, and of the immense influence it +might have had on the happiness of the whole human race--my indignation +and horror, as an honest man and a Christian, are excited against that +abominable Company, whose black plots nipped in their bud all those great +hopes, which promised so much for futurity. What remains now of all these +splendid projects? Seven tombs. For my grave also is dug in that +mausoleum, which Samuel has erected on the site of the house in the Rue +Neuve-Saint-Francois, and of which he remains the keeper--faithful to the +end! + +"I had written thus far, my friend, when I received your letter. So, +after having forbidden you to see me, your bishop now orders that you +shall cease to correspond with me. Your touching, painful regrets have +deeply moved me, my friend. Often have we talked together of +ecclesiastical discipline, and of the absolute power of the bishops over, +us, the poor working clergy, left to their mercy without remedy. It is +painful, but it is the law of the church, my friend, and you have sworn +to observe it. Submit as I have submitted. Every engagement is binding +upon the man of honor! My poor, dear Joseph! would that you had the +compensations which remained to me, after the rupture of ties that I so +much value. But I know too well what you must feel--I cannot go on I find +it impossible to continue this letter, I might be bitter against those +whose orders we are bound to respect. Since it must be so, this letter +shall be my last. Farewell, my friend! farewell forever. My heart is +almost broken. + +"GABRIEL DE RENNEPONT." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE REDEMPTION. + +Day was about to dawn. A rosy light, almost imperceptible, began to +glimmer in the east; but the stars still shone, sparkling with radiance, +upon the azure of the zenith. The birds awoke beneath the fresh foliage +of the great woods; and, with isolated warblings, sang the prelude of +their morning-concert. A light mist rose from the high grass, bathed in +nocturnal dew, while the calm and limpid waters of a vast lake reflected +the whitening dawn in their deep, blue mirror. Everything promised one of +those warm and joyous days, that belong to the opening of summer. + +Half-way up the slope of a hill, facing the east, a tuft of old, moss +grown willows, whose rugged bark disappeared beneath the climbing +branches of wild honeysuckle and harebells, formed a natural harbor; and +on their gnarled and enormous roots, covered with thick moss, were seated +a man and a woman, whose white hair, deep wrinkles, and bending figures, +announced extreme old age. And yet this woman had only lately been young +and beautiful, with long black hair overshadowing her pale forehead. And +yet this man had, a short time ago, been still in the vigor of his age. +From the spot where this man and woman were reposing, could be seen the +valley, the lake, the woods, and, soaring above the woods, the blue +summit of a high mountain, from behind which the sun was about to rise. +This picture, half veiled by the pale transparency of the morning +twilight, was pleasing, melancholy, and solemn. + +"Oh, my sister!" said the old man to the woman, who was reposing with him +beneath the rustic arbor formed by the tuft of willow-trees; "oh, my +sister! how many times during the centuries in which the hand of the Lord +carried us onward, and, separated from each other, we traversed the world +from pole to pole--how many times we have witnessed this awakening of +nature with a sentiment of incurable grief!--Alas! it was but another day +of wandering--another useless day added to our life, since it brought +death no nearer!" + +"But now what happiness, oh, my brother! since the Lord has had mercy on +us, and, with us, as with all other creatures, every returning day is a +step nearer to the grave. Glory to Him! yes, glory!" + +"Glory to Him, my sister! for since yesterday, when we again met, I feel +that indescribable languor which announces the approach of death." + +"Like you, my brother, I feel my strength, already shaken, passing away +in a sweet exhaustion. Doubtless, the term of our life approaches. The +wrath of the Lord is satisfied." + +"Alas, my sister! doubtless also, the last of my doomed race, will, at +the same time, complete our redemption by his death; for the will of +heaven is manifest, that I can only be pardoned, when the last of my +family shall have disappeared from the face of the earth. To him, holiest +amongst the holiest--was reserved the favor of accomplishing this end he +who has done so much for the salvation of his brethren!" + +"Oh, yes, my brother! he who has suffered so much, and without +complaining, drunk to the dregs the bitter cup of woe--he, the minister +of the Lord, who has been his Master's image upon earth--he was fitted +for the last instrument of this redemption!" + +"Yes, for I feel, my sister, that, at this hour, the last of my race, +touching victim of slow persecution, is on the point of resigning his +angelic soul to God. Thus, even to the end, have I been fatal to my +doomed family. Lord, if Thy mercy is great, Thy anger is great likewise!" + +"Courage and hope, my brother! Think how after the expiration cometh +pardon, and pardon is followed by a blessing. The Lord punished, in you +and your posterity, the artisan rendered wicked by misfortune and +injustice. He said to you: 'Go on! without truce or rest--and your labor +shall be vain--and every evening, throwing yourself on the hard ground, +you shall be no nearer to the end of your eternal course!'--And so, for +centuries, men without pity have said to the artisan: 'Work! work! work! +without truce or rest--and your labor shall be fruitful for all others, +but fruitless for yourself--and every evening, throwing yourself on the +hard ground, you shall be no nearer to happiness and repose; and your +wages shall only suffice to keep you alive in pain, privation, and +poverty!'" + +"Alas! alas! will it be always thus?" + +"No, no, my brother! and instead of weeping over your lost race, rejoice +for them--since their death was needed for your redemption, and in +redeeming you, heaven will redeem the artisan, cursed and feared by +those--who have laid on him the iron yoke. Yes, my brother! the time +draweth nigh--heaven's mercy will not stop with us alone. Yes, I tell +you; in us will be rescued both the WOMAN and the SLAVE of these modern +ages. The trial has been hard, brother; it has lasted throughout eighteen +centuries; but it will last no longer. Look, my brother! see that rosy +light, there in the east, gradually spreading over the firmament! Thus +will rise the sun of the new emancipation--peaceful, holy, great, +salutary, fruitful, filling the world with light and vivifying heat, like +the day-star that will soon appear in heaven!" + +"Yes, yes, my sister! I feel it. Your words are prophetic. We shall close +our heavy eyes just as we see the aurora of the day of deliverance--a +fair, a splendid day, like that which is about to dawn. Henceforth I will +only shed tears of pride and glory for those of my race, who have died +the martyrs of humanity, sacrificed by humanity's eternal enemies--for +the true ancestors of the sacrilegious wretches, who blaspheme the name +of Jesus by giving it to their Company, were the false Scribes and +Pharisees, whom the Saviour cursed!--Yes! glory to the descendants of my +family, who have been the last martyrs offered up by the accomplices of +all slavery and all despotism, the pitiless enemies of those who wish to +think, and not to suffer in silence--of those that would feign enjoy, as +children of heaven, the gifts which the Creator has bestowed upon all the +human family. Yes, the day approaches--the end of the reign of our modern +Pharisees--the false priests, who lend their sacrilegious aid to the +merciless selfishness of the strong against the weak, by daring to +maintain in the face of the exhaustless treasures of the creation, that +God has made man for tears, and sorrow, and suffering--the false priests, +who are the agents of all oppression, and would bow to the earth, in +brutish and hopeless humiliation, the brow of every creature. No, no! let +man lift his head proudly! God made him to be noble and intelligent free +and happy." + +"Oh, my brother! your words also are prophetic. Yes, yes! the dawn of +that bright day approaches, even as the dawn of the natural day which, by +the mercy of God, will be our last on earth." + +"The last, my sister; for a strange weakness creeps over me, all matter +seems dissolving in me, and my soul aspires to mount to heaven." + +"Mine eyes are growing dim, brother; I can scarcely see that light in the +east, which lately appeared so red." + +"Sister! it is through a confused vapor that I now see the valley--the +lake--the woods. My strength fails me." + +"Blessed be God, brother! the moment of eternal rest is at hand." + +"Yes, it comes, my sister! the sweetness of the everlasting sleep takes +possession of my senses." + +"Oh, happiness! I am dying--" + +"These eyes are closing, sister!" + +"We are then forgiven!" + +"Forgiven!" + +"Oh, my brother! may this Divine redemption extend to all those who +suffer upon the earth!" + +"Die in peace, my sister! The great day has dawned--the sun is +rising--behold!" + +"Blessed be God!" + +"Blessed be God!" + +And at the moment when those two voices ceased forever, the sun rose +radiant and dazzling, and deluged the valley with its beams. + +To M. C--P--. + +To you, my friend, I dedicated this book. To inscribe it with your name, +was to assume an engagement that, in the absence of talent, it should be +at least conscientious, sincere, and of a salutary influence, however +limited. My object is attained. Some select hearts, like yours, my +friend, have put into practice the legitimate association of labor, +capital, and intelligence, and have already granted to their workmen a +proportionate share in the profits of their industry. Others have laid +the foundations of Common Dwelling-houses, and one of the chief +capitalists of Hamburg has favored me with his views respecting an +establishment of this kind, on the most gigantic scale. + +As for the dispersion of the members of the Company of Jesus, I have +taken less part in it than other enemies of the detestable doctrines of +Loyola, whose influence and authority were far greater than mine. + +Adieu, my friend. I could have wished this work more worthy of you; but +you are indulgent, and will at least give me credit for the intentions +which dictated it. + +Believe me, Yours truly, + +EUGENE SUE. + +Paris, 25th August, 1845. Paris, 25th August, 1845. + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Wandering Jew, Book XI., by Eugene Sue + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WANDERING JEW, BOOK XI. *** + +***** This file should be named 3349.txt or 3349.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/4/3349/ + +Produced by David Widger and Pat Castevens + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.12.12.00*END* + + + + + +This etext was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net> +and Pat Castevens <patcat@ctnet.net> + + + + + +The Wandering Jew + +by Eugene Sue + + + + +BOOK XI. + +L. The Ruins of the Abbey of St. John the Baptist +LI. The Calvary +LII. The Council +LIII. Happiness +LIV. Duty +LV. The Improvised Hospital +LVI. Hydrophobia +LVII. The Guardian Angel +LVIII. Ruin +LIX. Memories +LX. The Ordeal +LXI. Ambition +LXII. To a Socius, a Socius and a Half +LXIII. Faringhea's Affection +LXIV. An Evening at St. Colombe's +LXV. The Nuptial Bed +LXVI. A Duel to the Death +LXVII. A Message +LXVIII. The First of June + + +EPILOGUE. + +I. Four Years After +II. The Redemption + + + + +CHAPTER L. + +THE RUINS OF THE ABBEY OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST. + +The sun is fast sinking. In the depths of an immense piny wood, in the +midst of profound solitude, rise the ruins of an abbey, once sacred to +St. John the Baptist. Ivy, moss, and creeping plants, almost entirely +conceal the stones, now black with age. Some broken arches, some walls +pierced with ovals, still remain standing, visible on the dark background +of the thick wood. Looking down upon this mass of ruins from a broken +pedestal, half-covered with ivy, a mutilated, but colossal statue of +stone still keeps its place. This statue is strange and awful. It +represents a headless human figure. Clad in the antique toga, it holds +in its hand a dish and on that dish is a head. This head is its own. It +is the statue of St. John the Baptist and Martyr, put to death by wish of +Herodias. + +The silence around is solemn. From time to time, however, is heard the +dull rustling of the enormous branches of the pine-trees, shaken by the +wind. Copper-colored clouds, reddened by the setting sun, pass slowly +over the forest, and are reflected in the current of a brook, which, +deriving its source from a neighboring mass of rocks, flows through the +ruins. The water flows, the clouds pass on, the ancient trees tremble, +the breeze murmurs. + +Suddenly, through the shadow thrown by the overhanging wood, which +stretches far into endless depths, a human form appears. It is a woman. +She advances slowly towards the ruins. She has reached them. She treads +the once sacred ground. This woman is pale, her look sad, her long robe +floats on the wind, her feet covered with dust. She walks with +difficulty and pain. A block of stone is placed near the stream, almost +at the foot of the statue of John the Baptist. Upon this stone she sinks +breathless and exhausted, worn out with fatigue. And yet, for many days, +many years, many centuries, she has walked on unwearied. + +For the first time, she feels an unconquerable sense of lassitude. For +the first time, her feet begin to fail her. For the first time, she, who +traversed, with firm and equal footsteps, the moving lava of torrid +deserts, while whole caravans were buried in drifts of fiery sand--who +passed, with steady and disdainful tread, over the eternal snows of +Arctic regions, over icy solitudes, in which no other human being could +live--who had been spared by the devouring flames of conflagrations, and +by the impetuous waters of torrents--she, in brief, who for centuries had +had nothing in common with humanity--for the first time suffers mortal +pain. + +Her feet bleed, her limbs ache with fatigue, she is devoured by burning +thirst. She feels these infirmities, yet scarcely dares to believe them +real. Her joy would be too immense! But now, her throat becomes dry, +contracted, all on fire. She sees the stream, and throws herself on her +knees, to quench her thirst in that crystal current, transparent as a +mirror. What happens then? Hardly have her fevered lips touched the +fresh, pure water, than, still kneeling, supported on her hands, she +suddenly ceases to drink, and gazes eagerly on the limpid stream. +Forgetting the thirst which devours her, she utters a loud cry--a cry of +deep, earnest, religious joy, like a note of praise and infinite +gratitude to heaven. In that deep mirror, she perceives that she has +grown older. + +In a few days, a few hours, a few minutes, perhaps in a single second, +she has attained the maturity of age. She, who for more than eighteen +centuries has been as a woman of twenty, carrying through successive +generations the load of her imperishable youth--she has grown old, and +may, perhaps, at length, hope to die. Every minute of her life may now +bring her nearer to the last home! Transported by that ineffable hope, +she rises, and lifts her eyes to heaven, clasping her hands in an +attitude of fervent prayer. Then her eyes rest on the tall statue of +stone, representing St. John. The head, which the martyr carries in his +hand, seems, from beneath its half-closed granite eyelid, to cast upon +the Wandering Jewess a glance of commiseration and pity. And it was she, +Herodias who, in the cruel intoxication of a pagan festival, demanded the +murder of the saint! And it is at the foot of the martyr's image, that, +for the first time, the immortality, which weighed on her for so many +centuries, seems likely to find a term! + +"Oh, impenetrable mystery! oh, divine hope!" she cries. "The wrath of +heaven is at length appeased. The hand of the Lord brings me to the feet +of the blessed martyr, and I begin once more to feel myself a human +creature. And yet it was to avenge his death, that the same heaven +condemned me to eternal wanderings! + +"Oh, Lord! grant that I may not be the only one forgiven. May he--the +artisan, who like me, daughter of a king, wanders on for centuries-- +likewise hope to reach the end of that immense journey! + +"Where is he, Lord? where is he? Hast thou deprived me of the power once +bestowed, to see and hear him through the vastness of intervening space? +Oh, in this mighty moment, restore me that divine gift--for the more I +feel these human infirmities, which I hail and bless as the end of my +eternity of ills, the more my sight loses the power to traverse +immensity, and my ear to catch the sound of that wanderer's accent, from +the other extremity of the globe?" + +Night had fallen, dark and stormy. The wind rose in the midst of the +great pine-trees. Behind their black summits, through masses of dark +cloud, slowly sailed the silver disk of the moon. The invocation of the +Wandering Jewess had perhaps been heard. Suddenly, her eyes closed--with +hands clasped together, she remained kneeling in the heart of the ruins-- +motionless as a statue upon a tomb. And then she had a wondrous dream! + + + + +CHAPTER LI. + +THE CALVARY. + +This was the vision of Herodias: On the summit of a high, steep, rocky +mountain, there stands a cross. The sun is sinking, even as when the +Jewess herself, worn out with fatigue, entered the ruins of St. John's +Abbey. The great figure on the cross--which looks down from this +Calvary, on the mountain, and on the vast, dreary plain beyond--stands +out white and pale against the dark, blue clouds, which stretch across +the heavens, and assume a violent tint towards the horizon. There, where +the setting sun has left a long track of lurid light, almost of the hue +of blood--as far as the eye can reach, no vegetation appears on the +surface of the gloomy desert, covered with sand and stones, like the +ancient bed of some dried-up ocean. A silence as of death broods over +this desolate tract. Sometimes, gigantic black vultures, with red +unfeathered necks, luminous yellow eyes, stooping from their lofty flight +in the midst of these solitudes, come to make their bloody feast on the +prey they have carried off from less uncultivated regions. + +How, then, did this Calvary, this place of prayer, come to be erected so +far from the abodes of men? This Calvary was prepared at a great cost by +a repentant sinner. He had done much harm to his fellow-creatures, and, +in the hope of obtaining pardon for his crimes, he had climbed this +mountain on his knees, and become a hermit, and lived there till his +death, at the foot of this cross, only sheltered by a roof of thatch, now +long since swept away by the wind. The sun is still sinking. The sky +becomes darker. The luminous lines on the horizon grow fainter and +fainter, like heated bars of iron that gradually grow cool. Suddenly, on +the eastern side of the Calvary, is heard the noise of some falling +stones, which, loosened from the side of the mountain, roll down +rebounding to its base. These stones have been loosened by the foot of a +traveller, who, after traversing the plain below, has, during the last +hour, been climbing the steep ascent. He is not yet visible--but one +hears the echo of his tread--slow, steady, and firm. At length, he +reaches the top of the mountain, and his tall figure stands out against +the stormy sky. + +The traveller is pale as the great figure on the cross. On his broad +forehead a black line extends from one temple to the other. It is the +cobbler of Jerusalem. The poor artisan, who hardened by misery, +injustice and oppression, without pity for the suffering of the Divine +Being who bore the cross, repulsed him from his dwelling, and bade him: +"Go ON! GO ON! GO ON!" And, from that day, the avenging Deity has in his +turn said to the artisan of Jerusalem: "GO ON! GO ON! GO ON!" + +And he has gone on, without end or rest. Nor did the divine vengeance +stop there. From time to time death has followed the steps of the +wanderer, and innumerable graves have been even as mile-stones on his +fatal path. And if ever he found periods of repose in the midst of his +infinite grief, it was when the hand of the Lord led him into deep +solitudes, like that where he now dragged his steps along. In passing +over that dreary plain, or climbing to that rude Calvary, he at least +heard no more the funeral knell, which always, always sounded behind him +in every inhabited region. + +All day long, even at this hour, plunged in the black abyss of his +thoughts, following the fatal track--going whither he was guided by the +invisible hand, with head bowed on his breast, and eyes fixed upon the +ground, the wanderer had passed over the plain, and ascended the +mountain, without once looking at the sky--without even perceiving the +Calvary--without seeing the image upon the cross. He thought of the last +descendants of his race. He felt, by the sinking of his heart, that +great perils continued to threaten him. And in the bitterness of a +despair, wild and deep as the ocean, the cobbler of Jerusalem seated +himself at the foot of the cross. At this moment a farewell ray of the +setting sun, piercing the dark mass of clouds, threw a refection upon the +Calvary, vivid as a conflagration's glare. The Jew rested his forehead +upon his hand. His long hair, shaken by the evening breeze, fell over +his pale face--when sweeping it back from his brow, he started with +surprise--he, who had long ceased to wonder at anything. With eager +glance he contemplated the long lock of hair that he held between his +fingers. That hair, until now black as night, had become gray. He also, +like unto Herodias, was growing older. + +His progress towards old age, stopped for eighteen hundred years, had +resumed its course. Like the Wandering Jewess, he might henceforth hope +for the rest of the grave. Throwing himself on his knees, he stretched +his hands towards heaven, to ask for the explanation of the mystery which +filled him with hope. Then, for the first time, his eyes rested on the +Crucified One, looking down upon the Calvary, even as the Wandering +Jewess had fixed her gaze on the granite eyelids of the Blessed Martyr. + +The Saviour, his head bowed under the weight of his crown of thorns, +seemed from the cross to view with pity, and pardon the artisan, who for +so many centuries had felt his curse--and who, kneeling, with his body +thrown backward in an attitude of fear and supplication, now lifted +towards the crucifix his imploring hands. + +"Oh, Messiah!" cried the Jew, "the avenging arm of heaven brings me back +to the foot of this heavy cross, which thou didst bear, when, stopping at +the door of my poor dwelling, thou wert repulsed with merciless +harshness, and I said unto thee: `Go on! go on!'--After my long life of +wanderings, I am again before this cross, and my hair begins to whiten. +Oh Lord! in thy divine mercy, hast thou at length pardoned me? Have I +reached the term of my endless march? Will thy celestial clemency grant +me at length the repose of the sepulchre, which, until now, alas! has +ever fled before me?--Oh! if thy mercy should descend upon me, let it +fall likewise upon that woman, whose woes are equal to mine own! Protect +also the last descendants of my race! What will be their fate? Already, +Lord, one of them--the only one that misfortune had perverted--has +perished from the face of the earth. Is it for this that my hair grows +gray? Will my crime only be expiated when there no longer remains in +this world one member of our accursed race? Or does this proof of thy +powerful goodness, Lord, which restores me to the condition of humanity, +serve also as a sign of the pardon and happiness of my family? Will they +at length triumph over the perils which beset them? Will they, +accomplishing the good which their ancestor designed for his fellow- +creatures, merit forgiveness both for themselves and me? Or will they, +inexorably condemned as the accursed scions of an accursed stock, expiate +the original stain of my detested crime? + +"Oh, tell me--tell me, gracious Lord! shall I be forgiven with them, or +will they be punished with me?" + + +The twilight gave place to a dark and stormy night, yet the Jew continued +to pray, kneeling at the foot of the cross. + + + + +CHAPTER LII. + +THE COUNCIL. + +The following scene took place at Saint-Dizier House, two days after the +reconciliation of Marshal Simon with his daughters. The princess is +listening with the most profound attention to the words of Rodin. The +reverend father, according to his habit, stands leaning against the +mantelpiece, with his hands thrust into the pockets of his old brown +great-coat. His thick, dirty shoes have left their mark on the ermine +hearth-rug. A deep sense of satisfaction is impressed on the Jesuit's +cadaverous countenance. Princess de Saint-Dizier, dressed with that sort +of modest elegance which becomes a mother of the church, keeps her eyes +fixed on Rodin--for the latter has completely supplanted Father +d'Aigrigny in the good graces of this pious lady. The coolness, audacity +lofty intelligence, and rough and imperious character of the ex-socius +have overawed this proud woman, and inspired her with a sincere +admiration. Even his filthy habits and often brutal repartees have their +charm for her, and she now prefers them to the exquisite politeness and +perfumed elegance of the accomplished Father d'Aigrigny. + +"Yes, madame," said Rodin, in a sanctified tone, for these people do not +take off their masks even with their accomplices, "yes, madame, we have +excellent news from our house at St. Herem. M. Hardy, the infidel, the +freethinker, has at length entered the pale of the holy Roman Catholic +and Apostolic Church." Rodin pronounced these last word with a nasal +twang, and the devout lady bowed her head respectfully. + +"Grace has at length touched the heart of this impious man," continued +Rodin, "and so effectually that, in his ascetic enthusiasm, he has +already wished to take the vows which will bind him forever to our divine +Order." + +"So soon, father?" said the princess, in astonishment. + +"Our statutes are opposed to this precipitation, unless in the case of a +penitent in articulo mortis--on the very gasp of death--should such a +person consider it necessary for his salvation to die in the habit of our +Order, and leave us all his wealth for the greater glory of the Lord." + +"And is M. Hardy in so dangerous a condition, father?" + +"He has a violent fever. After so many successive calamities, which have +miraculously brought him into the path of salvation," said Rodin, +piously, "his frail and delicate constitution is almost broken up, +morally and physically. Austerities, macerations, and the divine joys of +ecstasy, will probably hasten his passage to eternal life, and in a few +clays," said the priest, shaking his head with a solemn air, "perhaps--" + +"So soon as that, father?" + +"It is almost certain. I have therefore made use of my dispensations, to +receive the dear penitent, as in articulo mortis, a member of our divine +Company, to which, in the usual course, he has made over all his +possessions, present and to come--so that now he can devote himself +entirely to the care of his soul, which will be one victim more rescued +from the claws of Satan." + +"Oh, father!" cried the lady, in admiration; "it is a miraculous +conversion. Father d'Aigrigny told me how you had to contend against the +influence of Abbe Gabriel." + +"The Abbe Gabriel," replied Rodin, "has been punished for meddling with +what did not concern him. I have procured his suspension, and he has +been deprived of his curacy. I hear that he now goes about the cholera- +hospitals to administer Christian consolation; we cannot oppose that--but +this universal comforter is of the true heretical stamp." + +"He is a dangerous character, no doubt," answered the princess, "for he +has considerable influence over other men. It must have needed all your +admirable and irresistible eloquence to combat the detestable counsels of +this Abbe Gabriel, who had taken it into his head to persuade M. Hardy to +return to the life of the world. Really, father, you are a second St. +Chrysostom." + +"Tut, tut, madame!" said Rodin, abruptly, for he was very little sensible +to flattery; "keep that for others." + +"I tell you that you're a second St. Chrysostom father," repeated the +princess with enthusiasm; "like him, you deserve the name of Golden +Mouth." + +"Stuff, madame!" said Rodin, brutally, shrugging his shoulders; "my lips +are too pale, my teeth too black, for a mouth of gold. You must be only +joking." + +"But, father--" + +"No, madame, you will not catch old birds with chaff," replied Rodin, +harshly. "I hate compliments, and I never pay them." + +"Your modesty must pardon me, father," said the princess, humbly; "I +could not resist the desire to express to you my admiration, for, as you +almost predicted, or at least foresaw, two members of the Rennepont +family, have, within the last few months, resigned all claim to the +inheritance." + +Rodin looked at Madame de Saint-Dizier with a softened and approving air, +as he heard her thus describe the position of the two defunct claimants. +For, in Rodin's view of the case, M. Hardy, in consequence of his +donation and his suicidal asceticism, belonged no longer to this world. + +The lady continued: "One of these men, a wretched artisan, has been led +to his ruin by the exaggeration of his vices. You have brought the other +into the path of salvation, by carrying out his loving and tender +qualities. Honor, then. to your foresight, father! for you said that you +would make use of the passions to attain your end." + +"Do not boast too soon," said Rodin, impatiently. "Have you forgotten +your niece, and the Hindoo, and the daughters of Marshal Simon? Have +they also made a Christian end, or resigned their claim to share in this +inheritance?" + +"No, doubtless." + +"Hence, you see, madame, we should not lose time in congratulating +ourselves on the past, but make ready for the future. The great day +approaches. The first of June is not far off. Heaven grant we may not +see the four surviving members of the family continue to live impenitent +up to that period, and so take possession of this enormous property--the +source of perdition in their hands--but productive of the glory of the +Church in the hands of our Company!" + +"True, father!" + +"By the way, you were to see your lawyers on the subject of your niece?" + +"I have seen them, father. However uncertain may be the chance of which +I spoke, it is worth trying. I shall know to-day, I hope, if it is +legally possible." + +"Perhaps then,--in the new condition of life to which she would be +reduced, we might find means to effect her conversion," said Rodin, with +a strange and hideous smile; "until now, since she has been so fatally +brought in contact with the Oriental, the happiness of these two pagans +appears bright and changeless as the diamond. Nothing bites into it, not +even Faringhea's tooth. Let us hope that the Lord will wreak justice on +their vain and guilty felicity!" + +This conversation was here interrupted by Father d'Aigrigny, who entered +the room with an air of triumph, and exclaimed, "Victory!" + +"What do you say"' asked the princess. + +"He is gone--last night," said Father d'Aigrigny. + +"Who?" said Rodin. + +"Marshal Simon," replied the abbe. + +"At last!" said Rodin, unable to hide his joy. + +"It was no doubt his interview with General d'Havrincourt which filled up +the measure," cried the princess, "for I know he had a long conversation +with the general, who like so many others, believed the reports in +circulation. All means are good against the impious!" added the +princess, by way of moral. + +"Have you any details?" asked Rodin. + +"I have just left Robert," said Father d'Aigrigny. "His age and +description agree with the marshal's, and the latter travels with his +papers. Only one thing has greatly surprised your emissary." + +"What is that?" said Rodin. + +"Until now, he had always to contend with the hesitations of the marshal, +and had moreover noticed his gloomy and desponding air. Yesterday, on +the contrary, he found him so bright with happiness, that he could not +help asking him the cause of the alteration." + +"Well?" said Rodin and the princess together, both extremely surprised. + +"The marshal answered: `I am indeed the happiest man in the world; for I +am going joyfully to accomplish a sacred duty!" + +The three actors in this scene looked at each other in silence. + +"And what can have produced this sudden change in the mind of the +marshal?" said the princess, with a pensive air. "We rather reckon on +sorrow and every kind of irritation to urge him to engage in this +adventurous enterprise." + +"I cannot make it out," said Rodin, reflecting; "but no matter--he is +gone. We must not lose a moment, to commence operations on his +daughters. Has he taken that infernal soldier with him?" + +"No," said Father d'Aigrigny; "unfortunately, he has not done so. Warned +by the past, he will redouble his precautions; and a man, whom we might +have used against him at a pinch, has just been taken with the +contagion." + +"Who is that?" asked the princess. + +"Morok. I could count upon him anywhere and for anything. He is lost to +us; for, should he recover from the cholera, I fear he will fall a victim +to a horrible and incurable disease." + +"How so?" + +"A few days ago, he was bitten by one of the mastiffs of his menagerie, +and, the next day, the dog showed symptoms of hydrophobia." + +"Ah! it is dreadful," cried the princess; "and where is this unfortunate +man?" + +"He has been taken to one of the temporary hospitals established in +Paris, for at present he has only been attacked with cholera. It is +doubly unfortunate, I repeat, for he was a devoted, determined fellow, +ready for anything. Now this soldier, who has the care of the orphans, +will be very difficult to get at, and yet only through him can we hope to +reach Marshal Simon's daughters." + +"That is clear," said Rodin, thoughtfully. + +"Particularly since the anonymous letters have again awakened his +suspicions," added Father d'Aigrigny "and--" + +"Talking of the anonymous letters," said Rodin suddenly, interrupting +Father d'Aigrigny, "there is a fact that you ought to know; I will tell +you why." + +"What is it?" + +"Besides the letters that you know of, Marshal Simon has received a +number of others unknown to you, in which, by every possible means, it is +tried to exasperate his irritation against yourself--for they remind him +of all the reasons he has to hate you, and mock at him, because your +sacred character shelters you from his vengeance." + +Father d'Aigrigny looked at Rodin with amazement, colored in spite of +himself, and said to him: "But for what purpose has your reverence acted +in this manner?" + +"First of all, to clear myself of suspicion with regard to the letters; +then, to excite the rage of the marshal to madness, by incessantly +reminding him of the just grounds he has to hate you, and of the +impossibility of being avenged upon you. This, joined to the other +emotions of sorrow and anger, which ferment in the savage bosom of this +man of bloodshed, tended to urge him on to the rash enterprise, which is +the consequence and the punishment of his idolatry for a miserable +usurper." + +"That may be," said Father d'Aigrigny, with an air of constraint: "but I +will observe to your reverence, that it was, perhaps, rather dangerous +thus to excite Marshal Simon against me." + +"Why?" asked Rodin, as he fixed a piercing look upon Father d'Aigrigny. + +"Because the marshal, excited beyond all bounds, and remembering only our +mutual hate, might seek me out--" + +"Well! and what then?" + +"Well! he might forget that I am a priest--" + +"Oh, you are afraid are you?" said Rodin, disdainfully, interrupting +Father d'Aigrigny. + +At the words: "You are afraid," the reverend father almost started from +his chair; but recovering his coolness, he answered: "Your reverence is +right; yes, I should be afraid under such circumstances; I should be +afraid of forgetting that I am a priest, and of remembering too well that +I have been a soldier." + +"Really?" said Rodin, with sovereign contempt. "You are still no further +than that stupid and savage point of honor? Your cassock has not yet +extinguished the warlike fire? So that if this brawling swordsman, whose +poor, weak head, empty and sonorous as a drum, is so easily turned with +the stupid jargon of `Military honor, oaths, Napoleon II.'--if this +brawling bravo, I say, were to commit some violence against you, it would +require a great effort, I suppose, for you to remain calm?" + +"It is useless, I think," said Father d'Aigrigny, quite unable to control +his agitation, "for your reverence to enter upon such questions." + +"As your superior," answered Rodin, severely, "I have the right to ask. +If Marshal Simon had lifted his hand against you--" + +"Sir," cried the reverend father. + +"There are no sirs here--we are only priests," said Rodin, harshly. +Father d'Aigrigny held down his head, scarcely able to repress his rage. + +"I ask you," continued Rodin, obstinately, "if Marshal Simon had struck +you? Is that clear?" + +"Enough! in mercy," said Father d'Aigrigny, "enough!" + +"Or, if you like it better, had Marshal Simon left the marks of his +fingers on your cheek?" resumed Rodin, with the utmost pertinacity. + +Father d'Aigrigny, pale as death, ground his teeth in a kind of fury at +the very idea of such an insult, while Rodin, who had no doubt his object +in asking the question, raised his flabby eyelids, and seemed to watch +attentively the significant symptoms revealed in the agitated countenance +of the ex-colonel. + +At length, recovering partly his presence of mind, Father d'Aigrigny +replied, in a forcedly calm tone: "If I were to be exposed to such an +insult, I would pray heaven to give me resignation and humility." + +"And no doubt heaven would hear your prayers," said Rodin, coldly, +satisfied with the trial to which he had just put him. "Besides, you are +now warned, and it is not very probable," added he, with a grim smile, +"that Marshal Simon will ever return to test your humility. But if he +were to return," said Rodin, fixing on the reverend father a long and +piercing look, "you would know how to show this brutal swordsman, in +spite of all his violence, what resignation and humility there is in a +Christian soul!" + +Two humble knocks at the door here interrupted the conversation for a +moment. A footman entered, bearing a large sealed packet on a salver, +which he presented to the princess. After this, he withdrew. Princess +de Saint-Dizier, having by a look asked Rodin's permission to open the +letter, began to read it--and a cruel satisfaction was soon visible on +her face. + +"There is hope," cried she addressing herself to Rodin: "the demand is +rigorously legal, and the consequence may be such as we desire. In a +word, my niece may, any day, be exposed to complete destitution. She, +who is so extravagant! what a change in her life!" + +"We shall then no doubt have some hold on that untamable character," said +Rodin with a meditative air; "for, till now, all has failed in that +direction, and one would suppose some kinds of happiness are +invulnerable," added the Jesuit, gnawing his flat and dirty nails. + +"But, to obtain the result we desire, we must exasperate my niece's +pride. It is, therefore, absolutely necessary, that I should see and +talk to her," said the Princess de Saint-Dizier, reflecting. + +"Mdlle. de Cardoville will refuse this interview," said Father +d'Aigrigny. + +"Perhaps," replied the princess. "But she is so happy that her audacity +must be at its height. Yes, yes--I know her--and I will write in such a +manner, that she will come." + +"You think so?" asked Rodin, with a doubtful air. + +"Do not fear it, father," answered the lady, "she will come. And her +pride once brought into play, we may hope a good deal from it." + +"We must then act, lady," resumed Rodin; "yes, act promptly. The moment +approaches. Hate and suspicion are awake. There is not a moment to +lose." + +"As for hate," replied the princess, "Mdlle. de Cardoville must have seen +to what her lawsuit would lead, about what she called her illegal +detention in a lunatic asylum, and that of the two young ladies in St. +Mary's Convent. Thank heaven, we have friends everywhere! I know from +good authority, that the case will break down from want of evidence, in +spite of the animosity of certain parliamentary magistrates, who shall be +well remembered." + +"Under these circumstances," replied Rodin, "the departure of the marshal +gives us every latitude. We must act immediately on his daughters." + +"But how?" said the princess. + +"We must see them," resumed Rodin, "talk with them, study them. Then we +shall act in consequence." + +"But the soldier will not leave them a second," said Father d'Aigrigny. + +"Then," replied Rodin, "we must talk to them in presence of the soldier, +and get him on our side." + +"That hope is idle," cried Father d'Aigrigny. "You do not know the +military honor of his character. You do not know this man." + +"Don't I know him?" said Rodin, shrugging his shoulders. "Did not Mdlle. +de Cardoville present me to him as her liberator, when I denounced you as +the soul of the conspiracy? Did I not restore to him his ridiculous +imperial relic--his cross of honor--when we met at Dr. Baleinier's? Did +I not bring him back the girls from the convent, and place them in the +arms of their father?" + +"Yes," replied the princess; "but, since that time, my abominable niece +has either guessed or discovered all. She told you so herself, father." + +"She told me, that she considered me her most mortal enemy," said Rodin. +"Be it so. But did she tell the same to the marshal? Has she ever +mentioned me to him? and if she have done so, has the marshal +communicated this circumstance to his soldier? It may be so; but it is +by no means sure; in any case. I must ascertain the fact; if the soldier +treats me as an enemy, we shall see what is next to be done--but I will +first try to be received as a friend." + +"When?" asked the princess. + +"To-morrow morning," replied Rodin. + +"Good heaven, my clear father!" cried the Princess de Saint-Dizier, in +alarm; "if this soldier were to treat you as an enemy--beware--" + +"I always beware, madame. I have had to face worse enemies than he is," +said the Jesuit showing his black teeth; "the cholera to begin with." + +"But he may refuse to see you, and in what way will you then get at +Marshal Simon's daughters?" said Father d'Aigrigny. + +"I do not yet know." answered Rodin. "But as I intend to do it, I shall +find the means." + +"Father," said the princess, suddenly, on reflection, "these girls have +never seen me, and I might obtain admittance to them, without sending in +my name." + +"That would be perfectly useless at present, madame, for I must first +know what course to take with respect to them. I must see and converse +with them, at any cost, and then, after I have fixed my plan, your +assistance may be very useful. In any case, please to be ready to- +morrow, madame, to accompany me." + +"To what place, father?" + +"To Marshal Simon's." + +"To the marshal's?" + +"Not exactly. You will get into your carriage, and I will take a +hackney-coach. I will then try to obtain an interview with the girls, +and, during that time, you will wait for me at a few yards from the +house. If I succeed, and require your aid, I will come and fetch you; I +can give you my instructions without any appearance of concert between +us." + +"I am content, reverend father; but, in truth, I tremble at the thought +of your interview with that rough trooper." + +"The Lord will watch over his servant, madame!" replied Rodin. "As for +you, father," added he, addressing the Abbe d'Aigrigny, "despatch +instantly to Vienna the note which is all prepared to announce the +departure and speedy arrival of the marshal. Every precaution has been +taken. I shall write more fully this evening." + +The next morning, about eight o'clock, the Princess de Saint-Dizier, in +her carriage, and Rodin, in his hackney-coach, took the direction of +Marshal Simon's house. + + + + +CHAPTER LIII. + +HAPPINESS. + +Marshal Simon has been absent two days. It is eight o'clock in the +morning. Dagobert, walking on tip-toe with the greatest caution, so as +not to make the floor creak beneath his tread, crosses the room which +leads to the bedchamber of Rose and Blanche and applies his ear to the +door of the apartment. With equal caution, Spoil-sport follows exactly +the movements of his master. The countenance of the soldier is uneasy +and full of thought. As he approaches the door, he says to himself: "I +hope the dear children heard nothing of what happened in the night! It +would alarm them, and it is much better that they should not know it at +present. It might afflict them sadly, poor dears! and they are so gay, +so happy, since they feel sure of their father's love for them. They +bore his departure so bravely! I would not for the world that they +should know of this unfortunate event." + +Then as he listened, the soldier resumed: "I hear nothing--and yet they +are always awake so early. Can it be sorrow?" + +Dagobert's reflections were here interrupted by two frank, hearty bursts +of laughter, from the interior of the bedroom. + +"Come! they are not so sad as I thought," said the soldier, breathing +more freely. "Probably they know nothing about it." + +Soon, the laughter was again heard with redoubled force, and the soldier, +delighted at this gayety, so rare on the part of "his children," was much +affected by it: the tears started to his eyes at the thought that the +orphans had at length recovered the serenity natural to their age; then, +passing from one emotion to the other, still listening at the door, with +his body leaning forward, and his hands resting on his knees, Dagobert's +lip quivered with an expression of mute joy, and, shaking his head a +little, he accompanied with his silent laughter, the increasing hilarity +of the young girls. At last, as nothing is so contagious as gayety, and +as the worthy soldier was in an ecstasy of joy, he finished by laughing +aloud with all his might, without knowing why, and only because Rose and +Blanche were laughing. Spoil-sport had never seen his master in such a +transport of delight; he looked at him for a while in deep and silent +astonishment, and then began to bark in a questioning way. + +At this well-known sound, the laughter within suddenly ceased, and a +sweet voice, still trembling with joyous emotion, exclaimed: "Is it you, +Spoil-sport, that have come to wake us?" The dog understood what was +said, wagged his tail, held down his ears, and, approaching close to the +door, answered the appeal of his young mistress by a kind of friendly +growl. + +"Spoil-sport," said Rose, hardly able to restrain her laughter, "you are +very early this morning." + +"Tell us what o'clock it is, if you please, old fellow?" added Blanche. + +"Young ladies, it is past eight," said suddenly the gruff voice of +Dagobert, accompanying this piece of humor with a loud laugh. + +A cry of gay surprise was heard, and then Rose resumed: "Good-morning, +Dagobert." + +"Good-morning, my children. You are very lazy to-day, I must tell you." + +"It is not our fault. Our dear Augustine has not yet been to call us. +We are waiting for her." + +"Oh! there it is," said Dagobert to himself, his features once more +assuming an expression of anxiety. Then he returned aloud, in a tone of +some embarrassment, for the worthy man was no hand at a falsehood: "My +children, our companion went out this morning--very early. She is gone +to the country--on business--she will not return for some days--so you +had better get up by yourselves for today." + +"Our good Madame Augustine!" exclaimed Blanche, with interest. "I hope +it is nothing bad that has made her leave suddenly--eh, Dagobert?" + +"No, no--not at all--only business," answered the soldier. "To see one +of her relations." + +"Oh, so much the better!" said Rose. "Well, Dagobert, when we call you +can come in." + +"I will come back in a quarter of an hour," said the soldier as he +withdrew; and he thought to himself: "I must lecture that fool Loony--for +he is so stupid, and so fond of talking, that he will let it all out." + +The name of the pretended simpleton will serve as a natural transition, +to inform the reader of the cause of the hilarity of the sisters. They +were laughing at the numberless absurdities of the idiot. The girls rose +and dressed themselves, each serving as lady's-maid to the other. Rose +had combed and arranged Blanche's hair; it was now Blanche's turn to do +the same for her sister. Thus occupied, they formed a charming picture. +Rose was seated before the dressing-table; her sister, standing behind +her, was smoothing her beautiful brown hair. Happy age! so little +removed from childhood, that present joy instantly obliterates the traces +of past sorrow! But the sisters felt more than joy; it was happiness, +deep and unalterable, for their father loved them, and their happiness +was a delight, and not a pain to him. Assured of the affection of his +children, he, also, thanks to them, no longer feared any grief. To those +three beings, thus certain of their mutual love, what was a momentary +separation? Having explained this, we shall understand the innocent +gayety of the sisters, notwithstanding their father's departure, and the +happy, joyous expression, which now filled with animation their charming +faces, on which the late fading rose had begun once more to bloom. Their +faith in the future gave to their countenances something resolute and +decisive, which added a degree of piquancy to the beauty of their +enchanting features. + +Blanche, in smoothing her sister's hair, let fall the comb, and, as she +was stooping to pick it up, Rose anticipated her, saying: "If it had been +broken, we would have put it into the handle-basket." + +Then the two laughed merrily at this expression, which reminded them of +an admirable piece of folly on the part of Loony. + +The supposed simpleton had broken the handle of a cup, and when the +governess of the young ladies had reprimanded him for his carelessness, +he had answered: "Never mind, madame; I have put it into the handle- +basket." + +"The handle-basket, what is that?" + +"Yes, Madame; it is where I keep all the handles I break off the things!" + +"Dear me!" said Rose, drying her eyes; "how silly it is to laugh at such +foolishness." + +"It is droll," replied Blanche; "how can we help it?" + +"All I regret is, that father cannot hear us laugh." + +"He was so happy to see us gay!" + +"We must write to him to-day, the story of the handle-basket." + +"And that of the feather-brush, to show that, according to promise, we +kept up our spirits during his absence." + +"Write to him, sister? no, he is to write to us, and we are not to answer +his letters." + +"True! well then, I have an idea. Let us address letters to him here, +Dagobert can put them into the post, and, on his return, our father will +read our correspondence." + +"That will be charming! What nonsense we will write to him, since he +takes pleasure in it!" + +"And we, too, like to amuse ourselves." + +"Oh, certainly! father's last words have given us so much courage." + +"As I listened to them, I felt quite reconciled to his going." + +"When he said to us: `My children, I will confide in you all I can. I go +to fulfill a sacred duty, and I must be absent for some time; for though, +when I was blind enough to doubt your affection, I could not make up my +mind to leave you, my conscience was by no means tranquil. Grief takes +such an effect on us, that I had not the strength to come to a decision, +and my days were passed in painful hesitation. But now that I am certain +of your tenderness, all this irresolution has ceased, and I understand +how one duty is not to be sacrificed to another, and that I have to +perform two duties at once, both equally sacred; and this I now do with +joy, and delight, and courage!'" + +"Go on, sister!" cried Blanche, rising to draw nearer to Rose. "I think +I hear our father when I remember those words, which must console and +support us during his absence." + +"And then our father continued: `Instead of grieving at my departure, you +would rejoice in it, you should be proud and happy. I go to perform a +good and generous act. Fancy to yourselves, that there is somewhere a +poor orphan, oppressed and abandoned by all--and that the father of that +orphan was once my benefactor, and that I had promised him to protect his +son--and that the life of that son is now in peril--tell me, my children; +would you regret that I should leave you to fly to the aid of such an +orphan?'--" + +"`No, no, brave father!' we answered: `we should not then be your +daughters!'" continued Rose, with enthusiasm. "`Count upon us! We +should be indeed unhappy if we thought that our sorrow could deprive thee +of thy courage. Go! and every day we will say to ourselves proudly, "It +was to perform a great and noble duty that our father left us--we can +wait calmly for his return." + +"How that idea of duty sustains one, sister!" resumed Rose, with growing +enthusiasm. "It gave our father the courage to leave us without regret, +and to us the courage to bear his absence gayly!" + +"And then, how calm we are now! Those mournful dreams, which seemed to +portend such sad events, no longer afflict us." + +"I tell you, sister, this time we are really happy once for all." + +"And then, do you feel like me? I fancy, that I am stronger and more +courageous and that I could brave every danger." + +"I should think so! We are strong enough now. Our father in the midst, +you on one side, I on the other--" + +"Dagobert in the vanguard, and Spoil-sport in the rear! Then the army +will be complete, and let 'em come on by thousands!" added a gruff, but +jovial voice, interrupting the girl, as Dagobert appeared at the half- +open door of the room. It was worth looking at his face, radiant with +joy; for the old fellow had somewhat indiscreetly been listening to the +conversation. + +"Oh! you were listening, Paul Pry!" said Rose gayly, as she entered the +adjoining room with her sister, and both affectionately embraced the +soldier. + +"To be sure, I was listening; and I only regretted not to have ears as +large as Spoil-sport's! Brave, good girls! that's how I like to see you- +-bold as brass, and saying to care and sorrow: `Right about face! march! +go to the devil!'" + +"He will want to make us swear, now," said Rose to her sister, laughing +with all her might. + +"Well! now and then, it does no harm," said the soldier; "it relieves and +calms one, when if one could not swear by five hundred thousand de--" + +"That's enough!" said Rose, covering with her pretty hand the gray +moustache, so as to stop Dagobert in his speech. "If Madame Augustine +heard you--" + +"Our poor governess! so mild and timid," resumed Blanche. "How you would +frighten her!" + +"Yes," said Dagobert, as he tried to conceal his rising embarrassment; +"but she does not hear us. She is gone into the country." + +"Good, worthy woman!" replied Blanche, with interest. "She said +something of you, which shows her excellent heart." + +"Certainly," resumed Rose; "for she said to us, in speaking of you, `Ah, +young ladies! my affection must appear very little, compared with M. +Dagobert's. But I feel that I also have the right to devote myself to +you.'" + +"No doubt, no doubt! she has a heart of gold," answered Dagobert. Then +he added to himself, "It's as if they did it on purpose, to bring the +conversation back to this poor woman." + +"Father made a good choice," continued Rose. "She is the widow of an old +officer, who was with him in the wars." + +"When we were out of spirits," said Blanche, "you should have seen her +uneasiness and grief, and how earnestly she set about consoling us." + +"I have seen the tears in her eyes when she looked at us," resumed Rose. +"Oh! she loves us tenderly, and we return her affection. With regard to +that, Dagobert, we have a plan as soon as our father comes back." + +"Be quiet, sister!" said Blanche, laughing. "Dagobert will not keep our +secret." + +"He!" + +"Will you keep it for us, Dagobert?" + +"I tell you what," said the soldier, more and more embarrassed; "you had +better not tell it to me." + +"What! can you keep nothing from Madame Augustine?" + +"Ah, Dagobert! Dagobert!" said Blanche, gayly holding up her finger at +the soldier; "I suspect you very much of paying court to our governess." + +"I pay court?" said the soldier--and the expression of his face was so +rueful, as he pronounced these words, that the two sisters burst out +laughing. + +Their hilarity was at its height when the door opened and Loony advanced +into room announcing, with a loud voice, "M. Rodin!" In fact, the Jesuit +glided almost imperceptibly into the apartment, as if to take possession +of the ground. Once there, he thought the game his own, and his reptile +eyes sparkled with joy. It would be difficult to paint the surprise of +the two sisters, and the anger of the soldier, at this unexpected visit. + +Rushing upon Loony, Dagobert seized him by the collar, and exclaimed: +"Who gave you leave to introduce any one here without my permission?" + +"Pardon, M. Dagobert!" said Loony, throwing himself on his knees, and +clasping his hands with an air of idiotic entreaty. + +"Leave the room!--and you too!" added the soldier, with a menacing +gesture, as he turned towards Rodin, who had already approached the +girls, with a paternal smile on his countenance. + +"I am at your orders, my dear sir," said the priest, humbly; and he made +a low bow, but without stirring from the spot. + +"Will you go?" cried the soldier to Loony, who was still kneeling, and +who, thanks to the advantages of this position, was able to utter a +certain number of words before Dagobert could remove him. + +"M. Dagobert," said Loony in a doleful voice, "I beg pardon for bringing +up the gentleman without leave; but, alas, my head is turned, because of +the misfortune that happened to Madame Augustine." + +"What misfortune?" cried Rose and Blanche together, as they advanced +anxiously towards Loony. + +"Will you go?" thundered Dagobert, shaking the servant by the collar, to +force him to rise. + +"Speak--speak!" said Blanche, interposing between the soldier and his +prey. "What has happened to Madame Augustine?" + +"Oh," shouted Loony, in spite of the cuffs of the soldier. "Madame +Augustine was attacked in the night with cholera, and taken--" + +He was unable to finish. Dagobert struck him a tremendous blow with his +fist, right on the jaw, and, putting forth his still formidable strength, +the old horse-grenadier lifted him to his legs, and with one violent kick +bestowed on the lower part of his back, sent him rolling into the ante- +chamber. + +Then turning to Rodin, with flushed cheek and sparkling eye, Dagobert +pointed to the door with an expressive gesture, and said in an angry +voice: "Now, be off with you and that quickly!" + +"I must pay my respects another time, my dear sir," said Rodin, as he +retired towards the door, bowing to the young girls. + + + + +CHAPTER LIV. + +DUTY. + +Rodin, retreating slowly before the fire of Dagobert's angry looks, +walked backwards to the door, casting oblique but piercing glances at the +orphans, who were visibly affected by the servant's intentional +indiscretion. (Dagobert had ordered him not to speak before the girls of +the illness of their governess, and that was quite enough to induce the +simpleton to take the first opportunity of doing so.) + +Rose hastily approached the soldier, and said to him: "Is it true--is it +really true that poor Madame Augustine has been attacked with the +cholera?" + +"No--I do not know--I cannot tell," replied the soldier, hesitating; +"besides, what is it to you?" + +"Dagobert, you would conceal from us a calamity," said Blanche. "I +remember now your embarrassment, when we spoke to you of our governess." + +"If she is ill, we ought not to abandon her. She had pity on our +sorrows; we ought to pity her sufferings." + +"Come, sister; come to her room," said Blanche, advancing towards the +door, where Rodin had stopped short, and stood listening with growing +attention to this unexpected scene, which seemed to give him ample food +for thought. + +"You will not leave this room," said the soldier, sternly, addressing the +two sisters. + +"Dagobert," replied Rose, firmly, "it is a sacred duty, and it would be +cowardice not to fulfil it." + +"I tell you that you shall not leave the room," said the soldier, +stamping his foot with impatience. + +"Dagobert," replied Blanche, with as resolute an air as her sister's, and +with a kind of enthusiasm which brought the blood to her fair cheek, "our +father, when he left us, give us an admirable example of devotion and +duty. He would not forgive us were we to forget the lesson." + +"What," cried Dagobert, in a rage, and advancing towards the sisters to +prevent their quitting the apartment; "you think that if your governess +had the cholera, I would let you go to her under the pretext of duty?-- +Your duty is to live, to live happy, for your father's sake--and for mine +into the bargain--so not a word more of such folly!" + +"We can run no danger by going to our governess in her room," said Rose. + +"And if there were danger," added Blanche, "we ought not to hesitate. +So, Dagobert, be good! and let us pass." + +Rodin, who had listened to what precedes, with sustained attention, +suddenly started, as if a thought had struck him; his eye shone brightly, +and an expression of fatal joy illumined his countenance. + +"Dagobert, do not refuse!" said Blanche. "You would do for us what you +reproach us with wishing to do for another." + +Dagobert had as it were, till now stood in the path of the Jesuit and the +twins by keeping close to the door; but, after a moments reflection, he +shrugged his shoulders, stepped to one side, and said calmly: "I was an +old fool. Come, young ladies; if you find Madame Augustine in the house, +I will allow you to remain with her." + +Surprised at these words, the girls stood motionless and irresolute. + +"If our governess is not here, where is she, then?" said Rose. + +"You think, perhaps, that I am going to tell you in the excitement in +which you are!" + +"She is dead!" cried Rose growing pale. + +"No, no--be calm," said the soldier, hastily; "I swear to you, by your +father's honor, that she is not dead. At the first appearance of the +disorder, she begged to be removed from the house, fearing the contagion +for those in it." + +"Good and courageous woman!" said Rose tenderly, "And you will not allow +us--" + +"I will not allow you to go out, even if I have to lock you up in your +room," cried the soldier, again stamping with rage; then, remembering +that the blunderhead's indiscretion was the sole cause of this +unfortunate incident, he added, with concentrated fury: "Oh! I will break +my stick upon that rascal's back." + +So saying, he turned towards the door, where Rodin still stood, silent +and attentive, dissembling with habitual impassibility the fatal hopes he +had just conceived in his brain. The girls, no longer doubting the +removal of their governess, and convinced that Dagobert would not tell +them whither they had conveyed her, remained pensive and sad. + +At sight of the priest, whom he had forgotten for the moment, the +soldier's rage increased, and he said to him abruptly: "Are you still +there?" + +"I would merely observe to you, my dear sir," said Rodin, with that air +of perfect good nature which he knew so well how to assume, "that you +were standing before the door, which naturally prevented me from going +out." + +Well, now nothing prevents you--so file off!" + +"Certainly, I will file off, if you wish it, my dear sir though I think I +have some reason to be surprised at such a reception." + +"It is no reception at all--so begone!" + +"I had come, my dear sir to speak to you--" + +"I have no time for talking." + +"Upon business of great importance." + +"I have no other business of importance than to remain with these +children." + +"Very good, my dear sir," said Rodin, pausing on the threshold. "I will +not disturb you any longer; excuse my indiscretion. The bearer of +excellent news from Marshal Simon, I came--" + +"News from our father!" cried Rose, drawing nearer to Rodin. + +"Oh, speak, speak, sir!" added Blanche. + +"You have news of the marshal!" said Dagobert, glancing suspiciously at +Rodin. "Pray, what is this news?" + +But Rodin, without immediately answering the question, returned from the +threshold into the room, and, contemplating Rose and Blanche by turns +with admiration, he resumed: "What happiness for me, to be able to bring +some pleasure to these dear young ladies. They are even as I left them +graceful, and fair, and charming--only less sad than on the day when I +fetched them from the gloomy convent in which they were kept prisoners, +to restore them to the arms of their glorious father!" + +"That was their place, and this is not yours," said Dagobert, harshly, +still holding the door open behind Rodin. + +Confess, at least that I was not so much out of place at Dr. +Baleinier's," said the Jesuit, with a cunning air. "You know, for it was +there that I restored to you the noble imperial cross you so much +regretted--the day when that good Mdlle. de Cardoville only prevented you +from strangling me by telling you that I was her liberator. Aye! it was +just as I have the honor of stating, young ladies," added Rodin, with a +smile; "this brave soldier was very near strangling me, for, be it said +without offense, he has, in spite of his age, a grasp of iron. Ha, ha! +the Prussians and Cossacks must know that better than I!" + +These few words reminded Dagobert and the twins of the services which +Rodin had really rendered them; and though the marshal had heard Mdlle. +de Cardoville speak of Rodin as of a very dangerous man, he had +forgotten, in the midst of so many anxieties, to communicate this +circumstance to Dagobert. But this latter, warned by experience, felt, +in spite of favorable appearances, a secret aversion for the Jesuit; so +he replied abruptly: "The strength of my grasp has nothing to do with the +matter." + +"If I allude to that little innocent playfulness on your part, my dear +sir," said Rodin, in his softest tone, approaching the two sisters with a +wriggle which was peculiar to him; "if I allude to it, you see, it was +suggested by the involuntary recollection of the little services I was +happy enough to render you." Dagobert looked fixedly at Rodin, who +instantly veiled his glance beneath his flabby eyelids. + +"First of all," said the soldier, after a moment's silence, "a true man +never speaks of the services he has rendered, and you come back three +times to the subject." + +"But Dagobert," whispered Rose, "if he brings news of our father?" + +The soldier made a sign, as if to beg the girl to let him speak, and +resumed, looking full at Rodin: "You are cunning, but I'm no raw +recruit." + +"I cunning?" said Rodin, with a sanctified air. + +"Yes, very. You think to puzzle me with your fine phrases; but I'm not +to be caught in that way. Just listen to me. Some of your band of +black-gowns stole my cross; you returned it to me. Some of the same band +carried off these children; you brought them back. It is also true that +you denounced the renegade D'Aigrigny. But all this only proves two +things: first, that you were vile enough to be the accomplice of these +scoundrels; and secondly, that, having been their accomplice, you were +base enough to betray them. Now, those two facts are equally bad, and I +suspect you most furiously. So march off at once; your presence is not +good for these children." + +"But, my dear sir--" + +"I will have no buts," answered Dagobert, in an angry voice. "When a man +of your look does good, it is only to hide some evil; and one must be on +guard." + +"I understand your suspicions," said Rodin coolly, hiding his growing +disappointment, for he had hoped it would have been easy to coax the +soldier; but, if you reflect, what interest have I in deceiving you? And +in what should the deception consist?" + +"You have some interest or other in persisting to remain here, when I +tell you to go away." + +"I have already had the honor of informing you of the object of my visit, +my dear sir." + +"To bring news of Marshal Simon?" + +"That is exactly the case. I am happy enough to have news of the +marshal. Yes, my dear young ladies," added Rodin, as he again approached +the two sisters, to recover, as it were, the ground he had lost, "I have +news of your glorious father!" + +"Then come to my room directly, and you can tell it to me," replied +Dagobert. + +"What! you would be cruel enough to deprive these dear ladies of the +pleasure--" + +"By heaven, sir!" cried Dagobert, in a voice of thunder, "you will make +me forget myself. I should be sorry to fling a man of your age down the +stairs. Will you be gone?" + +"Well, well," said Rodin mildly, "do not be angry with a poor old man. I +am really not worth the trouble. I will go with you to your room, and +tell you what I have to communicate. You will repent not having let me +speak before these dear young ladies; but that will be your punishment, +naughty man!" + +So saying, Rodin again bowed very low, and, concealing his rage and +vexation, left the room before Dagobert, who made a sign to the two +sisters, and then followed, closing the door after him. + +"What news of our father, Dagobert?" said Rose anxiously, when the +soldier returned, after a quarter of an hours absence. + +"Well, that old conjurer knows that the marshal set out in good spirits, +and he seems acquainted with M. Robert. How could he be informed of all +this? I cannot tell," added the soldier, with a thoughtful air; "but it +is only another reason to be on one's guard against him." + +"But what news of our father?" asked Rose. + +"One of that old rascal's friends (I think him a rascal still) knows your +father, he tells me, and met him five-and-twenty leagues from here. +Knowing that this man was coming to Paris, the marshal charged him to let +you know that he was in perfect health, and hoped soon to see you again." + +"Oh, what happiness!" cried Rose. + +"You see, you were wrong to suspect the poor old man, Dagobert," added +Blanche. "You treated him so harshly!" + +"Possibly so; but I am not sorry for it." + +"And why?" + +"I have my reasons; and one of the best is that, when I saw him came in, +and go sidling and creeping round about us, I felt chilled to the marrow +of my bones, without knowing why. Had I seen a serpent crawling towards +you, I should not have been more frightened. I knew, of course, that he +could not hurt you in my presence; but I tell you, my children, in spite +of the services he has no doubt rendered us, it was all I could do to +refrain from throwing him out of the window. Now, this manner of proving +my gratitude is not natural, and one must be on one's guard against +people who inspire us with such ideas." + +"Good Dagobert, it is your affection for us that makes you so +suspicious," said Rose, in a coaxing tone; "it proves how much you love +us." + + + + +CHAPTER LV. + +THE IMPROVISED HOSPITAL + +Among a great number of temporary hospitals opened at the time of the +cholera in every quarter of Paris, one had been established on the +ground-floor of a large house in the Rue du Mont-Blanc. The vacant +apartments had been generously placed by their proprietor at the disposal +of the authorities; and to this place were carried a number of persons, +who, being suddenly attacked with the contagion, were considered in too +dangerous a state to be removed to the principal hospitals. + +Two days had elapsed since Rodin's visit to Marshal Simon's daughters. +Shortly after he had been expelled, the Princess de Saint-Dizier had +entered to see them, under the cloak of being a house-to-house visitor to +collect funds for the cholera sufferers. + +Choosing the moment when Dagobert, deceived by her lady-like demeanor, +had withdrawn, she counselled the twins that it was their duty to go and +see their governess, whom she stated to be in the hospital we now +describe. + +It was about ten o'clock in the morning. The persons who had watched +during the night by the sick people, in the hospital established in the +Rue du Mont-Blanc, were about to be relieved by other voluntary +assistants. + +"Well, gentlemen," said one of those newly arrived, "how are we getting +on? Has there been any decrease last night in the number of the sick?" + +"Unfortunately, no; but the doctors think the contagion has reached its +height." + +Then there is some hope of seeing it decrease." + +"And have any of the gentlemen, whose places we come to take, been +attacked by the disease?" + +"We came eleven strong last night; we are only nine now." + +"That is bad. Were these two persons taken off rapidly?" + +"One of the victims, a young man of twenty-five years of age, a cavalry +officer on furlough, was struck as it were by lightning. In less than a +quarter of an hour he was dead. Though such facts are frequent, we were +speechless with horror." + +"Poor young man!" + +"He had a word of cordial encouragement and hope for every, one. He had +so far succeeded in raising the spirits of the patients, that some of +them who were less affected by the cholera than by the fear of it, were +able to quit the hospital nearly well." + +"What a pity! So good a young man! Well, he died gloriously; it requires +as much courage as on the field of battle." + +"He had only one rival in zeal and courage, and that is a Young priest, +with an angelic countenance, whom they call the Abbe Gabriel. He is +indefatigable; he hardly takes an hour's rest, but runs from one to the +other, and offers himself to everybody. He forgets nothing. The +consolation; which he offers come from the depths of his soul, and are +not mere formalities in the way of his profession. No, no, I saw him +weep over a poor woman, whose eyes he had closed after a dreadful agony. +Oh, if all priests were like him!" + +"No doubt, a good priest is most worthy of respect. But! who is the +other victim of last night?" + +"Oh! his death was frightful. Do not speak of it. I have still the +horrible scene before my eyes." + +"A sudden attack of cholera?" + +"If it had only been the contagion, I should not so shudder at the +remembrance." + +"What then did he die of?" + +"It is a string of horrors. Three days ago, they brought here a man, who +was supposed to be only attacked with cholera. You have no doubt heard +speak of this personage. He is the lion-tamer, that drew all Paris to +the Porte-Saint-Martin." + +"I know the man you mean. Called Morok. He performed a kind of play +with a tame panther." + +"Exactly so; I was myself present at a similar scene, which a stranger, +an Indian, in consequence of a wager, was said at the time, jumped upon +the stage and killed the panther." + +"Well, this Morok, brought here as a cholera-patient, and indeed with all +the symptoms of the contagion, soon showed signs of a still more +frightful malady." + +"And this was--" + +"Hydrophobia." + +"Did he become mad?" + +"Yes; he confessed, that he had been bitten a few days before by one of +the mastiffs in his menagerie; unfortunately, we only learnt this +circumstance after the terrible attack, which cost the life of the poor +fellow we deplore." + +"How did it happen, then?" + +"Morok was in a room with three other patients. Suddenly seized with a +sort of furious delirium, he rose, uttering ferocious cries, and rushed +raving mad into the passage. Our poor friend made an attempt to stop +him. This kind of resistance increased the frenzy of Morok, who threw +himself on the man that crossed his path, and, tearing him with his +teeth, fell down in horrible convulsions." + +"Oh! you are right. 'Twas indeed frightful. And, not withstanding every +assistance this victim of Morok's--" + +"Died during the night, in dreadful agony; for the shock had been so +violent, that brain-fever almost instantly declared itself." + +"And is Morok dead?" + +"I do not know. He was to be taken to another hospital, after being fast +bound in the state of weakness which generally succeeds the fit. But, +till he can be removed he has been confined in a room upstairs." + +"But he cannot recover." + +"I should think he must be dead by this time. The doctors did not give +him twenty-four hours to live." + +The persons engaged in this conversation were standing in an ante-chamber +on the ground-floor, in which usually assembled those who came to offer +their voluntary aid to the sick. One door of this room communicated with +the rest of the hospital, and the other with the passage that opened upon +the courtyard. + +"Dear me!" said one of the two speakers, looking through the window. +"See what two charming girls have just got out of that elegant carriage. +How much alike they are! Such a resemblance is indeed extraordinary." + +"No doubt they are twins. Poor young girls! dressed in Mourning. They +have perhaps lost father or mother." + +"One would imagine they are coming this way." + +"Yes, they are coming up the steps." + +And indeed Rose and Blanche soon entered the antechamber, with a timid, +anxious air, though a sort of feverish excitement was visible in their +looks. One of the two men that were talking together, moved by the +embarrassment of the girls, advanced toward them, and said, in a tone of +attentive politeness: "Is there anything I can do for you, ladies?" + +"Is not this, sir," replied Rose, "the infirmary of the Rue du Mont- +Blanc?" + +"Yes, miss." + +"A lady, called Madame Augustine du Tremblay, was brought here, we are +told, about two days ago. Could we see her?" + +"I would observe to you, miss, that there is some danger in entering the +sick-wards." + +It is a dear friend that we wish to see," answered Rose, in a mild and +firm tone, which sufficiently expressed that she was determined to brave +the danger. + +"I cannot be sure, miss," resumed the other, "that the person you seek is +here; but, if you will take the trouble to walk into this room on the +left, you will find there the good Sister Martha; she has the care of the +women's wards, and will give you all the information you can desire." + +"Thank you, sir," said Blanche, with a graceful bow; and she and her +sister entered together the apartment which had been pointed out to them. + +"They are really charming," said the man, looking after the two sisters, +who soon disappeared from his view. "It would be a great pity if--" + +He was unable to finish. A frightful tumult, mingled with cries of alarm +and horror, rose suddenly from the adjoining rooms. Almost instantly, +two doors were thrown open, and a number of the sick, half-naked, pale, +fleshless, and their features convulsed with terror, rushed into the +antechamber, exclaiming: "Help! help! the madman!" It is impossible to +paint the scene of despairing and furious confusion which followed this +panic of so many affrighted wretches, flying to the only other door, to +escape from the perils they dreaded, and there, struggling and trampling +on each other to pass through the narrow entrance. + +At the moment when the last of these unhappy creatures succeeded in +reaching the door, dragging himself along upon his bleeding hands, for he +had been thrown down and almost crushed in the confusion--Morok, the +object of so much terror--Morok himself appeared. He was a horrible +sight. With the exception of a rag bound about his middle, his wan form +was entirely naked, and from his bare legs still hung the remnants of the +cords he had just broken. His thick, yellow hair stood almost on end, +his beard bristled, his savage eyes rolled full of blood in their orbits, +and shone with a glassy brightness; his lips were covered with foam; from +time to time, he uttered hoarse, guttural cries. The veins, visible on +his iron limbs were swollen almost to bursting. He bounded like a wild +beast, and stretched out before him his bony and quivering hands. At the +moment Morok reached the doorway, by which those he pursued made their +escape, some persons, attracted by the noise, managed to close this door +from without, whilst others secured that which communicated with the +sick-ward. + +Morok thus found himself a prisoner. He ran to the window to force it +open, and threw himself into the courtyard. But, stopping suddenly, he +drew back from the glittering panes, seized with that invincible horror +which all the victims of hydrophobia feel at the sight of any shining +object, particularly glass. The unfortunate creatures whom he had +pursued, saw him from the courtyard exhausting himself in furious efforts +to open the doors that just had been closed upon him. Then, perceiving +the inutility of his attempts, he uttered savage cries, and rushed +furiously round the room, like a wild beast that seeks in vain to escape +from its cage. + +But, suddenly, those spectators of this scene, who had approached nearest +to the window, uttered a loud exclamation of fear and anguish. Morok had +perceived the little door which led to the closet occupied by Sister +Martha, where Rose and Blanche had entered a few minutes before. Hoping +to get out by this way, Morok drew the door violently towards him, and +succeeded in half opening it, notwithstanding the resistance he +experienced from the inside. For an instant the affrighted crowd saw the +stiffened arms Of Sister Martha and the orphans, clinging to the door, +and holding it back with all their might. + + + + +CHAPTER LVI. + +HYDROPHOBIA. + +When the sick people, assembled in the courtyard, saw the desperate +efforts of Morok to force the door of the room which contained Sister +Martha and the orphans, their fright redoubled. "It is all over, Sister +Martha!" cried they. + +"The door will give way." + +"And the closet has no other entrance." + +"There are two young girls in mourning with her." + +"Come! we must not leave these poor women to encounter the madman. +Follow me, friends!" cried generously one of the spectators, who was +still blessed with health, and he rushed towards the steps to return to +the ante-chamber. + +"It's too late! it's only exposing yourself in vain," cried many persons, +holding him back by force. + +At this moment, voices were heard, exclaiming: "Here is the Abbe +Gabriel." + +"He is coming downstairs. He has heard the noise." + +"He is asking what is the matter." + +"What will he do?" + +Gabriel, occupied with a dying person in a neighboring room, had, indeed, +just learned that Morok, having broken his bonds, had succeeded in +escaping from the chamber in which he had been temporarily confined. +Foreseeing the terrible dangers which might result from the escape of the +lion-tamer, the missionary consulted only his courage, and hastened down, +in the hope of preventing greater misfortunes. In obedience to his +orders, an attendant followed him, bearing a brazier full of hot cinders, +on which lay several irons, at a white heat, used by the doctors for +cauterizing, in desperate cases of cholera. + +The angelic countenance of Gabriel was very pale; but calm intrepidity +shone upon his noble brow. Hastily crossing the passage, and making his +way through the crowd, he went straight to the ante-chamber door. As he +approached it, one of the sick people said to him, in a lamentable voice; +"Ah, sir! it is all over. Those who can see through the window say that +Sister Martha is lost." + +Gabriel made no answer, but grasped the key of the door. Before entering +the room, however, he turned to the attendant, and said to him in a firm +voice: "Are the irons of a white heat?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Then wait here, and be ready. As for you, my friends," he added, +turning to some of the sick, who shuddered with terror, "as soon as I +enter shut the door after me. I will answer for the rest. And you; +friend, only bring your irons when I call." + +And the young missionary turned the key in the lock. At this juncture, a +cry of alarm, pity, and admiration rose from every lip, and the +spectators drew back from the door, with an involuntary feeling of fear. +Raising his eyes to heaven, as if to invoke its assistance at this +terrible moment, Gabriel pushed open the door, and immediately closed it +behind him. He was alone with Morok. + +The lion-tamer, by a last furious effort, had almost succeeded in opening +the door, to which Sister Martha and the orphans were clinging, in a fit +of terror, uttering piercing cries. At the sound of Gabriel's footsteps, +Morok turned round suddenly. Then, instead of continuing his attack on +the closet, he sprang, with a roar and a bound, upon the new-comer. + +During this time, Sister Martha and the orphans, not knowing the cause of +the sudden retreat of their assailant, took advantage of the opportunity +to close and bolt the door, and thus placed themselves in security from a +new attack. Morok, with haggard eye, and teeth convulsively clinched, +had rushed upon Gabriel, his hands extended to seize him by the throat. +The missionary stood the shock valiantly. Guessing, at a glance, the +intention of his adversary, he seized him by the wrists as he advanced, +and, holding him back, bent him down violently with a vigorous hand. For +a second, Morok and Gabriel remained mute, breathless, motionless, gazing +on each other; then the missionary strove to conquer the efforts of the +madman, who, with violent jerks, attempted to throw himself upon him, and +to seize and tear him with his teeth. + +Suddenly the lion-tamer's strength seemed to fail, his knees quivered, +his livid head sank upon his shoulder, his eyes closed. The missionary, +supposing that a momentary weakness had succeeded to the fit of rage, and +that the wretch was about to fall, relaxed his hold in order to lend him +assistance. But no sooner did he feel himself at liberty, thanks to his +crafty device, than Morok flung himself furiously upon Gabriel. +Surprised by this sudden attack, the latter stumbled, and at once felt +himself clasped into the iron arms of the madman. Yet, with redoubled +strength and energy, struggling breast to breast, foot to foot, the +missionary in his turn succeeded in tripping up his adversary, and, +throwing him with a vigorous effort, again seized his hands, and now held +him down beneath his knee. Having thus completely mastered him, Gabriel +turned his head to call for assistance, when Morok, by a desperate +strain, succeeded in raising himself a little, and seized with his teeth +the left arm of the missionary. At this sharp, deep, horrible bite, +which penetrated to the very bone, Gabriel could not restrain a scream of +anguish and horror. He strove in vain to disengage himself, for his arm +was held fast, as in a vice, between the firm-set jaws of Morok. + +This frightful scene had lasted less time than it has taken in the +description, when suddenly the door leading to the passage was violently +opened, and several courageous men, who had learned from the patients to +what danger the young priest was exposed, came rushing to his assistance, +in spite of his recommendation not to enter till he should call. The +attendant was amongst the number, with the brazier and the hot irons. +Gabriel, as soon as he perceived him, said to him in an agitated voice: +"Quick, friend! your iron. Thank God I had thought of that." + +One of the men who had entered the room was luckily provided with a +blanket; and the moment the missionary succeeded in wresting his arm from +the clinched teeth of Morok, whom he still held down with his knee, this +blanket was thrown over the madman's head, so that he could now be held +and bound without danger, notwithstanding his desperate resistance. Then +Gabriel rose, tore open the sleeve of his cassock, and laying bare his +left arm, on which a deep bite was visible, bleeding, of a bluish color, +he beckoned the attendant to draw near, seized one of the hot irons, and, +with a firm and sure hand, twice applied the burning metal to the wound, +with a calm heroism which struck all the spectators, with admiration. +But soon so many various emotions, intrepidly sustained, were followed by +a natural reaction. Large drops of sweat stood upon Gabriel's brow; his +long light hair clung to his temples; he grew deadly pale, reeled, lost +his senses, and was carried into the next room to receive immediate +attention. + +An accidental circumstance, likely enough to occur, had converted one of +the Princess de Saint-Dizier's falsehoods into a truth. To induce the +orphans to go to the hospital, she had told them Gabriel was there, which +at the time she was far from believing. On the contrary, she would have +wished to prevent a meeting, which, from the attachment of the missionary +to the girls, might interfere with her projects. A little while after +the terrible scene we have just related, Rose and Blanche, accompanied by +Sister Martha, entered a vast room, of a strange and fatal aspect, +containing a number of women who had suddenly been seized with cholera. + +These immense apartments, generously supplied for the purpose of a +temporary hospital, had been furnished with excessive luxury. The room +now occupied by the sick women, of whom we speak, had been used for a +ball-room. The white panels glittered with sumptuous gilding, and +magnificent pier-glasses occupied the spaces between the windows, through +which could be seen the fresh verdure of a pleasant garden, smiling +beneath the influence of budding May. In the midst of all this gilded +luxury, on a rich, inlaid floor of costly woods, were seen arranged in +regular order four rows of beds, of every shape and kind, from the humble +truckle-bed to the handsome couch in carved mahogany. + +This long room was divided into two compartments by a temporary +partition, four or five feet in height. They had thus been able to +manage the four rows of beds. This partition finished at some little +distance from either end of the room, so as to leave an open space +without beds, for the volunteer attendants, when the sick did not require +their aid. At one of these extremities of the room was a lofty and +magnificent marble chimney piece, ornamented with gilt bronze. On the +fire beneath, various drinks were brewing for the patients. To complete +the singular picture, women of every class took their turns in attending +upon the sick, to whose sighs and groans they always responded with +consoling words of hope and pity. Such was the place, strange and +mournful, that Rose and Blanche entered together, hand in hand, a short +time after Gabriel had displayed such heroic courage in the struggle +against Morok. Sister Martha accompanied Marshal Simon's daughters. +After speaking a few words to them in a whisper, she pointed out to them +the two divisions in which the beds were arranged, and herself went to +the other end of the room to give some orders. + +The orphans, still under the impression of the terrible danger from which +Gabriel had rescued them without their knowing it, were both excessively +pale; yet their eyes were expressive of firm resolution. They had +determined not only to perform what they considered an imperative duty, +but to prove themselves worthy of their valiant father; they were acting +too for their mother's sake, since they had been told that, dying in +Siberia without receiving the sacrament, her eternal felicity might +depend on the proofs they gave of Christian devotion. Need we add that +the Princess de Saint-Dizier, following the advice of Rodin, had, in a +second interview, skillfully brought about without the knowledge of +Dagobert, taken advantage of the excitable qualities of these poor, +confiding, simple, and generous souls, by a fatal exaggeration of the +most noble and courageous sentiments. The orphans having asked Sister +Martha if Madame Augustine du Tremblay had been brought to this asylum +within the last three days, that person had answered, that she really did +not know, but, if they would go through the women's wards, it would be +easy for them to ascertain. For the abominable hypocrite, who, in +conjunction with Rodin, had sent these two children to encounter a mortal +peril, had told an impudent falsehood when she affirmed that their +governess had been removed to this hospital. During their exile, and +their toilsome journey with Dagobert, the sisters had been exposed to +many hard trials. But never had they witnessed so sad a spectacle as +that which now offered itself to their view. + +The long row of beds, on which so many poor creatures writhed in agony, +some uttering deep groans, some only a dull rattle in the throat, some +raving in the delirium of fever, or calling on those from whom they were +about to part forever--these frightful sights and sounds, which are too +much even for brave men, would inevitably, (such was the execrable design +of Rodin and his accomplices) make a fatal impression on these young +girls, urged by the most generous motives to undertake this perilous +visit. And then--sad memory! which awoke, in all its deep and poignant +bitterness, by the side of the first beds they came to--it was of this +very malady, the Cholera, that their mother had died a painful death. +Fancy the twins entering this vast room, of so fearful an aspect, and, +already much shaken by the terror which Morok had inspired, pursuing +their search in the midst of these unfortunate creatures, whose dying +pangs reminded them every instant of the dying agony of their mother! +For a moment, at sight of the funeral hall, Rose and Blanche had felt +their resolution fail them. A black presentiment made them regret their +heroic imprudence; and, moreover, since several minutes they had begun to +feel an icy shudder, and painful shootings across the temples; but, +attributing these symptoms to the fright occasioned by Morok, their good +and valiant natures soon stifled all these fears. They exchanged glances +of affection, their courage revived, and both of them--Rose on one side +of the partition, and Blanche on the other--proceeded with their painful +task. Gabriel, carried to the doctors' private room, had soon recovered +his senses. Thanks to his courage and presence of mind, his wound, +cauterized in time, could have no dangerous consequences. As soon as it +was dressed he insisted on returning to the women's ward, where he had be +offering pious consolations to a dying person at the moment they had come +to inform him of the frightful danger caused by the escape of Morok. + +A few minutes before the missionary entered the room, Rose and Blanche +arrived almost together at the term of their mournful search, one from +the left, the other from the right-hand row of beds, separated by the +partition which divided the hall into compartments. The sisters had not +yet seen each other. Their steps tottered as they advanced, and they +were forced, from time to time, to lean against the beds as they passed +along. Their strength was--rapidly failing them. Giddy with fear and +pain, they appeared to act almost mechanically. Alas! the orphans had +been seized almost at the same moment with the terrible symptoms of +cholera. In consequence of that species of physiological phenomenon, of +which we have already spoken--a phenomenon by no means rare in twins, +which had already been displayed on one or two occasions of their +sickness--their organizations seemed liable to the same sensations, the +same simultaneous accidents, like two flowers on one stem, which bloom +and fade together. The sight of so much suffering, and so many deaths, +had accelerated the development of this dreadful disease. Already, on +their agitated and altered countenances, they bore the mortal tokens of +the contagion, as they came forth, each on her own side, from the two +subdivisions of the room in which they had vainly sought their governess. +Until now separated by the partition, Rose and Blanche had not yet seen +each other; but, when at length their eyes met, there ensued a heart- +rending scene. + + + + +CHAPTER LVII. + +THE GUARDIAN ANGEL. + +To the charming freshness of the sisters' faces had succeeded a livid +pallor. Their large blue eyes, now hollow and sunk in, appeared of +enormous dimensions. Their lips, once so rosy, were now suffused with a +violet hue, and a similar color was gradually displacing the transparent +carmine of their cheeks and fingers. It was as if all the roses in their +charming countenances were fading and turning blue before the icy blast +of death. + +When the orphans met, tottering and hardly able to sustain themselves, a +cry of mutual horror burst from their lips. Each of them exclaimed, at +sight of the fearful change in her sister's features. "Are you also ill, +sister?" And then, bursting into tears, they threw themselves into each +other's arms, and looked anxiously at one another. + +"Good heaven, Rose! how pale you are!" + +"Like you, sister." + +"And do you feel a cold shudder?" + +"Yes, and my sight fails me." + +"My bosom is all on fire." + +"Sister, we are perhaps going to die." + +"Let it only be together!" + +"And our poor father?" + +"And Dagobert?" + +"Sister, our dream has come true!" cried Rose, almost deliriously, as she +threw her arms round Blanche's neck. "Look! look! the Angel Gabriel is +here to fetch us." + +Indeed, at this moment, Gabriel entered the open space at the end of the +room. "Heaven! what do I see?" cried the young priest. "The daughters +of Marshal Simon!" + +And, rushing forward, he received the sisters in his arms, for they were +no longer able to stand. Already their drooping heads, their half-closed +eyes, their painful and difficult breathing, announced the approach of +death. Sister Martha was close at hand. She hastened to respond to the +call of Gabriel. Aided by this pious woman, he was able to lift the +orphans upon a bed reserved for the doctor in attendance. For fear that +the sight of this mournful agony should make too deep an impression on +the other patients, Sister Martha drew a large curtain, and the sisters +were thus in some sort walled off from the rest of the room. Their hands +had been so tightly clasped together, during a nervous paroxysm, that it +was impossible to separate them. It was in this position that the first +remedies were applied--remedies incapable of conquering the violence of +the disease, but which at least mitigated for a few moments the excessive +pains they suffered, and restored some faint glimmer of perception to +their obscured and troubled senses. At this moment, Gabriel was leaning +over the bed with a look of inexpressible grief. With breaking heart, +and face bathed in tears, he thought of the strange destiny, which thus +made him a witness of the death of these girls, his relations, whom but a +few months before he had rescued from the horrors of the tempest. In +spite of his firmness of soul, the missionary could not help shuddering +as he reflected on the fate of the orphans, the death of Jacques +Rennepont, and the fearful devices by which M. Hardy, retired to the +cloistered solitude of St. Herein, had become a member of the Society of +Jesus almost in dying. The missionary said to himself, that already four +members of the Rennepont family--his family--had been successively struck +down by some dreadful fate; and he asked himself with alarm, how it was +that the detestable interests of the Society of Loyola should be served +by a providential fatality? The astonishment of the young missionary +would have given place to the deepest horror, could he have known the +part that Rodin and his accomplices had taken, both in the death of +Jacques Rennepont, by exciting, through Morok, the evil propensities of +the artisan, and in the approaching end of Rose and Blanche, by +converting, through the Princess de Saint-Dizier, the generous +inspirations of the orphans into suicidal heroism. + +Roused for a moment from the painful stupor in which they had been +plunged, Rose and Blanche half-opened their large eyes, already dull and +faded. Then, more and more bewildered they both gazed fixedly at the +angelic countenance of Gabriel. + +"Sister," said Rose, in a faint voice, "do you see the archangel--as in +our dreams, in Germany?" + +"Yes--three days ago--he appeared to us." + +"He is come to fetch us." + +"Alas! will our death save our poor mother from purgatory?" + +"Angel! blessed angel! pray God for our mother--and for us!" Until now, +stupefied with amazement and sorrow, almost suffocated with sobs, Gabriel +had not been able to utter a word. But at these words of the orphans, he +exclaimed: "Dear children, why doubt of your mother's salvation? Oh! +never did a purer soul ascend to its Creator. Your mother? I know from +my adopted father, that her virtues and courage were the admiration of +all who knew her. Oh! believe me; God has blessed her." + +"Do you hear, sister?" cried Rose, as a ray of celestial joy illumined +for an instant the livid faces of the orphans. "God has blessed our +mother." + +"Yes, yes," resumed Gabriel; "banish these gloomy ideas. Take courage, +poor children! You must not die. Think of your father." + +"Our father?" said Blanche, shuddering; and she continued, with a mixture +of reason and wild excitement, which would have touched the soul of the +most indifferent: "Alas! he will not find us on his return. Forgive us, +father! we did not think to do any harm. We wished, like you, to do +something generous--to help our governess." + +"And we did not think to die so quickly, and so soon. Yesterday, we were +gay and happy." + +"Oh, good angel! you will appear to our father, even as you have appeared +to us. You will tell him that, in dying--the last thought of his +children--was of him." + +"We came here without Dagobert's knowing it--do not let our father scold +him." + +"Blessed angel!" resumed the other sister in a still more feeble voice; +"appear to Dagobert, also. Tell him, that we ask his forgiveness, for +the grief our death will occasion him." + +"And let our old friend caress our poor Spoil-sport for us--our faithful +guardian," added Blanche, trying to smile. + +"And then," resumed Rose, in a voice that was growing still fainter, +"promise to appear to two other persons, that have been so kind to us-- +good Mother Bunch--and the beautiful Lady Adrienne." + +"We forget none whom we have loved," said Blanche, with a last effort. +"Now, God grant we may go to our mother, never to leave her more!" + +"You promised it good angel--you know you did--in the dream. You said to +us: `Poor children--come from so far--you will have traversed the earth-- +to rest on the maternal bosom!'" + +"Oh! it is dreadful--dreadful! So young--and no hope!" murmured Gabriel, +as he buried his face in his hands. "Almighty Father! Thy views are +impenetrable. Alas! yet why should these children die this cruel death?" + +Rose heaved a deep sigh and said in an expiring tone: "Let us be buried +together!--united in life, in death not divided--" + +And the two turned their dying looks upon Gabriel, and stretched out +towards him their supplicating hands. + +"Oh, blessed martyrs to a generous devotion!" cried the missionary, +raising to heaven his eyes streaming with tears. "Angelic souls! +treasures of innocence and truth! ascend, ascend to heaven--since God +calls you to him, and the earth is not worthy to possess you!" + +"Sister! father!" were the last words that the orphans pronounced with +their dying voices. + +And then the twins, by a last instinctive impulse, endeavored to clasp +each other, and their eyes half-opened to exchange yet another glance. +They shuddered twice or thrice, their limbs stiffened, a deep sigh +struggled from their violet-colored lips. Rose and Blanche were both +dead! Gabriel and Sister Martha, after closing the eyes of the orphans, +knelt down to pray by the side of that funeral couch. Suddenly a great +tumult was heard in the room. Rapid footsteps, mingled with +imprecations, sounded close at hand, the curtain was drawn aside from +this mournful scene, and Dagobert entered precipitately, pale, haggard, +his dress in disorder. At sight of Gabriel and the Sister of Charity +kneeling beside the corpses of his children, the soldier uttered a +terrible roar, and tried to advance--but in vain--for, before Gabriel +could reach him, Dagobert fell flat on the ground, and his gray head +struck violently on the floor. + +It is night--a dark and stormy night. One o'clock in the morning has +just sounded from the church of Montmartre. It is to the cemetery of +Montmartre that is carried the coffin which, according to the last wishes +of Rose and Blanche contains them both. Through the thick shadow, which +rests upon that field of death, may be seen moving a pale light. It is +the gravedigger. He advances with caution; a dark lantern is in his +hand. A man wrapped in a cloak accompanies him. He holds down his head +and weeps. It is Samuel. The old Jew--the keeper of the house in the +Rue Saint-Francois. On the night of the funeral of Jacques Rennepont, +the first who died of the seven heirs, and who was buried in another +cemetery, Samuel had a similar mysterious interview with the gravedigger, +to obtain a favor at the price of gold. A strange and awful favor! +After passing down several paths, bordered with cypress trees, by the +side of many tombs, the Jew and the gravedigger arrived, at a little +glade, situated near the western wall of the cemetery. The night was so +dark, that scarcely anything could be seen. After moving his lantern up +and down, and all about, the gravedigger showed Samuel, at the foot of a +tall yew-tree, with long black branches, a little mound of newly-raised +earth, and said: "It is here." + +"You are sure of it?" + +"Yes, yes--two bodies in one coffin! it is not such a common thing." + +"Alas! two in the same coffin!" said the Jew, with a deep sigh. + +"Now that you know the place, what do you want more?" asked the +gravedigger. + +Samuel did not answer. He fell on his knees, and piously kissed the +little mound. Then rising, with his cheeks bathed in tears, he +approached the gravedigger, and spoke to him for some moments in a +whisper--though they were alone, and in the centre of that deserted +place. Then began between those two men a mysterious dialogue, which the +night enveloped in shade and silence. The gravedigger, alarmed at what +Samuel asked him, at first refused his request. + +But the Jew, employing persuasions, entreaties, tears, and at last the +seduction of the jingling gold, succeeded in conquering the scruples of +the gravedigger. Though the latter trembled at the thought of what he +promised, he said to Samuel in an agitated tone: "To-morrow night, then, +at two o'clock." + +"I shall be behind the wall," answered Samuel, pointing out the place +with the aid of a lantern. "I will throw three stones into the cemetery, +for a signal." + +"Yes, three stones--as a signal," replied the gravedigger shuddering, and +wiping the cold sweat from his forehead. + +With considerable remains of vigor, notwithstanding his great age, Samuel +availed himself of the broken surface of the low wall, and climbing over +it, soon disappeared. The gravedigger returned home with hasty strides. +From time to time, he looked fearfully behind him, as though he had been +pursued by some fatal vision. + +On the evening after the funeral of Rose and Blanche, Rodin wrote two +letters. The first, addressed to his mysterious correspondent at Rome, +alluded to the deaths of Jacques Rennepont, and Rose and Blanche Simon, +as well as to the cession of M. Hardy's property, and the donation +of Gabriel--events which reduced the claimants of the inheritance to two- +-Mdlle. de Cardoville and Djalma. This first note written by Rodin for +Rome, contained only the following words: "Five from seven leaves two. +Announce this result to the Cardinal-Prince. Let him go on. I advance- +advance-advance!" The second note, in a feigned hand, was addressed to +Marshal Simon, to be delivered by a sure messenger, contained these few +lines: "If there is yet time, make haste to return. Your daughters are +both dead. You shall learn who killed them." + + + + +CHAPTER LVIII. + +RUIN. + +It is the day after the death of Marshal Simon's daughters. Mdlle. de +Cardoville is yet ignorant of the sad end of her young relatives. Her +countenance is radiant with happiness, and never has she looked more +beautiful; her eye has never been more brilliant, her complexion more +dazzling white, her lip of a richer coral. According to her somewhat +eccentric custom of dressing herself in her own house in a picturesque +style, Adrienne wears to-day, though it is about three o'clock in the +afternoon, a pale green watered-silk dress, with a very full skirt, the +sleeves and bodice slashed with rose-colored ribbon, and adorned with +white bugle-beads, of exquisite workmanship; while a slender network, +also of white bugle-beads, concealing the thick plait of Adrienne's back- +hair, forms an oriental head-dress of charming originality, and contrasts +agreeably with the long curls which fall in front almost to the swell of +the bosom. To the expression of indescribable happiness which marks the +features of Mdlle. de Cardoville, is added a certain resolute, cutting, +satirical air, which is not habitual to her. Her charming head, and +graceful, swan-like neck, are raised in an attitude of defiance; her +small, rose-colored nostrils seem to dilate with ill-repressed ardor, and +she waits with haughty impatience for the moment of an aggressive and +ironical interview. Not far from Adrienne is Mother Bunch. She has +resumed in the house the place which she at first occupied. The young +sempstress is in mourning for her sister, but her countenance is +expressive of a mild, calm sorrow. She looks at Mdlle. de Cardoville +with surprise; for never, till now, has she seen the features of the fair +patrician impressed with such a character of ironical audacity. Mdlle. +de Cardoville was exempt from the slightest coquetry, in the narrow and +ordinary sense of the word. Yet she now cast an inquiring look at the +glass before which she was standing, and, having restored the elastic +smoothness to one of her long, golden curls, by rolling it for a moment +round her ivory finger, she carefully effaced with her hands some almost +imperceptible folds, which had formed themselves in the thick material of +her elegant corsage. This movement, and that of turning her back to the +glass, to see if her dress sat perfectly on all points, revealed, in +serpentine undulations, all the charms and graces of her light and +elegant figure; for, in spite of the rich fulness of her shoulders, white +and firm as sculptured alabaster, Adrienne belonged to that class of +privileged persons, who are able at need to make a girdle out of a +garter. + +Having performed, with indescribable grace, these charming evolutions of +feminine coquetry, Adrienne turned towards Mother Bunch, whose surprise +was still on the increase, and said to her, smiling: "My dear Magdalen, +do not laugh at my question--but what would you say to a picture, that +should represent me as I am now?" + +"Why, lady--" + +"There you are again, with your lady-ing," said Adrienne, in a tone of +gentle reproach. + +"Well, then, Adrienne," resumed Mother Bunch, "I think it would be a +charming picture, for you are dressed, as usual with perfect taste." + +"But am I not better dressed than on other days, my dear poetess? I +began by telling you that I do not ask the question for my own sake," +said Adrienne, gayly. + +"Well, I suppose so," replied Mother Bunch, with a faint smile. "It is +certainly impossible to imagine anything that would suit you better. The +light green and the pale rose-color, with the soft lustre of the white +ornaments, harmonize so well with your golden hair, that I cannot +conceive, I tell you, a more graceful picture." + +The speaker felt what she said, and she was happy to be able to express +it, for we know the intense admiration of that poetic soul for all that +was beautiful. + +"Well!" went on Adrienne, gayly, "I am glad, my dear, that you find me +better dressed than usual." + +"Only," said the hunchback, hesitating. + +"Only?" repeated Adrienne, looking at her with an air of interrogation. + +"Why, only," continued the other, "if I have never seen you look more +pretty, I have also never observed in your features the resolute and +ironical expression which they had just now. It was like an air of +impatient defiance." + +"And so it was, my dear little Magdalen," said Adrienne, throwing her +arms round the girl's neck with joyous tenderness. "I must kiss you, for +having guessed it. You see, I expect a visit from my dear aunt." + +"The Princess de Saint-Dizier?" cried Mother Bunch, in alarm. "That +wicked lady, who did you so much evil?" + +"The very same. She has asked for an interview, and I shall be delighted +to receive her." + +"Delighted?" + +"Yes--a somewhat ironical and malicious delight, it is true," answered +Adrienne, still more gayly. "You shall judge for yourself. She regrets +her gallantries, her beauty, her youth--even her size afflicts the holy +woman!--and she will see me young, fair, beloved--and above all thin-- +yes, thin," added Mdlle. de Cardoville, laughing merrily. "And you may +imagine, my dear, how much envy and despair, the sight of a young, thin +woman excites in a stout one of a certain age!" + +"My friend," said Mother Bunch, gravely, "you speak in jest. And yet, I +know not why, the coming of this princess alarms me." + +"Dear, gentle soul, be satisfied!" answered Adrienne, affectionately. "I +do not fear this woman--I no longer have any fear of her--and to prove it +to her confusion, I will treat her--a monster of hypocrisy and +wickedness, who comes here, no doubt, on some abominable design--I will +treat her as an inoffensive, ridiculous fat woman!" And Adrienne again +laughed. + +A servant here entered the room, and interrupted the mirth of Adrienne, +by saying: "The Princess de Saint-Dizier wishes to know if you can +receive her?" + +"Certainly," said Mdlle. de Cardoville; and the servant retired. Mother +Bunch was about to rise and quit the room; but Adrienne held her back, +and said to her, taking her hand with an air of serious tenderness: +"Stay, my dear friend, I entreat you." + +"Do you wish it?" + +"Yes; I wish--still in revenge, you know," said Adrienne, with a smile, +"to prove to her highness of Saint-Dizier, that I have an affectionate +friend--that I have, in fact, every happiness." + +"But, Adrienne," replied the other, timidly, "consider--" + +"Silence! here is the princess. Remain! I ask it as a favor. The +instinct of your heart will discover any snare she may have laid. Did +not your affection warn me of the plots of Rodin?" + +Mother Bunch could not refuse such a request. She remained, but was +about to draw back from the fireplace. Adrienne, however, took her by +the hand, and made her resume her seat in the arm-chair, saying: "My dear +Magdalen, keep your place. You owe nothing to the lady. With me it is +different; she comes to my house." + +Hardly had Adrienne uttered these words, than the princess entered with +head erect, and haughty air (we have said, she could carry herself most +loftily), and advanced with a firm step. The strongest minds have their +side of puerile weakness; a savage envy, excited by the elegance, wit, +and beauty of Adrienne, bore a large part in the hatred of the princess +for her niece; and though it was idle to think of eclipsing Adrienne, and +the Princess de Saint-Dizier did not seriously mean to attempt it, she +could not forbear, in preparing for the interview she had demanded, +taking more pains even than usual in the arrangement of her dress. +Beneath her robe of shot silk, she was laced in and tightened to excess-- +a pressure which considerably increased the color in her cheeks. The +throng of jealous and hateful sentiments, which inspired her with regard +to Adrienne, had so troubled the clearness of her ordinarily calm +judgment, that, instead of the plain and quiet style, in which, as a +woman of tact and taste, she was generally attired, she now committed the +folly of wearing a dress of changing hues, and a crimson hat, adorned +with a magnificent bird of paradise. Hate, envy, the pride of triumph-- +for she thought of the skillful perfidy with which she had sent to almost +certain death the daughters of Marshal Simon--and the execrable hope of +succeeding in new plots, were all expressed in the countenance of the +Princess de Saint-Dizier, as she entered her niece's apartment. + +Without advancing to meet her aunt, Adrienne rose politely from the sofa +on which she was seated, made a half-curtsey, full of grace and dignity, +and immediately resumed her former posture. Then, pointing to an arm- +chair near the fireplace, at one corner of which sat Mother Bunch, and +she herself at the other, she said: "Pray sit down, your highness." The +princess turned very red, remained standing, and cast a disdainful glance +of insolent surprise at the sempstress, who, in compliance with +Adrienne's wish, only bowed slightly at the entrance of the Princess de +Saint-Dizier, wihout offering to give up her place. In acting thus, the +young sempstress followed the dictates of her conscience, which told her +that the real superiority did not belong to this base, hypocritical, and +wicked princess, but rather to such a person as herself, the admirable +and devoted friend. + +"Let me beg your highness to sit down," resumed Adrienne, in a mild tone, +as she pointed to the vacant chair. + +"The interview I have demanded, niece," said the princess "must be a +private one." + +"I have no secrets, madame, from my best friend; you may speak in the +presence of this young lady." + +"I have long known," replied Madame de Saint-Dizier, with bitter irony, +"that in all things you care little for secrecy, and that you are easy in +the choice of what you call your friends. But you will permit me to act +differently from you. If you have no secrets, madame, I have--and I do +not choose to confide them to the first comer." + +So saying, the pious lady glanced contemptuously at the sempstress. The +latter, hurt at the insolent tone of the princess, answered mildly and +simply: + +"I do not see what can be the great difference between the first and the +last comer to Mdlle. de Cardoville's." + +"What! can it speak!" cried the princess, insolently. + +"It can at least answer, madame," replied Mother Bunch, in her calm +voice. + +"I wish to see you alone, niece--is that clear?" said the princess, +impatiently, to her niece. + +"I beg your pardon, but I do not quite understand your highness," said +Adrienne, with an air of surprise. "This young lady, who honors me with +her friendship, is willing to be present at this interview, which you +have asked for--I say she has consented to be present, for it needs, I +confess, the kindest condescension in her to resign herself, from +affection for me, to hear all the graceful, obliging, and charming things +which you have no doubt come hither to communicate." + +"Madame--" began the princess, angrily. + +"Permit me to interrupt your highness," returned Adrienne, in a tone of +perfect amenity, as if she were addressing the most flattering +compliments to her visitor. "To put you quite at your ease with the lady +here, I will begin by informing you that she is quite aware of all the +holy perfidies, pious wrongs, and devout infamies, of which you nearly +made me the victim. She knows that you are a mother of the Church, such +as one sees but few of in these days. May I hope, therefore, that your +highness will dispense with this delicate and interesting reserve?" + +"Really," said the princess, with a sort of incensed amazement, "I +scarcely know if I wake or sleep." + +"Dear me!" said Adrienne, in apparent alarm; "this doubt as to the state +of your faculties is very shocking, madame. I see that the blood flies +to your head, for your face sufficiently shows it; you seem oppressed, +confined, uncomfortable--perhaps (we women may say so between ourselves), +perhaps you are laced a little too tightly, madame?" + +These words, pronounced by Adrienne with an air of warm interest and +perfect simplicity, almost choked the princess with rage. She became +crimson, seated herself abruptly, and exclaimed: "Be it so, madame! I +prefer this reception to any other. It puts me at my ease, as you say." + +"Does it indeed, madame?" said Adrienne, with a smile. "You may now at +least speak frankly all that you feel, which must for you have the charm +of novelty! Confess that you are obliged to me for enabling you, even +for a moment, to lay aside that mask of piety, amiability, and goodness, +which must be so troublesome to you." + +As she listened to the sarcasms of Adrienne (an innocent and excusable +revenge, if we consider all the wrongs she had suffered), Mother Bunch +felt her heart sink within her; for she dreaded the malignity of the +princess, who replied, with the utmost calmness: "A thousand thanks, +madame, for your excellent intentions and sentiments. I appreciate them +as I ought, and I hope in a short time to prove it to you." + +"Well, madame," said Adrienne, playfully, "let us have it all at once. I +am full of impatient curiosity." + +"And yet," said the princess, feigning in her turn a bitter and ironical +delight, "you are far from having the least notion of what I am about to +announce to you." + +"Indeed! I fear that your highness's candor and modesty deceive you," +replied Adrienne, with the same mocking affability; "for there are very +few things on your part that can surprise me, madame. You must be aware +that from your highness, I am prepared for anything." + +"Perhaps, madame," said the princess, laying great stress on her words, +"if, for instance, I were to tell you that within twenty-four hours-- +suppose between this and to-morrow-thou will be reduced to poverty--" + +This was so unexpected, that Mdlle. de Cardoville started in spite of +herself, and Mother Bunch shuddered. + +"Ah, madame!" said the princess, with triumphant joy and cruel mildness, +as she watched the growing surprise of her niece, "confess that I have +astonished you a little. You were right in giving to our interview the +turn it has taken. I should have needed all sorts of circumlocution to +say to you, `Niece, to-morrow you will be as poor as you are rich to- +day.' But now I can tell you the fact quite plainly and simply." + +Recovering from her first amazement, Adrienne replied, with a calm smile, +which checked the joy of the princess: "Well, I confess frankly, madame, +that you have surprised me; I expected from you one of those black pieces +of malignity, one of those well-laid plots, in which you are known to +excel, and I did not think you would make all this fuss about such a +trifle." + +"To be ruined--completely ruined," cried the princess. "and that by to- +morrow--you that have been so prodigal, will see your house, furniture, +horses, jewels, even the ridiculous dresses of which you are so vain, all +taken from you--do you call that a trifle? You, that spend with +indifference thousands of louis, will be reduced to a pension inferior to +the wages you gave your foot-boy--do you call that a trifle?" + +To her aunt's cruel disappointment, Adrienne, who appeared quite to have +recovered her serenity was about to answer accordingly, when the door +suddenly opened, and, without being announced, Prince Djalma entered the +room. A proud and tender expression of delight beamed from the radiant +brow of Adrienne at sight of the prince, and it is impossible to describe +the look of triumphant happiness and high disdain that she cast upon the +Princess de Saint-Dizier. Djalma himself had never looked more handsome, +and never had more intense happiness been impressed on a human +countenance. The Hindoo wore a long robe of white Cashmere, adorned with +innumerable stripes of gold and purple; his turban was of the same color +and material; a magnificent figured shawl was twisted about his waist. +On seeing the Indian, whom she had not hoped to meet at Mdlle. de +Cardoville's, the Princess de Saint-Dizier could not at first conceal her +extreme surprise. It was between these four, then, that the following +scene took place. + + + + +CHAPTER LIX. + +MEMORIES. + +Djalma, having never before met the Princess de Saint-Dizier at +Adrienne's, at first appeared rather astonished at her presence. The +princess, keeping silence for a moment, contemplated with implacable +hatred and envy those two beings, both so fair and young, so loving and +happy. Suddenly she started, as if she had just remembered something of +great importance, and for some seconds she remained absorbed in thought. + +Adrienne and Djalma availed themselves of this interval to gaze fondly on +each other, with a sort of ardent idolatry, which filled their eyes with +sweet tears. Then, at a movement of the Princess de Saint-Dizier, who +seemed to rouse herself from her momentary trance, Mdlle. de Cardoville +said to the young prince, with a smile: "My dear cousin, I have to repair +an omission (voluntary, I confess, and for good reasons), in never having +before mentioned to you one of my relations, whom I have now the honor to +present to you. The Princess de Saint-Dizier!" + +Djalma bowed; but Mdlle. de Cardoville resumed, just as her aunt was +about to make some reply: "Her Highness of Saint-Dizier came very kindly +to inform me of an event which is a most fortunate one for me, and of +which I will speak to you hereafter, cousin--unless this amiable lady +should wish to deprive me of the pleasure of making such a +communication." + +The unexpected arrival of the prince, and the recollections which had +suddenly occurred to the princess, had no doubt greatly modified her +first plans: for, instead of continuing the conversation with regard to +Adrienne's threatened loss of fortune, the princess answered, with a +bland smile, that covered an odious meaning: "I should be sorry, prince, +to deprive my dear and amiable niece of the pleasure of announcing to you +the happy news to which she alludes, and which, as a near relative, I +lost no time in communicating to her. I have here some notes on this +subject, added the princess, delivering a paper to Adrienne, "which I +hope will prove, to her entire satisfaction, the reality of what I have +announced to her." + +"A thousand thanks, my dear aunt," said Adrienne, receiving the paper +with perfect indifference; "these precautions and proofs are quite +superfluous. You know that I always believe you on your word, when it +concerns your good feeling towards myself." + +Notwithstanding his ignorance of the refined perfidy and cruel politeness +of civilized life, Djalma, endowed with a tact and fineness of perception +common to most natures of extreme susceptibility, felt some degree of +mental discomfort as he listened to this exchange of false compliments. +He could not guess their full meaning, but they sounded hollow to his +ear; and moreover, whether from instinct or presentiment, he had +conceived a vague dislike for the Princess de Saint-Dizier. That pious +lady, full of the great affair in hand, was a prey to the most violent +agitation, which betrayed itself in the growing color of her cheeks, her +bitter smile, and the malicious brightness of her glance. As he gazed on +this woman, Djalma was unable to conquer his rising antipathy, and he +remained silent and attentive, whilst his handsome countenance lost +something of its former serenity. Mother Bunch also felt the influence +of a painful impression. She glanced in terror at the princess, and then +imploringly at Adrienne, as though she entreated the latter to but an end +to an interview of which the young sempstress foresaw the fatal +consequences. But, unfortunately, the Princess de Saint-Dizier was too +much interested in prolonging this conversation; and Mdlle. de +Cardoville, gathering new courage and confidence from the presence of the +man she adored, took delight in vexing the princess with the exhibition +of their happy love. + +After a short silence, the Princess de Saint-Dizier observed, in a soft +and insinuating tone: "Really, prince, you cannot think how pleased I was +to learn by public report (for people talk of nothing else, and with good +reason) of your chivalrous attachment to my dear niece; for, without +knowing it, you will extricate me from a difficult position." + +Djalma made no answer, but he looked at Mdlle. de Cardoville with a +surprised and almost sorrowful air, as if to ask what her aunt meant to +insinuate. + +The latter, not perceiving this mute interrogation, resumed as follows: +"I will express myself more clearly, prince. You can understand that, +being the nearest relative of this dear, obstinate girl, I am more or +less responsible for her conduct in the eyes of the world; and you, +prince, seem just to have arrived on purpose, from the end of the earth, +to take charge of a destiny which had caused me considerable +apprehension. It is charming, it is excellent; and I know not which most +to admire, your courage or your good fortune." The princess threw a +glance of diabolical malice at Adrienne, and awaited her answer with an +air of defiance. + +"Listen to our good aunt, my dear cousin," said the young lady, smiling +calmly. "Since our affectionate kinswoman sees you and me united and +happy, her heart is swelling with such a flood of joy, that it must run +over, and the effects will he delightful. Only have a little patience, +and you will behold them in their full beauty. I do not know," added +Adrienne, in the most natural tone, "why, in thinking of these +outpourings of our dear aunt's affection, I should remember what you told +me, cousin, of a certain viper in your country which sometimes, in a +powerless bite, breaks its fangs, and, absorbing its own venom, becomes +the victim of the poison it distills. Come, my dear aunt, you that had +so good and noble a heart, I am sure you must feel interested in the fate +of those poor vipers." + +The princess darted an implacable look at her niece, and replied, in an +agitated voice, "I do not see the object of this selection of natural +history. Do you, prince?" + +Djalma made no answer; leaning with his arm on the mantelpiece, he threw +dark and piercing glances upon the princess. His involuntary hatred of +this woman filled his heart. + +"Ah, my dear aunt!" resumed Adrienne, in a tone of self-reproach; "have I +presumed too much on the goodness of your heart? Have you not even +sympathy for vipers? For whom, then, have you any? After all, I can +very well understand it," added Adrienne, as if to herself; "vipers are +so thin. But, to lay aside these follies," she continued, gayly, as she +saw the ill-repressed rage of the pious woman, "tell us at once, my dear +aunt, all the tender things which the sight of our happiness inspires." + +"I hope to do so, my amiable niece. First, I must congratulate this dear +prince, on having come so far to take charge, in all confidence, and with +his eyes shut, of you, my poor child, whom we were obliged to confine as +mad, in order to give a decent color to your excesses. You remember the +handsome lad, that we found in your apartment. You cannot be so +faithless, as already to have forgotten his name? He was a fine, youth, +and a poet--one Agricola Baudoin--and was discovered in a secret place, +attached to your bed-chamber. All Paris was amused with the scandal--for +you are not about to marry an unknown person, dear prince; her name has +been in every mouth." + +At these unexpected and dreadful words, Adrienne, Djalma, and Mother +Bunch, though under the influence of different kinds of resentment, +remained for a moment mute with surprise; and the princess, judging it no +longer necessary to repress her infernal joy and triumphant hatred, +exclaimed, as she rose from her seat, with flushed cheek, and flashing +eyes, "Yes, I defy you to contradict me. Were we not forced to confine +you, on the plea of madness? And did we not find a workman (your lover) +concealed in your bedroom?" + +On this horrible accusation, Djalma's golden complexion, transparent as +amber, became suddenly the color of lead; his eyes, fixed and staring +showed the white round the pupil--his upper lip, red as blood, was curled +in a kind of wild convulsion, which exposed to view the firmly-set teeth +--and his whole countenance became so frightfully threatening and +ferocious, that Mother Bunch shuddered with terror. Carried away by the +ardor of his blood, the young Oriental felt a sort of dizzy, +unreflecting, involuntary rage--a fiery commotion, like that which makes +the blood leap to the brave man's eyes and brain, when he feels a blow +upon his face. If, during that moment, rapid as the passage of the +lightning through the cloud, action could have taken the place of +thought, the princess and Adrienne, Mother Bunch and himself, would all +have been annihilated by an explosion as sudden and fatal as that of the +bursting of a mine. He would have killed the princess, because she +accused Adrienne of infamous deception he would have killed Adrienne, +because she could even be suspected of such infamy--and Mother Bunch, for +being a witness of the accusation--and himself, in order not to survive +such horrid treachery. But, oh wonder! his furious and bloodshot gaze +met the calm look of Adrienne--a look so full of dignity and serene +confidence--and the expression of ferocious rage passed away like a flash +of lightning. + +Much more: to the great surprise of the princess and the young workgirl, +as the glances which Djalma cast upon Adrienne went (as it were) deeper +into that pure soul, not only did the Indian grow calm, but, by a kind of +transfiguration, his countenance seemed to borrow her serene expression, +and reflect, as in a mirror, the noble serenity impressed on the young +lady's features. Let us explain physically this moral revolution, as +consoling to the terrified workgirl, as provoking to the princess. +Hardly had the princess distilled the atrocious calumny from her venomous +lips, than Djalma, then standing before the fireplace, had, in the first +paroxysm of his fury, advanced a step towards her; but, wishing as it +were to moderate his rage, he held by the marble chimney-piece, which he +grasped with iron strength. A convulsive trembling shook his whole body, +and his features, altered and contracted, became almost frightful. +Adrienne, on her part, when she heard the accusation, yielding to a first +impulse of just indignation, even as Djalma had yielded to one of blind +fury, rose abruptly, with offended pride flashing from her eyes; but, +almost immediately appeased by the consciousness of her own purity, her +charming face resumed its expression of adorable serenity. It was then +that her eyes met Djalma's. For a second, the young lady was even more +afflicted than terrified at the threatening and formidable expression of +the young Indian's countenance. "Can stupid indignity exasperate him to +this degree?" said Adrienne to herself. "Does he suspect me; then?" + +But to this reflection, as rapid as it was painful, succeeded the most +lively joy, when the eyes of Adrienne rested for a short time on those of +the Indian, and she saw his agitated countenance grow calm as if by +magic, and become radiant and beautiful as before. Thus was the +abominable plot of the princess de Saint-Dizier utterly confounded by the +sincere and confiding expression of Adrienne's face. That was not all. +At the moment, when, as a spectator of this mute and expressive scene +(which proved so well the wondrous sympathy of those two beings, who, +without speaking a word, had understood and satisfied each other), the +princess was choking with rage and vexation--Adrienne, with a charming +smile and gesture, extended her fair hand to Djalma, who, kneeling, +imprinted on it a kiss of fire, which sent a light blush to the forehead +of the young lady. + +Then the Hindoo, placing himself on the ermine carpet at the feet of +Mdlle. de Cardoville, in an attitude full of grace: and respect, rested +his chin on the palm of one of his hands, and gazed on her silently, in a +sort of mute adoration--while Adrienne, bending over him with a happy +smile "looked at the babies in his eyes," as the song says, with as much +amorous complacency, as if the hateful princess had not been present. +But soon, as if something were wanting to complete her happiness, +Adrienne beckoned to Mother Bunch, and made her sit down by her side. +Then, with her hand clasped in that of this excellent friend, Mdlle. de +Cardoville smiled on Djalma, stretched adoringly at her feet, and cast on +the dismayed princess a look of such calm and firm serenity, so nobly +expressive of the invincible quiet of her happiness, and her lofty +disdain of all calumnious attacks, that the Princess de Saint-Dizier, +confused and stupefied, murmured some hardly intelligible words, in a +voice trembling with passion, and, completely losing her presence of +mind, rushed towards the door. But, at this moment, the hunchback, who +feared some ambush, some perfidious plot in the background, resolved, +after exchanging a glance with Adrienne, to accompany the princess to her +carriage. + +The angry disappointment of the Princess de Saint-Dizier, when she saw +herself thus followed and watched, appeared so comical to Mdlle. de +Cardoville that she could not help laughing aloud; and it was to the +sound of contemptuous hilarity that the hypocritical princess, with rage +and despair in her heart, quitted the house to which she had hoped to +bring trouble end misery. Adrienne and Djalma were left alone. Before +relating the scene which took place between them, a few retrospective +words are indispensable. It will easily be imagined, that since Mdlle. +de Cardoville and the Oriental had been brought into such close contact, +after so many disappointments, their days had passed away like a dream of +happiness. Adrienne had especially taken pains to bring to light, one by +one, all the generous qualities of Djalma, of which she had read so much +in her books of travels. The young lady had imposed on herself this +tender and patient study of Djalma's character, not only to justify to +her own mind the intensity of her love, but because this period of trial, +to which she had assigned a term, enabled her to temper and divert the +violence of Djalma's passion--a task the more meritorious, as she herself +was of the same ardent temperament. For, in those two lovers, the finest +qualities of sense and soul seemed exactly to balance each other, and +heaven had bestowed on them the rarest beauty of form, and the most +adorable excellence of heart, as if to legitimatize the irresistible +attraction which drew and bound them together. What, then, was to be the +term of this painful trial, which Adrienne had imposed on Djalma and on +herself? This is what Mdlle. de Cardoville intended to tell the prince, +in the interview she had with him, after the abrupt departure of the +Princess de Saint-Dizier. + + + + +CHAPTER LX. + +THE ORDEAL. + +Adrienne de Cardoville and Djalma had remained alone. Such was the noble +confidence which had succeeded in the Hindoo's mind to his first movement +of unreflecting fury, caused by the infamous calumny, that, once alone +with Adrienne, he did not even allude to that shameful accusation. + +On her side (touching and admirable sympathy of those two hearts!), the +young lady was too proud, conscious of the purity of her love, to descend +to any justification of herself. + +She would have considered it an insult both to herself and him. +Therefore, the lovers began their interview, as if the princess had never +made any such remark. The same contempt was extended to the papers, +which the princess had brought with her to prove the imminent ruin to +which Adrienne was exposed. The young lady had laid them down, without +reading them, on a stand within her reach. She made a graceful sign to +Djalma to seat himself by her side, and accordingly he quitted, not +without regret, the place he had occupied at her feet. + +"My love," said Adrienne, in a grave and tender voice, "you have often +impatiently asked me, when would come the term of the trial we have laid +upon ourselves. That moment is at hand." + +Djalma started, and could not restrain a cry of surprise and joy; but +this almost trembling exclamation was so soft and sweet, that it seemed +rather the expression of ineffable gratitude, than of exulting passion. + +Adrienne continued: "Separated--surrounded by treachery and fraud-- +mutually deceived as to each other's sentiments--we yet loved on, and in +that followed an irresistible attraction, stronger than every opposing +influence. But since then, in these days of happy retirement from the +world, we have learned to value and esteem each other more. Left to +ourselves in perfect freedom, we have had the courage to resist every +temptation, that hereafter we might be happy without remorse. During +these days, in which our hearts had been laid open to each other, we have +read them thoroughly. Yes, Djalma! I believe in you, and you in me--I +find in you all that you find in me--every possible human security for +our future happiness. But this love must yet be consecrated; and in the +eyes of the world, in which we are called upon to live, marriage is the +only consecration, and marriage enchains one's whole life." + +Djalma looked at the young lady with surprise. + +"Yes, one's whole life! and yet who can answer for the sentiments of a +whole life?" resumed Adrienne. "A God, that could see into the future, +could alone bind irrevocably certain hearts for their own happiness; but, +alas! to human eyes the future is impenetrable. Therefore, to accept +indissoluble ties, for any longer than one can answer for a present +sentiment, is to commit an act of selfish and impious folly." + +Djalma made no reply, but, with an almost respectful gesture, he urged +the speaker to continue. + +"And then," proceeded she, with a mixture of tenderness and pride, "from +respect for your dignity and mine, I would never promise to keep a law +made by man against woman, with contemptuous and brutal egotism--a law, +which denies to woman soul, mind, and heart--a law, which none can +accept, without being either a slave or perjured--a law, which takes from +the girl her name, reduces the wife to a state of degrading inferiority, +denies to the mother all rights over her own children, and enslaves one +human creature to the will of another, who is in all respects her equal +in the sight of God!--You know, my love," added the young lady, with +passionate enthusiasm, "how much I honor you, whose father was called the +Father of the Generous. I do not then fear, noble and valiant heart, to +see you use against me these tyrannical powers; but, throughout my life, +I never uttered a falsehood, and our love is too sacred and celestial to +be purchased by a double perjury. No, never will I swear to observe a +law, that my dignity, and my reason refuse to sanction. If, to-morrow, +the freedom of divorce were established, and the rights of women +recognized, I should be willing to observe usages, which would then be in +accordance with my conscience, and with what is just, possible, and +humane." Then, after a pause, Adrienne continued, with such deep and +sweet emotion, that a tear of tenderness veiled her beauteous eyes: "Oh! +if you knew, my love, what your love is to me: if you knew how dear and +sacred I hold your happiness--you would excuse, you would understand, +these generous superstitions of a loving and honest heart, which could +only see a fatal omen in forms degraded by falsehood and perjury. What I +wish, is, to attach you by love, to bind you in chains of happiness--and +to leave you free, that I may owe your constancy only to your affection." + +Djalma had listened to the young girl with passionate attention. Proud +and generous himself, he admired this proud and generous character. +After a moment's meditative silence, he answered, in his sweet, sonorous +voice, in an almost solemn tone: "Like you, I hold in detestation, +falsehood and perjury. Like you, I think that man degrades himself, by +accepting the right of being a cowardly tyrant, even though resolved +never to use the power. Like you, I could not bear the thought, that I +owed all I most valued, not to your love alone, but to the eternal +constraint of an indissoluble bond. Like you, I believe there is no +dignity but in freedom. But you have said, that, for this great and holy +love, you demand a religious consecration; and if you reject vows, that +you cannot make without folly and perjury, are there then others, which +your reason and your heart approve?--Who will pronounce the required +blessing? To whom must these vows be spoken?" + +"In a few days, my love, I believe I shall be able to tell you all. +Every evening, after your departure, I have no other thought. I wish to +find the means of uniting yourself and me--in the eyes of God, not of the +law--without offending the habits and prejudices of a world, in which it +may suit us hereafter to live. Yes, my friend! when you know whose are +the noble hands, that are to join ours together, who is to bless and +glorify God in our union--a sacred union, that will leave us worthy and +free--you will say, I am sure, that never purer hands could have been +laid upon us. Forgive me, friend! all this is in earnest--yes, earnest +as our love, earnest as our happiness. If my words seem to you strange, +my thoughts unreasonable, tell it me, love! We will seek and find some +better means, to reconcile that we owe to heaven, with what we owe to the +world and to ourselves. It is said, that lovers are beside themselves," +added the young lady, with a smile, "but I think that no creatures are +more reasonable." + +"When I hear you speak thus of our happiness," said Djalma, deeply moved, +"with so much calm and earnest tenderness, I think I see a mother +occupied with the future prospects of her darling child--trying to +surround him with all that can make him strong, valiant, and generous-- +trying to remove far from him all that is ignoble and unworthy. You ask +me to tell you if your thoughts seem strange to me, Adrienne. You +forget, that what makes my faith in our love, is my feeling exactly as +you do. What offends you, offends me also; what disgusts you, disgusts +me. Just now, when you cited to me the laws of this country, which +respect in a woman not even a mother's right--I thought with pride of our +barbarous countries, where woman, though a slave, is made free when she +becomes a mother. No, no; such laws are not made either for you or me. +Is it not to prove your sacred respect for our love, to wish to raise it +above the shameful servitude that would degrade it? You see, Adrienne, I +have often heard said by the priests of my country, that there were +beings inferior to the gods, but superior to every other creature. I did +not believe those priests; but now I do." These last words were uttered, +not in the tone of flattery, but with an accent of sincere conviction, +and with that sort of passionate veneration and almost timid fervor, +which mark the believer talking of his faith; but what is impossible to +describe, is the ineffable harmony of these almost religious words, with +the mild, deep tone of the young Oriental's voice--as well as the ardent +expression of amorous melancholy, which gave an irresistible charm to his +enchanting features. + +Adrienne had listened to Djalma with an indescribable mixture of joy, +gratitude, and pride. Laying her hand on her bosom, as if to keep down +its violent pulsations, she resumed, as she looked at the prince with +delight: "Behold him, ever the same!--just, good, great!--Oh, my heart! +my heart! how proudly it beats. Blessed be God, who created me for this +adored lover! He must mean to astonish the world, by the prodigies of +tenderness and charity, that such a love may produce. They do not yet +know the sovereign might of free, happy, ardent love. Yes, Djalma! on +the day when our hands are joined together, what hymns of gratitude will +ascend to heaven!--Ah! they do not know the immense, the insatiable +longing for joy aria delight, which possesses two hearts like ours; they +do not know what rays of happiness stream from the celestial halo of such +a flame!--Oh, yes! I feel it. Many tears will be dried, many cold hearts +warmed, at the divine fire of our love. And it will be by the +benedictions of those we serve, that they will learn the intoxication of +our rapture!" + +To the dazzled eyes of Djalma, Adrienne appeared more and more an ideal +being--partaking of the Divinity by her goodness, of the animal nature by +passion--for, yielding to the intensity of excitement, Adrienne fixed +upon Djalma looks that sparkled with love. + +'Then, almost beside himself, the Asiatic fell prostrate at the feet of +the maiden, and exclaimed, in a supplicating voice: "Mercy! my courage +fails me. Have pity on me! do not talk thus. Oh, that day! what years +of my life would I not give to hasten it!" + +"Silence! no blasphemy. Do not your years belong to me?" + +"Adrienne! you love me!" + +The young lady did not answer; but her half-veiled, burning glance, dealt +the last blow to reason. Seizing her hands in his own, he exclaimed, +with a tremulous voice: "That day, in which we shall mount to heaven, in +which we shall be gods in happiness--why postpone it any longer?" + +"Because our love must be consecrated by the benediction of heaven." + +"Are we not free?" + +"Yes, yes, my love; we are free. Let us be worthy of our liberty!" + +"Adrienne! mercy!" + +"I ask you also to have mercy--to have mercy on the sacredness of our +love. Do not profane it in its very flower. Believe my heart! believe +my presentiments! to profane it would be to kill. Courage, my adored +lover! a few days longer--and then happiness--without regret, and without +remorse!" + +"And, until then, hell! tortures without a name! You do not, cannot know +what I suffer when I leave your presence. Your image follows me, your +breath burns me up; I cannot sleep, but call on you every night with +sighs and tears--just as I called on, you, when I thought you did not +love me--and yet I know you love me, I know you are mine. But to see you +every day more beautiful, more adored--and every day to quit you more +impassioned--oh! you cannot tell--" + +Djalma was unable to proceed. What he said of his devouring tortures, +Adrienne had felt, perhaps even more intensely. Electrified by the +passionate words of Djalma, so beautiful in his excitement, her courage +failed, and she perceived that an irresistible languor was creeping over +her. By a last chaste effort of the will, she rose abruptly, and +hastening to the door, which communicated with Mother Bunch's chamber, +she exclaimed: "My, sister! help me!" + +In another moment, Mdlle. de Cardoville, her face bathed in tears, +clasped the young sempstress in her arms; while Djalma knelt respectfully +on the threshold he did not dare to pass. + + + + +CHAPTER LXI. + +AMBITION. + +A few days after the interview of Djalma and Adrienne, just described, +Rodin was alone in his bed-chamber, in the house in the Rue de Vaugirard, +walking up and down the room where he had so valiantly undergone the +moxas of Dr. Baleinier. With his hands thrust into the hind-pockets of +his greatcoat, and his head bowed upon his breast, the Jesuit seemed to +be reflecting profoundly, and his varying walk, now slow, now quick, +betrayed the agitation of his mind. + +"On the side of Rome," said Rodin to himself, "I am tranquil. All is +going well. The abdication is as good as settled, and if I can pay them +the price agreed, the Prince Cardinal can secure me a majority of nine +voices in the conclave. Our General is with me; the doubts of Cardinal +Malipieri are at an end, or have found no echo. Yet I am not quite easy, +with regard to the reported correspondence between Father d'Aigrigny and +Malipieri. I have not been able to intercept any of it. No matter; that +soldier's business is settled. A little patience and he will be wiped +out." + +Here the pale lips were contracted by one of those frightful smiles, +which gave to Rodin's countenance so diabolical an expression. + +After a pause, he resumed: "The funeral of the freethinker, the +philanthropist, the workman's friend, took place yesterday at St. Herem. +Francis Hardy went off in a fit of ecstatic delirium. I had his +donation, it is true; but this is more certain. Everything may be +disputed in this world; the dead dispute nothing." + +Rodin remained in thought for some moments; then he added, in a grave +tone: "There remain this red-haired wench and her mulatto. This is the +twenty-seventh of May; the first of June approaches, and these turtle- +doves still seem invulnerable. The princess thought she had hit upon a +good plan, and I should have thought so too. It was a good idea to +mention the discovery of Agricola Baudoin in the madcap's room, for it +made the Indian tiger roar with savage jealousy. Yes: but then the dove +began to coo, and hold out her pretty beak, and the foolish tiger +sheathed his claws, and rolled on the ground before her. It's a pity, +for there was some sense in the scheme." + +The walk of Rodin became more and more agitated. "Nothing is more +extraordinary," continued he, "than the generative succession of ideas. +In comparing this red-haired jade to a dove (colombe), I could not help +thinking of that infamous old woman, Sainte-Colombe, whom that big rascal +Jacques Dumoulin pays his court to, and whom the Abbe Corbinet will +finish, I hope, by turning to good account. I have often remarked, that, +as a poet may find an excellent rhyme by mere chance, so the germ of the +best ideas is sometimes found in a word, or in some absurd resemblance +like the present. That abominable hag, Sainte-Colombo, and the pretty +Adrienne de Cardoville, go as well together, as a ring would suit a cat, +or a necklace a fish. Well, there is nothing in it." + +Hardly had Rodin pronounced these words, than he started suddenly, and +his face shone with a fatal joy. Then it assumed an expression of +meditative astonishment, as happens when chance reveals some unexpected +discovery to the surprised and charmed inquirer after knowledge. + +Soon, with raised head and sparkling eye, his hollow cheeks swelling with +joy and pride, Rodin folded his arms in triumph on his breast, and +exclaimed: "Oh! how admirable and marvellous are these mysterious +evolutions of the mind; how incomprehensible is the chain of human +thought, which, starting from an absurd jingle of words, arrives at a +splendid or luminous idea! Is it weakness? or is it strength? Strange-- +very strange! I compare the red-haired girl to a dove--a colombe. That +makes me think of the hag, who traded in the bodies and souls of so many +creatures. Vulgar proverbs occur to me, about a ring and a cat, a fish +and a necklace--and suddenly, at the word NECKLACE, a new light dawns +upon me. Yes: that one word NECKLACE shall be to me a golden key, to +open the portals of my brain, so long foolishly closed." + +And, after again walking hastily up and down, Rodin continued: "Yes, it +is worth attempting. The more I reflect upon it, the more feasible it +appears. Only how to get at that wretch, Saint-Colombe? Well, there is +Jacques Dumoulin, and the other--where to find her? That is the +stumbling-block. I must not shout before I am out of the wood." + +Rodin began again to walk, biting his nails with an air of deep thought. +For some moments, such was the tension of his mind, large drops of sweat +stood on his yellow brow. He walked up and down, stopped, stamped with +his foot, now raised his eyes as if in search of an inspiration, and now +scratched his head violently with his left hand, whilst he continued to +gnaw the nails of the right. Finally, from time to time, he uttered +exclamations of rage, despondency, or hope, as by turns they took +possession of his mind. If the cause of this monster's agitation had not +been horrible, it would have been a curious and interesting spectacle to +watch the labors of that powerful brain--to follow, as it were, on that +shifting countenance, the progress and development of the project, on +which he was now concentrating all the resources of his strong intellect. +At length, the work appeared to be near completion, for Rodin resumed: +"Yes, yes! it is bold, hazardous--but then it is prompt, and the +consequences may be incalculable. Who can foresee the effects of the +explosion of a mine?" + +Then, yielding to a movement of enthusiasm, which was hardly natural to +him, the Jesuit exclaimed, with rapture: "Oh, the passions! the passions! +what a magical instrument do they form, if you do but touch the keys with +a light, skillful, and vigorous hand! How beautiful too is the power of +thought! Talk of the acorn that becomes an oak, the seed that grows up +to the corn--the seed takes months, the acorn centuries, to unfold its +splendors--but here is a little word in eight letters, necklace and this +word, falling into my brain but a few minutes ago, has grown and grown +till it has become larger than any oak. Yes, that word is the germ of an +idea, that, like the oak, lifts itself up towards heaven, for the greater +glory of the Lord--such as they call Him, and such as I would assert Him +to be, should I attain--and I shall attain--for these miserable +Renneponts will pass away like a shadow. And what matters it, after all, +to the moral order I am reserved to guide, whether these people live or +die? What do such lives weigh in the balance of the great destinies of +the world? while this inheritance which I shall boldly fling into the +scale, will lift me to a sphere, from which one commands many kings, many +nations--let them say and make what noise they will. The idiots--the +stupid idiots! or rather, the kind, blessed, adorable idiots! They think +they have crushed us, when they say to us men of the church: `You take +the spiritual, but we will keep the temporal!'--Oh, their conscience or +their modesty inspires them well, when it bids them not meddle with +spiritual things! They abandon the spiritual! they despise it, they will +have nothing to do with it--oh, the venerable asses! they do not see, +that, even as they go straight to the mill, it is by the spiritual that +we go straight to the temporal. As if the mind did not govern the body! +They leave us the spiritual--that is, command of the conscience, soul, +heart, and judgment--the spiritual--that is, the distribution of heaven's +rewards, and punishments, and pardons--without check, without control, in +the secrecy of the confessional--and that dolt, the temporal, has nothing +but brute matter for his portion, and yet rubs his paunch for joy. Only, +from time to time, he perceives, too late, that, if he has the body, we +have the soul, and that the soul governs the body, and so the body ends +by coming with us also--to the great surprise of Master Temporal, who +stands staring with his hands on his paunch, and says: "Dear me! is it +possible?" + +Then, with a laugh of savage contempt, Rodin began to walk with great +strides, and thus continued: "Oh! let me reach it--let me but reach the +place of SIXTUS V.--and the world shall see (one day, when it awakes) +what it is to have the spiritual power in hands like mine--in the hands +of a priest, who, for fifty years, has lived hardly, frugally, chastely, +and who, were he pope, would continue to live hardly, frugally, +chastely!" + +Rodin became terrible, as he spoke thus. All the sanguinary, +sacrilegious, execrable ambition of the worst popes seemed written in +fiery characters on the brow of this son of Ignatius. A morbid desire of +rule seemed to stir up the Jesuit's impure blood; he was bathed in a +burning sweat, and a kind of nauseous vapor spread itself round about +him. Suddenly, the noise of a travelling-carriage, which entered the +courtyard of the house, attracted his attention. Regretting his +momentary excitement, he drew from his pocket his dirty white and red +cotton handkerchief, and dipping it in a glass of water, he applied it to +his cheeks and temples, while he approached the window, to look through +the half-open blinds at the traveller who had just arrived. The +projection of a portico, over the door at which the carriage had stopped, +intercepted Rodin's view. + +"No matter," said he, recovering his coolness: "I shall know presently +who is there. I must write at once to Jacques Dumoulin, to come hither +immediately. He served me well, with regard to that little slut in the +Rue Clovis, who made my hair stand on end with her infernal Beranger. +This time, Dumoulin may serve me again. I have him in my clutches, and +he will obey me." + +Rodin sat down to his desk and wrote. A few seconds later, some one +knocked at the door, which was double-locked, quite contrary to the +rules of the order. But, sure of his own influence and importance, +Rodin, who had obtained from the general permission to be rid for a time +of the inconvenient company of a socius, often took upon himself to break +through a number of the rules. A servant entered and delivered a letter +to Rodin. Before opening it the latter said to the man: "What carriage +is that which just arrived?" + +"It comes from Rome, father," answered the servant, bowing. + +"From Rome!" said Rodin, hastily; and in spite of himself, a vague +uneasiness was expressed in his countenance. But, still holding the +letter in his hands, he added: "Who comes in the carriage." + +"A reverend father of our blessed Company." + +Notwithstanding his ardent curiosity, for he knew that a reverend father, +travelling post, is always charged with some important mission, Rodin +asked no more questions on the subject, but said, as he pointed to the +paper in his hand: "Whence comes this letter?" + +"From our house at St. Herem, father." + +Rodin looked more attentively at the writing, and recognized the hand of +Father d'Aigrigny, who had been commissioned to attend M. Hardy in his +last moments. The letter ran as follows: + +"I send a despatch to inform your reverence of a fact which is, perhaps, +more singular than important. After the funeral of M. Francis Hardy, +the coffin, which contained his remains, had been provisionally deposited +in a vault beneath our chapel, until it could be removed to the cemetery +of the neighboring town. This morning, when our people went down into +the vault, to make the necessary preparations for the removal of the +body--the coffin had disappeared. + +"That is strange indeed," said Rodin with a start. Then, he continued to +read: + +"All search has hitherto been vain, to discover the authors of the +sacrilegious deed. The chapel being, as you know, at a distance from the +house, they were able to effect an entry without disturbing us. We +have found traces of a four-wheeled carriage on the damp ground in the +neighborhood; but, at some little distance from the chapel, these marks +are lost in the sand, and it has been impossible to follow them any +farther." + +"Who can have carried away this body?" said Rodin, with a thoughtful air. +"Who could have any interest in doing so?" + +He continued to read: + +"Luckily, the certificate of death is quite correct. I sent for a doctor +from Etampes, to prove the disease, and no question can be raised on that +point. The donation is therefore good and valid in every respect, but I +think it best to inform your reverence of what has happened, that you may +take measures accordingly, etc., etc." + +After a moment's reflection, Rodin said to himself: "D'Aigrigny is right +in his remark; it is more singular than important. Still, it makes one +think. We must have an eye to this affair." + +Turning towards the servant, who had brought him the letter, Rodin gave +him the note he had just written to Ninny Moulin, and said to him: "Let +this letter be taken instantly to its address, and let the bearer wait +for an answer." + +"Yes, father." + +At the moment the servant left the room, a reverend father entered, and +said to Rodin, "Father Caboccini of Rome has just arrived, with a mission +from our general to your reverence." + +At these words, Rodin's blood ran cold, but he maintained his immovable +calmness, and said simply: "Where is Father Caboccini?" + +"In the next room, father." + +"Beg him to walk in, and leave us," said the other. + +A second after, Father Caboccini of Rome entered the room and was left +alone with Rodin. + + + + +CHAPTER LXII. + +TO A SOCIUS, A SOCIUS AND A HALF. + +The Reverend Father Caboccini, the Roman Jesuit who now came to visit +Rodin, was a short man of about thirty years of age, plump, in good +condition, and with an abdomen that swelled out his black cassock. The +good little father was blind with one eye, but his remaining organ of +vision sparkled with vivacity. His rosy countenance was gay, smiling, +joyous, splendidly crowned with thick chestnut hair, which curled like a +wax doll's. His address was cordial to familiarity, and his expansive +and petulant manners harmonized well with his general appearance. In a +second, Rodin had taken his measure of the Italian emissary; and as he +knew the practice of his Company, and the ways of Rome, he felt by no +means comfortable at sight of this jolly little father, with such affable +manners. He would have less feared some tall, bony priest, with austere +and sepulchral countenance, for he knew that the Company loves to deceive +by the outward appearance of its agents; and if Rodin guessed rightly, +the cordial address of this personage would rather tend to show that he +was charged with some fatal mission. + +Suspicious, attentive, with eye and mind on the watch, like an old wolf, +expecting an attack, Rodin advanced as usual, slowly and tortuously +towards the little man, so as to have time to examine him thoroughly, and +penetrate beneath his jovial outside. But the Roman left him no space +for that purpose. In his impetuous affection he threw himself right on +the neck of Rodin, pressed him in his arms with an effusion of +tenderness, and kissed him over and over again upon both cheeks, so +loudly and plentifully that the echo resounded through the apartment. In +his life Rodin had never been so treated. More and more uneasy at the +treachery which must needs lurk under such warm embraces, and irritated +by his own evil presentiments, the French Jesuit did, all he could to +extricate himself from the Roman's exaggerated tokens of tenderness. But +the latter kept his hold; his arms, though short, were vigorous, and +Rodin was kissed over and over again, till the little one-eyed man was +quite out of breath. It is hardly necessary to state that these embraces +were accompanied by the most friendly, affectionate, and fraternal +exclamations--all in tolerably good French, but with a strong Italian +accent, which we muss beg the reader to supply for himself, after we have +given a single specimen. It will perhaps be remembered that, fully aware +of the danger he might possibly incur by his ambitious machinations, and +knowing from history that the use of poison had often been considered at +Rome as a state necessity, Rodin, on being suddenly attacked with the +cholera, had exclaimed, with a furious glance at Cardinal Malipieri, "I +am poisoned!" + +The same apprehensions occurred involuntarily to the Jesuit's mind as he +tried, by useless efforts, to escape from the embraces of the Italian +emissary; and he could not help muttering to himself, "This one-eyed +fellow is a great deal too fond. I hope there is no poison under his +Judas-kisses." At last, little Father Caboccini, being quite out of +breath, was obliged to relinquish his hold on Rodin's neck, who, +readjusting his dirty collar, and his old cravat and waistcoat, somewhat +in disorder in consequence of this hurricane of caresses, said in a gruff +tone, "Your humble servant, father, but you need not kiss quite so hard." + +Without making any answer to this reproach, the little father riveted his +one eye upon Rodin with an expression of enthusiasm, and exclaimed, +whilst he accompanied his words with petulant gestures, "At lazt I zee te +zuperb light of our zacred Company, and can zalute him from my heart-- +vonse more, vonse more." + +As the little father had already recovered his breath, and was about to +rush once again into Rodin's arms, the latter stepped back hastily, and +held out his arm to keep him off, saying, in allusion to the illogical +metaphor employed by Father Caboccini, "First of all, father, one does +not embrace a light--and then I am not a light--I am a humble and obscure +laborer in the Lord's vineyard." + +The Roman replied with enthusiasm (we shall henceforth translate his +gibberish), "You are right, father, we cannot embrace a light, but we can +prostrate ourselves before it, and admire its dazzling brightness." + +So saying, Caboccini was about to suit the action to the word, and to +prostrate himself before Rodin, had not the latter prevented this mode of +adulation by seizing the Roman by the arm and exclaiming, "This is mere +idolatry, father. Pass over my qualities, and tell me what is the object +of your journey." + +"The object, my dear father, fills me with joy and happiness. I have +endeavored to show you my affection by my caresses, for my heart is +overflowing. I have hardly been able to restrain myself during my +journey hither, for my heart rushed to meet you. The object transports, +delights, enchants me--" + +"But what enchants you?" cried Rodin, exasperated by these Italian +exaggerations. "What is the object?" + +"This rescript of our very reverend and excellent General will inform +you, my clear father." + +Caboccini drew from his pocket-book a folded paper, with three seals, +which he kissed respectfully, and delivered to Rodin, who himself kissed +it in his turn, and opened it with visible anxiety. While he read it the +countenance of the Jesuit remained impassible, but the pulsation of the +arteries on his temples announced his internal agitation. Yet he put the +letter coolly into his pocket, and looking at the Roman, said to him, "Be +it as our excellent General has commanded!" + +"Then, father," cried Caboccini, with a new effusion of tenderness and +admiration, "I shall be the shadow of your light, and, in fact, your +second self. I shall have the happiness of being always with you, day +and night, and of acting as your socius, since, after having allowed you +to be without one for some time, according to your wish, and for the +interest of our blessed Company, our excellent General now thinks fit to +send me from Rome, to fill that post about your person--an unexpected, an +immense favor, which fills me with gratitude to our General, and with +love to you, my dear, my excellent father!" + +"It is well played," thought Rodin; "but I am not so soft, and 'tis only +among the blind that your Cyclops are kings!" + +The evening of the day in which this scene took place between the Jesuit +and his new socius, Ninny Moulin, after receiving in presence of +Caboccini the instructions of Rodin, went straight to Madame de la +Sainte-Colombe's. + +This woman had made her fortune, at the time of the allies taking Paris, +by keeping one of those "pretty milliner's shops," whose "pink bonnets" +have run into a proverb not extinct in these days when bonnets are not +known. Ninny Moulin had no better well to draw inspiration from when, as +now, he had to find out, as per Rodin's order, a girl of an age and +appearance which, singularly enough, were closely resembling those of +Mdlle. de Cardoville. + +No doubt of Ninny Moulin's success in this mission, for the next morning +Rodin, whose countenance wore a triumphant expression, put with his own +hand a letter into the post. + +This letter was addressed: + +"To M. Agricola Baudoin, +"No. 2, Rue Brise-Miche, +"Paris." + + + + +CHAPTER LXIII. + +FARINGHEA'S AFFECTION. + +It will, perhaps, be remembered that Djalma, when he heard for the first +time that he was beloved by Adrienne, had, in the fulness of his joy, +spoken thus to Faringhea, whose treachery he had just discovered, "You +leagued with my enemies, and I had done you no harm. You are wicked, +because you are no doubt unhappy. I will strive to make you happy, so +that you may be good. Would you have gold?--you shall have it. Would +you have a friend?--though you are a slave, a king's son offers you his +friendship." + +Faringhea had refused the gold, and appeared to accept the friendship of +the son of Kadja-sing. Endowed with remarkable intelligence, and +extraordinary power of dissimulation the half-breed had easily persuaded +the prince of the sincerity of his repentance, and obtained credit for +his gratitude and attachment from so confiding and generous a character. +Besides, what motives could Djalma have to suspect the slave, now become +his friend? Certain of the love of Mdlle. de Cardoville, with whom he +passed a portion of every day, her salutary influence would have guarded +him against any dangerous counsels or calumnies of the half-caste, a +faithful and secret instrument of Rodin, and attached by him to the +Company. But Faringhea, whose tact was amazing, did not act so lightly; +he never spoke to the prince of Mdlle. de Cardoville, and waited +unobtrusively for the confidential communications into which Djalma was +sometimes hurried by his excessive joy. A few days after the interview +last described between Adrienne and Djalma, and on the morrow of the day +when Rodin, certain of the success of Ninny Moulin's mission to Sainte- +Colombe, had himself put a letter in the post to the address of Agricola +Baudoin, the half-caste, who for some time had appeared oppressed with a +violent grief, seemed to get so much worse, that the prince, struck with +the desponding air of the man, asked him kindly and repeatedly the cause +of his sorrow. But Faringhea, while he gratefully thanked the prince for +the interest he took in him, maintained the most absolute silence and +reserve on the subject of his grief. + +These preliminaries will enable the reader to understand the following +scene, which took place about noon in the house in the Rue de Clichy +occupied by the Hindoo. Contrary to his habit, Djalma had not passed +that morning with Adrienne. He had been informed the evening before, by +the young lady, that she must ask of him the sacrifice of this whole day, +to take the necessary measures to make their marriage sacred and +acceptable in the eyes of the world, and yet free from the restrictions +which she and Djalma disapproved. As for the means to be employed by +Mdlle. de Cardoville to attain this end, and the name of the pure and +honorable person who was to consecrate their union, these were secrets +which, not belonging exclusively to the young lady, could not yet be +communicated to Djalma. To the Indian, so long accustomed to devote +every instant to Adrienne, this day seemed interminable. By turns a prey +to the most burning agitation, and to a kind of stupor, in which he +plunged himself to escape from the thoughts that caused his tortures, +Djalma lay stretched upon a divan, with his face buried in his hands, as +if to shut out the view of a too enchanting vision. Suddenly, without +knocking at the door, as usual, Faringhea entered the prince's apartment. + +At the noise the half-caste made in entering Djalma started, raised his +head, and looked round him with surprise; but, on seeing the pale +agitated countenance of the slave, he rose hastily, and advancing towards +him, exclaimed, "What is the matter, Faringhea!" + +After a moment's silence, and as if struggling with a painful feeling of +hesitation, Faringhea threw himself at the feet of Djalma, and murmured +in a weak, despairing, almost supplicating voice: "I am very miserable. +Pity me, my good lord!" + +The tone was so touching, the grief under which the half-breed suffered +seemed to give to his features, generally fixed and hard as bronze, such +a heart-rending expression, that Djalma was deeply affected, and, bending +to raise him from the ground, said to him, in a kindly voice: "Speak to +me! Confidence appeases the torments of the heart. Trust me, friend-- +for my angel herself said to me, that happy love cannot bear to see tears +about him." + +"But unhappy love, miserable love, betrayed love--weeps tears of blood," +replied Faringhea, with painful dejection. + +"Of what love dost thou speak?" asked Djalma, in surprise. + +"I speak of my love," answered the half-caste, with a gloomy air. + +"Of your love?" said Djalma, more and more astonished; not that the half- +caste, still young, and with a countenance of sombre beauty, appeared to +him incapable of inspiring or feeling the tender passion, but that, until +now, he had never imagined him capable of conceiving so deep a sorrow. + +"My lord," resumed the half-caste, "you told me, that misfortune had made +me wicked, and that happiness would make me good. In those words, I saw +a presentiment, and a noble love entered my heart, at the moment when +hatred and treachery departed from it. I, the half-savage, found a +woman, beautiful and young, to respond to my passion. At least I thought +so. But I had betrayed you, my lord, and there is no happiness for a +traitor, even though he repent. In my turn, I have been shamefully +betrayed." + +Then, seeing the surprise of the prince, the half-caste added, as if +overwhelmed with confusion: "Do not mock me, my lord! The most frightful +tortures would not have wrung this confession from me; but you, the son +of a king, deigned to call the poor slave your friend!" + +"And your friend thanks you for the confidence," answered Djalma. "Far +from mocking, he will console you. Mock you! do you think it possible?" + +"Betrayed love merits contempt and insult," said Faringhea, bitterly. +"Even cowards may point at one with scorn--for, in this country, the +sight of the man deceived in what is dearest to his soul, the very life- +blood of his life, only makes people shrug their shoulders and laugh." + +"But are you certain of this treachery?" said Djalma, mildly. Then he +added, with visible hesitation, that proved the goodness of his heart: +"Listen to me, and forgive me for speaking of the past! It will only be +another proof, that I cherish no evil memories, and that I fully believe +in your repentance and affection. Remember, that I also once thought, +that she, who is the angel of my life, did not love me--and yet it was +false. Who tells you, that you are not, like me, deceived by false +appearances?" + +"Alas, my lord! could I only believe so! But I dare not hope it. My +brain wanders uncertain, I cannot come to any resolution, and therefore I +have recourse to you." + +"But what causes your suspicions?" + +"Her coldness, which sometimes succeeds to apparent tenderness. The +refusals she gives me in the name of duty. Yes," added the half-caste, +after a moment's silence. "she reasons about her love--a proof, that she +has never loved me, or that she loves me no more." + +"On the contrary, she perhaps loves you all the more, that she takes into +consideration the interest and the dignity of her love." + +"That is what they all say," replied the half-caste, with bitter irony, +as he fixed a penetrating look on Djalma; "thus speak all those who love +weakly, coldly; but those who love valiantly, never show these insulting +suspicions. For them, a word from the man they adore is a command; they +do not haggle and bargain, for the cruel pleasure of exciting the passion +of their lover to madness, and so ruling him more surely. No, what their +lover asks of them, were it to cost life and honor, they would grant it +without hesitation--because, with them, the will of the man they love is +above every other consideration, divine and human. But those crafty +women, whose pride it is to tame and conquer man--who take delight in +irritating his passion, and sometimes appear on the point of yielding to +it--are demons, who rejoice in the tears and torments of the wretch, that +loves them with the miserable weakness of a child. While we expire with +love at their feet, the perfidious creatures are calculating the effects +of their refusals, and seeing how far they can go, without quite driving +their victim to despair. Oh! how cold and cowardly are they, compared to +the valiant, true-hearted women, who say to the men of their choice: `Let +me be thine to-day-and to-morrow, come shame, despair, and death--it +matters little! Be happy! my life is not worth one tear of thine!" + +Djalma's brow had darkened, as he listened. Having kept inviolable the +secret of the various incidents of his passion for Mdlle. de Cardoville, +he could not but see in these words a quite involuntary allusion to the +delays and refusals of Adrienne. And yet Djalma suffered a moment in his +pride, at the thought of considerations and duties, that a woman holds +dearer than her love. But this bitter and painful thought was soon +effaced from the oriental's mind, thanks to the beneficent influence of +the remembrance of Adrienne. His brow again cleared, and he answered the +half-caste, who was watching him attentively with a sidelong glance: "You +are deluded by grief. If you have no other reason to doubt her you love, +than these refusals and vague suspicions, be satisfied! You are perhaps +loved better than you can imagine." + +"Alas! would it were so, my lord!" replied the half-caste, dejectedly, as +if he had been deeply touched by the words of Djalma. "Yet I say to +myself: There is for this woman something stronger than her love-- +delicacy, dignity, honor, what you will--but she does not love me enough +to sacrifice for me this something!" + +"Friend, you are deceived," answered Djalma, mildly, though the words +affected him with a painful impression. "The greater the love of a +woman, the more it should be chaste and noble. It is love itself that +awakens this delicacy and these scruples. He rules, instead of being +ruled." + +"That is true," replied the half-caste, with bitter irony, "Love so rules +me, that this woman bids me love in her own fashion, and I have only to +submit." + +Pausing suddenly, Faringhea hid his face in his hands, and heaved a deep- +drawn sigh. His features expressed a mixture of hate, rage, and despair, +at once so terrible and so painful, that Djalma, more and more affected, +exclaimed, as he seized the other's hand: "Calm this fury, and listen to +the voice of friendship! It will disperse this evil influence. Speak to +me!" + +"No, no! it is too dreadful!" + +"Speak, I bid thee." + +"No! leave the wretch to his despair!" + +"Do you think me capable of that?" said Djalma, with a mixture of +mildness and dignity, which seemed to make an impression on the half- +caste. + +"Alas!" replied he, hesitating; "do you wish to hear more, my lord?" + +"I wish to hear all." + +"Well, then! I have not told you all--for, at the moment of making this +confession, shame and the fear of ridicule kept me back. You asked me +what reason I had to believe myself betrayed. I spoke to you of vague +suspicions, refusals, coldness. That is not all--this evening--" + +"Go on!" + +"This evening--she made an appointment--with a man that she prefers to +me." + +"Who told you so?" + +"A stranger who pitied my blindness." + +"And suppose the man deceived you--or deceives himself?" + +"He has offered me proofs of what he advances." + +"What proofs?" + +"He will enable me this evening to witness the interview. `It may be,' +said he, `that this appointment may have no guilt in it, notwithstanding +appearances to the contrary. Judge for yourself, have courage, and your +cruel indecision will be at an end.'" + +"And what did you answer?" + +"Nothing, my lord. My head wandered as it does now and I came to you for +advice." + +Then, making a gesture of despair, he proceeded with a savage laugh: +"Advice? It is from the blade of my kand-jiar that I should ask counsel! +It would answer: `Blood! blood!'" + +Faringhea grasped convulsively the long dagger attached to his girdle. +There is a sort of contagion in certain forms of passion. At sight of +Faringhea's countenance, agitated by jealous fury, Djalma shuddered--for +he remembered the fit of insane rage, with which he had been possessed, +when the Princess de Saint-Dizier had defied Adrienne to contradict her, +as to the discovery of Agricola Baudoin in her bed-chamber. But then, +reassured by the lady's proud and noble bearing, Djalma had soon learned +to despise the horrible calumny, which Adrienne had not even thought +worthy of an answer. Still, two or three times, as the lightning will +flash suddenly across the clearest sky, the remembrance of that shameful +accusation had crossed the prince's mind, like a streak of fire, but had +almost instantly vanished, in the serenity and happiness of his ineffable +confidence in Adrienne's heart. These memories, however, whilst they +saddened the mind of Djalma, only made him more compassionate with regard +to Faringhea, than he might have been without this strange coincidence +between the position of the half-caste and his own. Knowing, by his own +experience, to what madness a blind fury may be carried, and wishing to +tame the half-caste by affectionate kindness, Djalma said to him in a +grave and mild tone: "I offered you my friendship. I will now act +towards you a friend." + +But Faringhea, seemingly a prey to a dull and mute frenzy, stood with +fixed and haggard eyes, as though he did not hear Djalma. + +The latter laid his hand on his shoulder, and resumed: "Faringhea, listen +to me!" + +"My lord," said the half-caste, starting abruptly, as from a dream, +"forgive me--but--" + +"In the anguish occasioned by these cruel suspicions, it is not of your +kandjiar that you must take counsel--but of your friend." + +"My lord--" + +"To this interview, which will prove the innocence or the treachery of +your beloved, you will do well to go." + +"Oh, yes!" said the half-caste, in a hollow voice, and with a bitter +smile: "I shall be there." + +"But you must not go alone." + +"What do you mean, my lord?" cried the half-caste. "Who will accompany +me?" + +"I will." + +"You, my lord?" + +"Yes--perhaps, to save you from a crime--for I know how blind and unjust +is the earliest outburst of rage." + +"But that transport gives us revenge!" cried the half-caste, with a cruel +smile. + +"Faringhea, this day is all my own. I shall not leave you," said the +prince, resolutely. "Either you shall not go to this interview, or I +will accompany you." + +The half-caste appeared conquered by this generous perseverance. He fell +at the feet of Djalma, pressed the prince's hand respectfully to his +forehead and to his lips, and said: "My lord, be generous to the end! +forgive me!" + +"For what should I forgive you?" + +"Before I spoke to you, I had the audacity to think of asking for what +you have just freely offered. Not knowing to what extent my fury might +carry me, I had thought of asking you this favor, which you would not +perhaps grant to an equal, but I did not dare to do it. I shrunk even +from the avowal of the treachery I have cause to fear, and I came only to +tell you of my misery--because to you alone in all the world I could tell +it." + +It is impossible to describe the almost candid simplicity, with which the +half-breed pronounced these words, and the soft tones, mingled with +tears, which had succeeded his savage fury. Deeply affected, Djalma +raised him from the ground, and said: "You were entitled to ask of me a +mark of friendship. I am happy in having forestalled you. Courage! be +of good cheer! I will accompany you to this interview, and if my hopes +do not deceive me, you will find you have been deluded by false +appearances." + +When the night was come, the half-breed and Djalma, wrapped in their +cloaks, got into a hackney-coach. Faringhea ordered the coachman to +drive to the house inhabited by Sainte-Colombe. + + + + +CHAPTER LXIV. + +AN EVENING AT SAINTE-COLOMBE'S. + +Leaving Djalma and Faringhea in the coach, on their way, a few words are +indispensable before continuing this scene. Ninny Moulin, ignorant of +the real object of the step he took at the instigation of Rodin, had, on +the evening before, according to orders received from the latter, offered +a considerable sum to Sainte-Colombe, to obtain from that creature +(still singularly rapacious) the use of her apartments for whole day. +Sainte-Colombe, having accepted this proposition, too advantageous to be +refused, had set out that morning with her servants, to whom she wished, +she said, in return for their good services, to give a day's pleasure in +the country. Master of the house, Rodin, in a black wig, blue +spectacles, and a cloak, and with his mouth and chin buried in a worsted +comforter--in a word, perfectly disguised--had gone that morning to take +a look at the apartments, and to give his instructions to the half-caste. +The latter, in two hours from the departure of the Jesuit, had, thanks to +his address and intelligence, completed the most important preparation +and returned in haste to Djalma, to play with detestable hypocrisy the +scene at which we have just been present. + +During the ride from the Rue de Clichy to the Rue de Richelieu, Faringhea +appeared plunged in a mournful reverie. Suddenly, he said to Djalma to a +quick tone: "My lord, if I am betrayed, I must have vengeance." + +"Contempt is a terrible revenge," answered Djalma. + +"No, no," replied the half-caste, with an accent of repressed rage. "It +is not enough. The nearer the moment approaches, the more I feel I must +have blood." + +"Listen to me " + +"My lord, have pity on me! I was a coward to draw back from my revenge. +Let me leave you, my lord! I will go alone to this interview." + +So saying, Faringhea made a movement, as if he would spring from the +carriage. + +Djalma held him by the arm, and said: "Remain! I wilt not leave you. If +you are betrayed, you shall not shed blood. Contempt will avenge and +friendship will console you." + +"No, no, my lord; I am resolved. When I have killed--then I will kill +myself," cried the half-caste, with savage excitement. "This kandjiar +for the false ones!" added he, laying his hand on his dagger. "The +poison in the hilt for me." + +"Faringhea--" + +"If I resist you, my lord, forgive me! My destiny must be accomplished." + +Time pressed, and Djalma, despairing to calm the other's ferocious rage, +resolved to have recourse to a stratagem. + +After some minutes' silence, he said to Faringhea : I will not leave you. +I will do all I can to save you from a crime. If I do not succeed, the +blood you shed be on your own head. This hand shall never again be +locked in yours." + +These words appeared to make a deep impression on Faringhea. He breathed +a long sigh, and, bowing his head upon his breast, remained silent and +full of thought. Djalma prepared, by the faint light of the lamps, +reflected in the interior of the coach, to throw himself suddenly on the +half-caste, and disarm him. But the latter, who saw at a glance the +intention of the prince, drew his kandjiar abruptly from his girdle, and +holding it still in its sheath, said to the prince in a half-solemn, +half-savage tone: "This dagger, in a strong hand, is terrible; and in +this phial is one of the most subtle poisons of our country." + +He touched a spring, and the knob at the top of the hilt rose like a lid, +discovering the mouth of a small crystal phial concealed in this +murderous weapon. + +"Two or three drops of this poison upon the lips," resumed the half- +caste, "and death comes slowly and peacefully, in a few hours, and +without pain. Only, for the first symptom, the nails turn blue. But he +who emptied this phial at a draught would fall dead, as if struck by +lightning." + +"Yes," replied Djalma; "I know that our country produces such mysterious +poisons. But why lay such stress on the murderous properties of this +weapon?" + +"To show you, my lord, that this kandjiar would ensure the success and +impunity of my vengeance. With the blade I could destroy, and by the +poison escape from human justice. Well, my lord! this kandjiar--take it- +-I give it up to you--I renounce my vengeance--rather than render myself +unworthy to clasp again your hand!" + +He presented the dagger to the prince, who, as pleased as surprised at +this unexpected determination, hastily secured the terrible weapon +beneath his own girdle; whilst the half-breed continued, in a voice of +emotion: "Deep this kandjiar, my lord--and when you have seen and heard +all that we go to hear and see--you shall either give me the dagger to +strike a wretch--or the poison, to die without striking. You shall +command; I will obey." + +Djalma was about to reply, when the coach stopped at the house inhabited +by Sainte-Colombe. The prince and the half-caste, well enveloped in +their mantles, entered a dark porch, and the door was closed after them. +Faringhea exchanged a few words with the porter, and the latter gave him +a key. The two Orientals soon arrived at Sainte-Colombe's apartments, +which had two doors opening upon the landing-place, besides a private +entrance from the courtyard. As he put the key into the lock, Faringhea +said to Djalma, in an agitated voice: "Pity my weakness, my lord--but, at +this terrible moment, I tremble and hesitate. It were perhaps better to +doubt--or to forget!" + +Then, as the prince was about to answer, the half-caste exclaimed: "No! +we must have no cowardice!" and, opening the door precipitately, he +entered, followed by Djalma. + +When the door was again closed, the prince and the half-caste found +themselves in a dark and narrow passage. "Your hand, my lord--let me +guide you--walk lightly," said Faringhea, in a low whisper. + +He extended his hand to the prince, who took hold of it, and they both +advanced silently through the darkness. After leading Djalma some +distance, and opening and closing several doors, the half-caste stopped +abruptly, and abandoning the hand which he had hitherto held, said to the +prince: "My lord, the decisive moment approaches; let us wait here for a +few seconds." + +A profound silence followed these words of the half-caste. The darkness +was so complete, that Djalma could distinguish nothing. In about a +minute, he heard Faringhea moving away from him; and then a door was +suddenly opened, and as abruptly closed and locked. This circumstance +made Djalma somewhat uneasy. By a mechanical movement, he laid his hand +upon his dagger, and advanced cautiously towards the side, where he +supposed the door to be. + +Suddenly, the half-caste's voice struck upon his ear, though it was +impossible to guess whence it came. "My lord," it said, "you told me, +you were my friend. I act as a friend. If I have employed stratagem to +bring you hither, it is because the blindness of your fatal passion would +otherwise have prevented your accompanying me. The Princess de Saint- +Dizier named to you Agricola Baudoin, the lover of Adrienne de +Cardoville. Listen--look--judge!" + +The voice ceased. It appeared to have issued from one corner of the +room. Djalma, still in darkness, perceived too late into what a snare he +had fallen, and trembled with rage--almost with alarm. + +"Faringhea!" he exclaimed; "where am I? where are you? Open the door on +your life! I would leave this place instantly." + +Extending his arms, the prince advanced hastily several steps, but he +only touched a tapestried wall; he followed it, hoping to find the door, +and he at length found it; but it was locked, and resisted all his +efforts. He continued his researches, and came to a fireplace with no +fire in it, and to a second door, equally fast. In a few moments, he had +thus made the circle of the room, and found himself again at the +fireplace. The anxiety of the prince increased more and more. He called +Faringhea, in a voice trembling with passion. There was no answer. +Profound silence reigned without, and complete darkness within. Ere +long, a perfumed vapor, of indescribable sweetness, but very subtle and +penetrating, spread itself insensibly through the little room in which +Djalma was. It might be, that the orifice of a tube, passing through one +of the doors of the room, introduced this balmy current. At the height +of angry and terrible thoughts, Djalma paid no attention to this odor-- +but soon the arteries of his temples began to beat violently, a burning +heat seemed to circulate rapidly through his veins, he felt a sensation +of pleasure, his resentment died gradually away, and a mild, ineffable +torpor crept over him, without his being fully conscious of the mental +transformation that was taking place. Yet, by a last effort of the +wavering will, Djalma advanced once more to try and open one of the +doors; he found it indeed, but at this place the vapor was so strong, +that its action redoubled, and, unable to move a step further, Djalma was +obliged to support himself by leaning against the wall.[43] + +Then a strange thing happened. A faint light spread itself gradually +through an adjoining apartment, and Djalma now perceived, for the first +time, the existence of a little round window, in the wall of the room in +which he was. On the side of the prince, this opening was protected by a +slight but strong railing, which hardly intercepted the view. On the +other side a thick piece of plate-glass was fixed at the distance of two +or three inches from the railing in question. The room, which Djalma saw +through this window, and through which the faint light was now gradually +spreading, was richly furnished. Between two windows, hung with crimson +silk curtains, stood a kind of wardrobe, with a looking-glass front; +opposite the fireplace in which glowed the burning coals, was a long, +wide divan, furnished with cushions. + +In another second a woman entered this apartment. Her face and figure +were invisible, being wrapped in a long, hooded mantle, of peculiar form, +and a dark color. The sight of this mantle made Djalma start. To the +pleasure he at first felt succeeded a feverish anxiety, like the growing +fumes of intoxication. There was that strange buzzing in his ears which +we experience when we plunge into deep waters. It was in a kind of +delirium that Djalma looked on at what was passing in the next room. The +woman who had just appeared entered with caution, almost with fear. +Drawing aside one of the window curtains, she glanced through the closed +blinds into the street. Then she returned slowly to the fireplace, where +she stood for a moment pensive, still carefully enveloped in her mantle. +Completely yielding to the influence of the vapor, which deprived him of +his presence of mind--forgetting Faringhea, and all the circumstances +that had accompanied his arrival at this house--Djalma concentrated all +the powers of his attention on the spectacle before him, at which he +seemed to be present as in a dream. + +Suddenly Djalma saw the woman leave the fireplace and advance towards the +looking-glass. Turning her face toward it, she allowed the mantle to +glide down to her feet. Djalma was thunderstruck. He saw the face of +Adrienne de Cardoville. Yes, Adrienne, as he had seen her the night +before, attired as during her interview with the Princess de Saint- +Dizier--the light green dress, the rose-colored ribbons, the white head +ornaments. A network of white beads concealed her back hair, and +harmonized admirably with the shining gold of her ringlets. Finally, as +far as the Hindoo could judge through the railing and the thick glass, +and in the faint light, it was the figure of Adrienne, with her marble +shoulders and swan-like neck, so proud and so graceful. In a word, he +could not, he did not doubt that it was Adrienne de Cardoville. Djalma +was bathed in a burning dew, his dizzy excitement increased, and, with +bloodshot eye and heaving bosom, he remained motionless, gazing almost +without the power of thought. The young lady, with her back still turned +towards Djalma, arranged her hair with graceful art, took off the network +which formed her head-dress, placed it on the chimney-piece, and began to +unfasten her gown; then, withdrawing from the looking-glass, she +disappeared for an instant from Djalma's view. + +"She is expecting Agricola Baudoin, her lover," said a voice, which +seemed to proceed from the wall of the dark room in which Djalma was. + +Notwithstanding his bewilderment, these terrible words, "She is expecting +Agricola Baudoin, her lover," passed like a stream of fire through the +brain and heart of the prince. A cloud of blood came over his eyes, he +uttered a hollow moan, which the thickness of the glass prevented from +being heard in the next room, and broke his nails in attempting to tear +down the iron railing before the window. + +Having reached this paroxysm of delirious rage, Djalma saw the uncertain +light grow still fainter, as if it had been discreetly obscured, and, +through the vapory shadow that hung before him, he perceived the young +lady returning, clad in a long white dressing-gown, and with her golden +curls floating over her naked arms and shoulders. She advanced +cautiously in the direction of a door which was hid from Djalma's view. +At this moment, one of the doors of the apartment in which the prince was +concealed was gently opened by an invisible hand. Djalma noticed it by +the click of the lock, and by the current of fresh air which streamed +upon his face, for he could see nothing. This door, left open for +Djalma, like that in the next room, to which the young lady had drawn +near, led to a sort of ante-chamber communicating with the stairs, which +some one now rapidly ascended, and, stopping short, knocked twice at the +outer door. + +"Here comes Agricola Baudoin. Look and listen!" said the same voice that +the prince had already heard. + +Mad, intoxicated, but with the fixed idea and reckless determination of a +madman or a drunkard, Djalma drew the dagger which Faringhea had left in +his possession, and stood in motionless expectation. Hardly were the two +knocks heard before the young lady quitted the apartment, from which +streamed a faint ray of light, ran to the door of the staircase, so that +some faint glimmer reached the place where Djalma stood watching, his +dagger in his hand. He saw the young lady pass across the ante-chamber, +and approach the door of the staircase, where she said in a whisper: "Who +is there?" + +"It is I--Agricola Baudoin," answered, from, without, a manly voice. + +What followed was rapid as lightning, and must be conceived rather than +described. Hardly had the young lady drawn the bolt of the door, hardly +had Agricola Baudoin stepped across the threshold, than Djalma, with the +bound of a tiger, stabbed as it were at once, so rapid were the strokes, +both the young lady, who fell dead on the floor, and Agricola, who sank, +dangerously wounded, by the side of the unfortunate victim. This scene +of murder, rapid as thought, took place in the midst of a half obscurity. +Suddenly the faint light from the chamber was completely extinguished, +and a second after, Djalma felt his arm seized in the darkness by an iron +grasp, and the voice of Faringhea whispered: "You are avenged. Come; we +can secure our retreat." Inert, stupefied at what he had done, Djalma +offered no resistance, and let himself be dragged by the half-caste into +the inner apartment, from which there was another way out. + +When Rodin had exclaimed, in his admiration of the generative power of +thought, that the word NECKLACE had been the germ of the infernal project +he then contemplated, it was, that chance had brought to his mind the +remembrance of the too famous affair of the diamond necklace, in which a +woman, thanks to her vague resemblance to Queen Marie Antoinette, being +dressed like that princess, and favored by the uncertainty of a twilight, +had played so skillfully the part of her unfortunate sovereign, as to +make the Cardinal Prince de Rohan, though familiar with the court, the +complete dupe of the illusion. Having once determined on his execrable +design, Rodin had sent Jacques Dumoulin to Sainte-Colombe, without +telling him the real object of his mission, to ask this experienced woman +to procure a fine young girl, tall, and with red hair. Once found, a +costume exactly resembling that worn by Adrienne, and of which the +Princess de Saint-Dizier gave the description to Rodin (though herself +ignorant of this new plot), was to complete the deception. The rest is +known, or may be guessed. The unfortunate girl, who acted as Adrienne's +double, believed she was only aiding in a jest. As for Agricola, he had +received a letter, in which he was invited to a meeting that might be of +the greatest importance to Mdlle. de Cardoville. + +[43] See the strange effect of hasheesh. To the effect of this is +attributed the kind of hallucination which seized on those unhappy +persons, whom the Prince of the Assassins (the Old Man of the Mountain) +used as the instruments of his vengeance. + + + + +CHAPTER LXV. + +THE NUPTIAL BED. + +The mild light of a circular lamp of oriental alabaster, suspended from +the ceiling by three silver chains, spreads a faint lustre through the +bed-chamber of Adrienne de Cardoville. + +The large ivory bedstead, inlaid with mother-of-pearl, is not at present +occupied, and almost disappears beneath snowy curtains of lace and +muslin, transparent and vapory as clouds. On the white marble +mantlepiece, from beneath which the fire throws ruddy beams on the ermine +carpet, is the usual basket filled with a bush of red camellias, in the +midst of their shining green leaves. A pleasant aromatic odor, rising +from a warm and perfumed bath in the next room, penetrates every corner +of the bed-chamber. All without is calm and silent. It is hardly eleven +o'clock. The ivory door, opposite to that which leads to the bath-room, +opens slowly. Djalma appears. Two hours have elapsed since he committed +a double murder, and believed that he had killed Adrienne in a fit of +jealous fury. + +The servants of Mdlle. de Cardoville, accustomed to Djalma's daily +visits, no longer announced his arrival, and admitted him without +difficulty, having received no orders to the contrary from their +mistress. He had never before entered the bed-chamber, but, knowing that +the apartment the lady occupied was on the first floor of the house, he +had easily found it. As he entered that virgin sanctuary, his +countenance was pretty calm, so well did he control his feelings, only a +slight paleness tarnished the brilliant amber of his complexion. He wore +that day a robe of purple cashmere, striped with silver--a color which +did not show the stains of blood upon it. Djalma closed the door after +him, and tore off his white turban, for it seemed to him as if a band of +hot iron encircled his brow. His dark hair streamed around his handsome +face. He crossed his arms upon his bosom, and looked slowly about him. +When his eyes rested on Adrienne's bed, he started suddenly, and his +cheek grew purple. Then he drew his hand across his brow, hung down his +head, and remained standing for some moments in a dream, motionless as a +statue. + +After a mournful silence of a few seconds' duration, Djalma fell upon his +knees, and raised his eyes to heaven. The Asiatic's countenance was +bathed in tears, and no longer expressed any violent passion. On his +features was no longer the stamp of hate, or despair, or the ferocious +joy of vengeance gratified. It was rather the expression of grief at +once simple and immense. For several minutes he was almost choked with +sobs, and tears ran freely down his cheeks. + +"Dead! dead!" he murmured, in a half-stifled voice. "She, who this +morning slept so peacefully in this chamber! And I have killed her. Now +that she is dead, what is her treachery to me? I should not have killed +her for that. She had betrayed me; she loved the man whom I slew--she +loved him! Alas! I could not hope to gain the preference," added he, +with a touching mixture of resignation and remorse; "I, poor, untaught +youth--how could I merit her love? It was my fault that she did not love +me; but, always generous, she concealed from me her indifference, that +she might not make me too unhappy--and for that I killed her. What was +her crime? Did she not meet me freely? Did she not open to me her +dwelling? Did she not allow me to pass whole days with her? No doubt +she tried to love me, and could not. I loved her with all the faculties +of my soul, but my love was not such as she required. For that, I should +not have killed her. But a fatal delusion seized me and, after it was +done, I woke as from a dream. Alas! it was not a dream: I have killed +her. And yet--until this evening--what happiness I owed to her--what +hope--what joy! She made my heart better, nobler, more generous. All +came from her," added the Indian, with a new burst of grief. "That +remained with me--no one could take from me that treasure of the past-- +that ought to have consoled me. But why think of it? I struck them +both--her and the man--without a struggle. It was a cowardly murder--the +ferocity of the tiger that tears its innocent prey!" + +Djalma buried his face in his hands. Then, drying his tears, he resumed, +"I know, clearly, that I mean to die also. But my death will not restore +her to life!" + +He rose from the ground, and drew from his girdle Faringhea's bloody +dagger; then, taking the little phial from the hilt, he threw the blood- +stained blade upon the ermine carpet, the immaculate whiteness of which +was thus slightly stained with red. + +"Yes," resumed Djalma, holding the phial with a convulsive grasp, "I know +well that I am about to die. It is right. Blood for blood; my life for +hers. How happens it that my steel did not turn aside? How could I kill +her?--but it is done--and my heart is full of remorse, and sorrow, an +inexpressible tenderness--and I have come here--to die! + +"Here, in this chamber," he continued, "the heaven of my burning +visions!" And then he added, with a heartrending accent, as he again +buried his face in his hands, "Dead! dead!" + +"Well! I too shall soon be dead," he resumed, in a firmer voice. "But, +no! I will die slowly, gradually. A few drops of the poison will +suffice; and, when I am quite certain of dying, my remorse will perhaps +be less terrible. Yesterday, she pressed my hand when we parted. Who +could have foretold me this?" The Indian raised the phial resolutely to +his lips. He drank a few drops of the liquor it contained, and replaced +it on a little ivory table close to Adrienne's bed. + +"This liquor is sharp and hot," said he. "Now I am certain to die. Oh! +that I may still have time to feast on the sight and perfume of this +chamber--to lay my dying head on the couch where she has reposed." + +Djalma fell on his knees beside the bed, and leaned against it his +burning brow. At this moment, the ivory door, which communicated with +the bath-room, rolled gently on its hinges, and Adrienne entered. The +young lady had just sent away her woman, who had assisted to undress her. +She wore a long muslin wrapper of lustrous whiteness. Her golden hair, +neatly arranged in little plaits, formed two bands, which gave to her +sweet face an extremely juvenile air. Her snowy complexion was slightly +tinged with rose-color, from the warmth of the perfumed bath, which she +used for a few seconds every evening. When she opened the ivory door, +and placed her little naked foot, in its white satin slipper, upon the +ermine carpet, Adrienne was dazzlingly beautiful. Happiness sparkled in +her eyes, and adorned her brow. All the difficulties relative to her +union with Djalma had now been removed. In two days she would be his. +The sight of the nuptial chamber oppressed her with a vague and ineffable +languor. The ivory door had been opened so gently, the lady's first +steps were so soft upon the fur carpet, that Djalma, still leaning +against the bed, had heard nothing. But suddenly a cry of surprise and +alarm struck upon his ear. He turned round abruptly. Adrienne stood +before him. + +With an impulse of modesty, Adrienne closed her nightdress over her +bosom, and hastily drew back, still more afflicted than angry at what she +considered a guilty attempt on the part of Djalma. Cruelly hurt and +offended, she was about to reproach him with his conduct, when she +perceived the dagger, which he had thrown down upon the ermine carpet. +At sight of this weapon, and the expression of fear and stupor which +petrified the features of Djalma, who remained kneeling, motionless, with +his body thrown back, hands stretched out, his eyes fixed and wildly +staring Adrienne, no longer dreading an amorous surprise, was seized with +an indescribable terror, and, instead of flying from the prince, advanced +several steps towards him, and said, in an agitated voice, whilst she +pointed to the kandjiar, "My friend, why are you here? what ails you? +why this dagger?" + +Djalma made no answer. At first, the presence of Adrienne seemed to him +a vision, which he attributed to the excitement of his brain, already (it +might be) under the influence of the poison. But when the soft voice +sounded in his ears--when his heart bounded with the species of electric +shock, which he always felt when he met the gaze of that woman so +ardently beloved--when he had contemplated for an instant that adorable +face, so fresh and fair, in spite of its expression of deep uneasiness-- +Djalma understood that he was not the sport of a dream, but that Mdlle. +de Cardoville was really before his eyes. + +Then, as he began fully to grasp the thought that Adrienne was not dead, +though he could not at all explain the prodigy of her resurrection, the +Hindoo's countenance was transfigured, the pale gold of his complexion +became warm and red, his eyes (tarnished by tears of remorse) shone with +new radiance, and his features, so lately contracted with terror and +despair, expressed all the phases of the most ecstatic joy. Advancing, +still on his knees, towards Adrienne, he lifted up to her his trembling +hands, and, too deeply affected to pronounce a word, he gazed on her with +so much amazement, love, adoration, gratitude, that the young lady, +fascinated by those inexplicable looks, remained mute also, motionless +also, and felt, by the precipitate beating of her heart, and by the +shudder which ran through her frame, that there was here some dreadful +mystery to be unfolded. + +At last, Djalma, clasping his hands together, exclaimed with an accent +impossible to describe, "Thou art not dead!" + +"Dead!" repeated the young lady, in amazement. + +"It was not thou, really not thou, whom I killed? God is kind and just!" + +And as he pronounced these words with intense joy, the unfortunate youth +forgot the victim whom he had sacrificed in error. + +More and more alarmed, and again glancing at the dagger en which she now +perceived marks of blood--a terrible evidence, in confirmation of the +words of Djalma--Mdlle. de Cardoville exclaimed, "You have killed some +one, Djalma! Oh! what does he say? It is dreadful!" + +"You are alive--I see you--you are here," said Djalma, in a voice +trembling with rapture. "You are here--beautiful! pure! for it was not +you! Oh, no! had it been you, the steel would have turned back upon +myself." + +"You have killed some one?" cried the young lady, beside her with this +unforeseen revelation, and clasping her hands in horror. "Why? whom did +you kill?" + +"I do not know. A woman that was like you--a man that I thought your +lover--it was an illusion, a frightful dream--you are alive--you are +here!" + +And the oriental wept for joy. + +"A dream? but no, it is not a dream. There is blood upon that dagger!" +cried the young lady, as she pointed wildly to the kandjiar. "I tell you +there is blood upon it!" + +"Yes. I threw it down just now, when I took the poison from it, thinking +that I had killed you." + +"The poison!" exclaimed Adrienne, and her teeth chattered convulsively. +"What poison?" + +"I thought I had killed you, and I came here to die." + +"To die? Oh! wherefore? who is to die?" cried the young lady, almost in +delirium. + +"I," replied Djalma, with inexpressible tenderness, "I thought I had +killed you--and I took poison." + +"You!" exclaimed Adrienne, becoming pale as death. "You!" + +"Yes." + +"Oh! it is not true!" said the young lady, shaking her head. + +"Look!" said the Asiatic. Mechanically, he turned towards the bed-- +towards the little ivory table, on which sparkled the crystal phial. + +With a sudden movement, swifter than thought, swifter, it may be, than +the will, Adrienne rushed to the table, seized the phial, and applied it +eagerly to her lips. + +Djalma had hitherto remained on his knees; but he now uttered a terrible +cry, made one spring to the drinker's side, and dragged away the phial, +which seemed almost glued to her mouth. + +"No matter! I have swallowed as much as you," said Adrienne, with an air +of gloomy triumph. + +For an instant, there followed an awful silence. Adrienne and Djalma +gazed upon each other, mute, motionless, horror-struck. The young lady +was the first to break this mournful silence, and said in a tone which +she tried to make calm and steady, "Well! what is there extraordinary in +this? You have killed, and death most expiate your crime. It is just. +I will not survive you. That also is natural enough. Why look at me +thus? This poison has a sharp taste--does it act quickly! Tell me, my +Djalma!" + +The prince did not answer. Shuddering through all his frame, he looked +down upon his hands. Faringhea had told the truth; a slight violet tint +appeared already beneath the nails. Death was approaching, slowly, +almost insensibly, but not the less certain. Overwhelmed with despair at +the thought that Adrienne, too, was about to die, Djalma felt his courage +fail him. He uttered a long groan, and hid his face in his hands. His +knees shook under him, and he felt down upon the bed, near which he was +standing. + +"Already?" cried the young lady in horror, as she threw herself on her +knees at Djalma's feet. "Death already? Do you hide your face from me?" + +In her fright, she pulled his hands from before his face. That face was +bathed in tears. + +"No, not yet," murmured he, through his sobs. "The poison is slow." + +"Really!" cried Adrienne, with ineffable joy. Then, kissing the hands of +Djalma, she added tenderly, "If the poison is slow, why do you weep?" + +"For you! for you!" said the Indian, in a heart-rending tone. + +"Think not of me," replied Adrienne, resolutely. "You have killed, and +we must expiate the crime. I know not what has taken place; but I swear +by our love that you did not do evil for evil's sake. There is some +horrible mystery in all this." + +"On a pretence which I felt bound to believe," replied Djalma, speaking +quickly, and panting for breath, "Faringhea led me to a certain house. +Once there, he told me that you had betrayed me. I did not believe him, +but I know not what strange dizziness seized upon me--and then, through a +half-obscurity, I saw you--" + +"Me!" + +"No--not you--but a woman resembling you, dressed like you, so that I +believed the illusion--and then there came a man--and you flew to meet +him--and I--mad with rage--stabbed her, stabbed him, saw them fall--and +so came here to die. And now I find you only to cause your death. Oh, +misery! misery! that you should die through me!" + +And Djalma, this man of formidable energy, began again to weep with the +weakness of a child. At sight of this deep, touching, passionate +despair, Adrienne, with that admirable courage which women alone possess +in love, thought only of consoling Djalma. By an effort of superhuman +passion, as the prince revealed to her this infernal plot, the lady's +countenance became so splendid with an expression of love and happiness, +that the East Indian looked at her in amazement, fearing for an instant +that he must have lost his reason. + +"No more tears, my adored!" cried the young lady, exultingly. "No more +tears--but only smiles of joy and love! Our cruel enemies shall not +triumph!" + +"What do you say?" + +"They wished to make us miserable. We pity them. Our felicity shall be +the envy of the world!" + +"Adrienne--bethink you--" + +"Oh! I have all my senses about me. Listen to me, my adored! I now +understand it all. Falling into a snare, which these wretches spread for +you, you have committed murder. Now, in this country, murder leads to +infamy, or the scaffold--and to-morrow--to-night, perhaps--you would be +thrown into prison. But our enemies have said: `A man like Prince Djalma +does not wait for infamy --he kills himself. A woman like Adrienne de +Cardoville does not survive the disgrace or death of her lover--she +prefers to die. Therefore a frightful death awaits them both," said the +black-robed men; 'and that immense inheritance, which we covet--'" + +"And for you--so young, so beautiful so innocent--death is frightful, and +these monsters triumph!" cried Djalma. "They have spoken the truth!" + +"They have lied!" answered Adrienne. "Our death shall be celestial. +This poison is slow--and I adore you, my Djalma!" + +She spoke those words in a low voice, trembling with passionate love, +and, leaning upon Djalma's knees, approached so near, that he felt her +warm breath upon his cheek. As he felt that breath, and saw the humid +flame that darted from the large, swimming eyes of Adrienne, whose half- +opened lips were becoming of a still deeper and brighter hue, the Indian +started--his young blood boiled in his veins--he forgot everything--his +despair, and the approach of death, which as yet (as with Adrienne), only +showed itself in a kind of feverish ardor. His face, like the young +girl's, became once more splendidly beautiful. + +"Oh, my lover! my husband! how beautiful you are!" said Adrienne, with +idolatry. "Those eyes--that brow--those lips--how I love them!--How many +times has the remembrance of your grace and beauty, coupled with your +love, unsettled my reason, and shaken my resolves--even to this moment, +when I am wholly yours!--Yes, heaven wills that we should be united. +Only this morning, I gave to the apostolic man, that was to bless our +union, in thy name and mine, a royal gift--a gift, that will bring joy +and peace to the heart of many an unfortunate creature. Then what have +we to regret, my beloved? Our immortal souls will pass away in a kiss, +and ascend, full of love, to that God who is all love!" + +"Adrienne!" + +"Djalma!" + +The light, transparent curtains fell like a cloud over that nuptial and +funereal couch. Yes, funereal; for, two hours after, Adrienne and Djalma +breathed their last sigh in a voluptuous agony. + + + + +CHAPTER LXVI. + +A DUEL TO THE DEATH. + +Adrienne and Djalma died on the 30th of May. The following scene took +place on the 31st, the eve of the day appointed for the last convocation +of the heirs of Marius de Rennepont. The reader will no doubt remember +the room occupied by M. Hardy, in the "house of retreat," in the Rue de +Vaugirard--a gloomy and retired apartment, opening on a dreary little +garden, planted with yew-trees, and surrounded by high walls. To reach +this chamber, it was necessary to cross two vast rooms, the doors of +which, once shut, intercepted all noise and communication from without. +Bearing this in mind, we may go on with our narrative. For the last +three or four days, Father d'Aigrigny occupied this apartment. He had +not chosen it, but had been induced to accept it, under most plausible +pretexts, given him at the instigation of Rodin. It was about noon. +Seated in an arm-chair, by the window opening on the little garden, +Father d'Aigrigny held in his hand a newspaper, in which he read as +follows, under the head of "Paris:" + +"Eleven p.m.--A most horrible and tragical event has just excited the +greatest consternation in the quarter of the Rue de Richelieu. A double +murder has been committed, on the person of a young man and woman. The +girl was killed on the spot, by the stroke of a dagger; hopes are +entertained of saving the life of the young man. The crime is attributed +to jealousy. The officers of justice are investigating the matter. We +shall give full particulars tomorrow." + +When he had read these lines, Father d'Aigrigny threw down the paper and +remained in deep thought. + +"It is incredible," said he, with bitter envy, in allusion to Rodin. "He +has attained his end. Hardly one of his anticipations has been defeated. +This family is annihilated, by the mere play of the passions, good and +evil that he has known how to set in motion. He said it would be so. +Oh! I must confess," added Father d'Aigrigny, with a jealous and hateful +smile, "that Rodin is a man of rare dissimulation, patience, energy, +obstinacy and intelligence. Who would have told a few months ago, when +he wrote under my orders, a discreet and humble socius, that he had +already conceived the most audacious ambition, and dared to lift his eyes +to the Holy See itself? that, thanks to intrigues and corruption, pursued +with wondrous ability, these views were not so unreasonable? Nay, that +this infernal ambition would soon be realized, were it not that the +secret proceedings of this dangerous man have long been as secretly +watched?--Ah!" sneered Father d'Aigrigny, with a smile of irony and +triumph, "you wish to be a second Sixtus V., do you? And, not content +with this audacious pretension, you mean, if successful, to absorb our +Company in the Papacy, even as the Sultan has absorbed the Janissaries. +Ah! You would make us your stepping-stone to power! And you have thought +to humiliate and crush me with your insolent disdain! But patience, +patience: the day of retribution approaches. I alone am the depository +of our General's will. Father Caboccini himself does not know that. The +fate of Rodin is in my hands. Oh! it will not be what he expects. In +this Rennepont affair (which, I must needs confess, he has managed +admirably), he thinks to outwit us all, and to work only for himself. +But to-morrow--" + +Father d'Aigrigny was suddenly disturbed in these agreeable reflections. +He heard the door of the next room open, and, as he turned round to see +who was coming, the door of the apartment in which he was turned upon its +hinges. Father d'Aigrigny started with surprise, and became almost +purple. Marshal Simon stood before him. And, behind the marshal, in the +shadow of the door, Father d'Aigrigny perceived the cadaverous face of +Rodin. The latter cast on him one glance of diabolical delight, and +instantly disappeared. The door was again closed, and Father d'Aigrigny +and Marshal Simon were left alone together. The father of Rose and +Blanche was hardly recognizable. His gray hair had become completely +white. His pale, thin face had not been shaved for some days. His +hollow eyes were bloodshot and restless, and had in them something wild +and haggard. He was wrapped in a large cloak, and his black cravat was +tied loosely about his neck. In withdrawing from the apartment, Rodin +had (as if by inadvertence) double-locked the door on the outside. When +he was alone with the Jesuit, the marshal threw back his cloak from his +shoulders, and Father d'Aigrigny could see two naked swords, stuck +through a silk handkerchief which served him as a belt. + +Father d'Aigrigny understood it all. He remembered how, a few days +before, Rodin had obstinately pressed him to say what he would do if the +marshal were to strike him in the face. There could be no doubt that he, +who thought to have held the fate of Rodin in his hands, had been brought +by the latter into a fearful peril; for he knew that, the two outer rooms +being closed, there was no possibility of making himself heard, and that +the high walls of the garden only bordered upon some vacant lots. The +first thought which occurred to him, one by no means destitute of +probability, was that Rodin, either by his agents at Rome, or by his own +incredible penetration, had learned that his fate depended on Father +d'Aigrigny, and hoped therefore to get rid of him, by delivering him over +to the inexorable vengeance of the father of Rose and Blanche. Without +speaking a word, the marshal unbound the handkerchief from his waist, +laid the two swords upon the table, and, folding his arms upon his +breast, advanced slowly towards Father d'Aigrigny. Thus these two men, +who through life had pursued each other with implacable hatred, at length +met face to face--they, who had fought in hostile armies, and measured +swords in single combat, and one of whom now came to seek vengeance for +the death of his children. As the marshal approached, Father d'Aigrigny +rose from his seat. He wore that day a black cassock, which rendered +still more visible the pale hue, which had now succeeded to the sudden +flush on his cheek. For a few seconds, the two men stood face to face +without speaking. The marshal was terrific in his paternal despair. His +calmness, inexorable as fate, was more impressive than the most furious +burst of anger. + +"My children are dead," said he at last, in a slow and hollow tone. "I +come to kill you." + +"Sir," cried Father d'Aigrigny, "listen to me. Do not believe--" + +"I must kill you," resumed the marshal, interrupting the Jesuit; "your +hate followed my wife into exile, where she perished. You and your +accomplices sent my children to certain death. For twenty years you have +been my evil genius. I must have your life, and I will have it." + +"My life belongs, first, to God," answered Father d'Aigrigny, piously, +"and then to who likes to take it." + +"We will fight to the death in this room," said the marshal; "and, as I +have to avenge my wife and children, I am tranquil as to the result." + +"Sir," answered Father d'Aigrigny, coldly, "you forget that my profession +forbids me to fight. Once I accepted your challenge--but my position is +changed since then." + +"Ah!" said the marshal, with a bitter smile; "you refuse to fight because +you are a priest?" + +"Yes, sir--because I am a priest." + +"So that, because he is a priest, a wretch like you may commit any crime, +any baseness, under shelter of his black gown?" + +"I do not understand a word of your accusations. In any case, the law is +open," said Father d'Aigrigny, biting his pale lips, for he felt deeply +the insult offered by the marshal; "if you have anything to complain of, +appeal to that law, before which all are equal." + +Marshal Simon shrugged his shoulders in angry disdain. "Your crimes +escape the law--and, could it even reach you, that would not satisfy my +vengeance, after all the evil you have done me, after all you have taken +from me," said the marshal; and, at the memory of his children, his voice +slightly trembled; but he soon proceeded, with terrible calmness: "You +must feel that I now only live for vengeance. And I must have such +revenge as is worth the seeking--I must have your coward's heart +palpitating on the point of my sword. Our last duel was play; this will +be earnest--oh! you shall see." + +The marshal walked up to the table, where he had laid the two swords. +Father d'Aigrigny needed all his resolution to restrain himself. The +implacable hate which he had always felt for Marshal Simon, added to +these insults, filled him with savage ardor. Yet he answered, in a tone +that was still calm: "For the last time, sir, I repeat to you, that my +profession forbids me to fight." + +"Then you refuse?" said the marshal, turning abruptly towards him. + +"I refuse." + +"Positively?" + +"Positively. Nothing on earth should force me to it." + +"Nothing." + +"No, sir; nothing." + +"We shall see," said the marshal, as his hand fell with its full force on +the cheek of Father d'Aigrigny. + +The Jesuit uttered a cry of fury; all his blood rushed to his face, so +roughly handled; the courage of the man (for he was brave), his ancient +military ardor, carried him away; his eyes sparkled, and, with teeth +firmly set, and clenched fists, he advanced towards the marshal, +exclaiming: "The swords! the swords!" + +But suddenly, remembering the appearance of Rodin, and the interest which +the latter had in bringing about this encounter, he determined to avoid +the diabolical snare laid by his former socius, and so gathered +sufficient resolution to restrain his terrible resentment. + +To his passing fury succeeded a calm, full of contrition; and, wishing to +play his part out to the end, he knelt down, and bowing his head and +beating his bosom, repeated: "Forgive me, Lord, for yielding to a +movement of rage! and, above all, forgive him who has injured me!" + +In spite of his apparent resignation, the Jesuit's voice was neatly +agitated. He seemed to feel a hot iron upon his cheek, for never before +in his life, whether as a soldier or a priest, had he suffered such an +insult. He had thrown himself upon his knees, partly from religious +mummery, and partly to avoid the gaze of the marshal, fearing that, were +he to meet his eye, he should not be able to answer for himself, but give +way to his impetuous feelings. On seeing the Jesuit kneel down, and on +hearing his hypocritical invocation, the marshal, whose sword was in his +hand, shook with indignation. + +"Stand up, scoundrel!" he said, "stand up, wretch!" And he spurned the +Jesuit with his boot. + +At this new insult, Father d'Aigrigny leaped up, as if he had been moved +by steel springs. It was too much; he could bear no more. Blinded with +rage, he rushed to the able, caught up the other sword, and exclaimed, +grinding his teeth together: "Ah! you will have blood. Well then! it +shall be yours--if possible!" + +And the Jesuit, still in all the vigor of manhood, his face purple, his +large gray eyes sparkling with hate, fell upon his guard with the ease +and skill of a finished swordsman. + +"At last!" cried the marshal, as their blades were about to cross. + +But once more reflection came to damp the fire of the Jesuit. He +remembered how this hazardous duel would gratify the wishes of Rodin, +whose fate was in his hands, and whom he hated perhaps even more than the +marshal. Therefore, in spite of the fury which possessed him, in spite +of his secret hope to conquer in this combat, so strong and healthy did +he feel himself, and so fatal had been the effects of grief on the +constitution of Marshal Simon, he succeeded in mastering his rage, and, +to the amazement of the marshal, dropped the point of his sword, +exclaiming: "I am a minister of the Lord, and must not shed blood. +Forgive ne, heaven! and, oh! forgive my brother also." + +Then placing the blade beneath his heel, he drew the hilt suddenly +towards him, and broke the weapon into two pieces. The duel was no +longer possible. Father d'Aigrigny had put it out of his own power to +yield to a new burst of violence, of which he saw the imminent danger. +Marshal Simon remained for an instant mute and motionless with surprise +and indignation, for he also saw that the duel was now impossible. But, +suddenly, imitating the Jesuit, the marshal placed his blade also under +his heel, broke it in half, and picking up the pointed end, about +eighteen inches in length tore off his black silk cravat, rolled it round +the broken part so as to form a handle, and said to Father d'Aigrigny: +"Then we will fight with daggers." + +Struck with this mixture of coolness and ferocity, the Jesuit exclaimed: +"Is this then a demon of hell?" + +"No; it is a father, whose children have been murdered," said the +marshal, in a hollow voice, whilst he fitted the blade to his hand, and a +tear stood in the eye, that instantly after became fierce and ardent. + +The Jesuit saw that tear. There was in this mixture of vindictive rage +and paternal grief something so awful, and yet so sacred, that for the +first time in his life Father d'Aigrigny felt fear--cowardly, ignoble +fear--fear for his own safety. While a combat with swords was in +question, in which skill, agility, and experience are such powerful +auxiliaries to courage, his only difficulty had been to repress the ardor +of his hate--but when he thought of the combat proposed, body to body, +face to face, heart to heart, he trembled, grew pale, and exclaimed: "A +butchery with knives?--never!" + +His countenance and the accent betrayed his alarm, so that the marshal +himself was struck with it, and fearing to lose his revenge, he cried: +"After all, he is a coward! The wretch had only the courage or the +vanity of a fencer. This pitiful renegade--this traitor to his country-- +whom I have cuffed, kicked--yes, kicked, most noble marquis!--shame of +your ancient house--disgrace to the rank of gentleman, old or new--ah! it +is not hypocrisy, it is not calculation, as I at first thought--it is +fear! You need the noise of war, and the eyes of spectators to give you +courage--" + +"Sir--have a care!" said Father d'Aigrigny, stammering through his +clenched teeth, for rage and hate now made him forget his fear-- + +"Must I then spit on you, to make the little blood you have left rise to +your face?" cried the exasperated marshal. + +"Oh! this is too much! too much!" said the Jesuit, seizing the pointed +piece of the blade that lay at his feet. + +"It is not enough!" said the marshal, panting for breath. "There, +Judas!" and he spat in his face. + +"If you will not fight now," added the marshal, "I will beat you like a +dog, base child-murderer!" + +On receiving the uttermost insult which can be offered to an already +insulted man, Father d'Aigrigny lost all his presence of mind, forgot his +interests, his resolutions, his fears, forgot even Rodin--felt only the +frenzied ardor of revenge--and, recovering his courage, rejoiced in the +prospect of a close struggle, in which his superior strength promised +success over the enfeebled frame of the marshal for, in this kind of +brutal and savage combat, physical strength offers an immense advantage. +In an instant, Father d'Aigrigny had rolled his handkerchief round the +broken blade, and rushed upon Marshal Simon, who received the shock with +intrepidity. For the short time that this unequal struggle lasted-- +unequal, for the marshal had since some days been a prey to a devouring +fever, which had undermined his strength--the two combatants, mute in +their fury, uttered not a word or a cry. Had any one been present at +this horrible scene, it would have been impossible for him to tell how +they dealt their blows. He would have seen two heads--frightful, livid, +convulsed--rising, falling, now here, now there--arms, now stiff as bars +of iron, and now twisting like serpents--and, in the midst of the +undulation of the blue coat of the marshal and the black cassock of the +Jesuit, from time to time the sudden gleam of the steel. He would have +heard only a dull stamping, and now and then a deep breath. In about two +minutes at most, the two adversaries fell, and rolled one over the other. +One of them--it was Father d'Aigrigny--contrived to disengage himself +with a violent effort, and to rise upon his knees. His arms fell +powerless by his side; and then the dying voice of the marshal murmured: +"My children! Dagobert!" + +"I have killed him," said Father d'Aigrigny, in a weak voice; "but I +feel--that I am wounded--to death." + +Leaning with one hand on the ground, the Jesuit pressed the other to his +bosom. His black cassock was pierced through and through, but the +blades, which had served for the combat, being triangular and very sharp, +the blood instead of issuing from the wounds, was flowing inwards. + +"Oh! I die--I choke," said Father d'Aigrigny, whose features were already +changing with the approach of death. + +At this moment, the key turned twice in the door, Rodin appeared on the +threshold, and, thrusting in his head, he said in a humble and discreet +voice: "May I come in?" + +At this dreadful irony, Father d'Aigrigny strove to rise, and rush upon +Rodin; but he fell back exhausted; the blood was choking him. + +"Monster of hell!" he muttered, casting on Rodin a terrible glance of +rage and agony. "Thou art the cause of my death." + +"I always told you, my dear father, that your old military habits would +be fatal to you," answered Rodin with a frightful smile. "Only a few +days ago, I gave you warning, and advised you take a blow patiently from +this old swordsman--who seems to have done with that work forever, which +is well--for the Scripture says: `All they that take the sword shall +perish with the sword.' And then this Marshal Simon might have had some +claim on his daughter's inheritance. And, between ourselves, my dear +father, what was I to do? It was necessary to sacrifice you for the +common interest; the rather, that I well knew what you had in pickle for +me to-morrow. But I am not so easily caught napping." + +"Before I die," said Father d'Aigrigny, in a failing voice, "I will +unmask you." + +"Oh, no, you will not," said Rodin, shaking his head with a knowing air; +"I alone, if you please, will receive your last confession." + +"Oh! this is horrible," moaned Father d'Aigrigny, whose eyes were +closing. "May God have mercy on me, if it is not too late!--Alas! at +this awful moment, I feel that I have been a great sinner--" + +"And, above all, a great fool," said Rodin, shrugging his shoulders, and +watching with cold disdain the dying moments of his accomplice. + +Father d'Aigrigny had now but a few minutes more to live. Rodin +perceived it, and said: "It is time to call for help." And the Jesuit +ran, with an air of alarm and consternation, into the courtyard of the +house. + +Others came at his cries; but, as he had promised, Rodin had only quitted +Father d'Aigrigny as the latter had breathed his last sigh. + +That evening, alone in his chamber, by the glimmer of a little lamp, +Rodin sat plunged in a sort of ecstatic contemplation, before the print +representing Sixtus V. The great house-clock struck twelve. At the last +stroke, Rodin drew himself up in all the savage majesty of his infernal +triumph, and exclaimed: "This is the first of June. There are no more +Renneponts!--Methinks, I hear the hour from the clock of St. Peter's at +Rome striking!" + + + + +CHAPTER LXVII. + +A MESSAGE. + +While Rodin sat plunged in ambitious reverie, contemplating the portrait +of Sixtus V., good little Father Caboccini, whose warm embraces had so +much irritated the first mentioned personage, went secretly to Faringhea, +to deliver to him a fragment of an ivory crucifix, and said to him with +his usual air of jovial good-nature: "His Excellency Cardinal Malipieri, +on my departure from Rome, charged me to give you this only on the 31st +of May." + +The half-caste, who was seldom affected by anything, started abruptly, +almost with an expression of pain. His face darkened, and bending upon +the little father a piercing look, he said to him: "You were to add +something." + +"True," replied Father Caboccini; "the words I was to add are these: +'There is many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip.'" + +"It is well," said the other. Heaving a deep sigh, he joined the +fragment of the ivory crucifix to a piece already in his possession; it +fitted exactly. + +Father Caboccini looked at him with curiosity, for the cardinal had only +told him to deliver the ivory fragment to Faringhea, and to repeat the +above words. Being somewhat mystified with all this, the reverend father +said to the half-caste: "What are you going to do with that crucifix?" + +"Nothing," said Faringhea, still absorbed in painful thought. + +"Nothing?" resumed the reverend father, in astonishment. "What, then, +was the use of bringing it so far?" + +Without satisfying his curiosity, Faringhea replied: "At what hour to- +morrow does Father Rodin go to the Rue Saint Francois?" + +"Very early." + +"Before leaving home, he will go to say prayers in the chapel?" + +"Yes, according to the habit of our reverend fathers." + +"You sleep near him?" + +"Being his socius, I occupy the room next to his." + +"It is possible," said Faringhea, after a moment's silence, "that the +reverend father, full of the great interests which occupy his mind, might +forget to go to the chapel. In that case, pray remind him of this pious +duty." + +"I shall not fail." + +"Pray do not fail," repeated Faringhea, anxiously. + +"Be satisfied," said the good little father; "I see that you take great +interest in his salvation." + +"Great interest." + +"It is very praiseworthy in you. Continue as you have begun, and you may +one day belong, completely to our Company," said Father Caboccini, +affectionately. + +"I am as yet but a poor auxiliary member," said Faringhea, humbly; "but +no one is more devoted to the Society, body and soul. Bowanee is nothing +to it." + +"Bowanee! who is that, my good friend?" + +"Bowanee makes corpses which rot in the ground. The Society makes +corpses which walk about." + +"Ah, yes! Perinde ac cadaver--they were the last words of our great +saint, Ignatius de Loyola. But who is this Bowanee?" + +"Bowanee is to the Society what a child is to a man," replied the +Asiatic, with growing excitement. "Glory to the Company--glory! Were my +father its enemy, I would kill my father. The man whose genius inspires +me most with admiration, respect, and terror--were he its enemy, I would +kill, in spite of all," said the half-caste, with an effort. Then, after +a moment's silence, he looked full in Caboccini's face, and added: "I say +this, that you may report my words to Cardinal Malipieri, and beg him to +mention them to--" + +Faringhea stopped short. "To whom should the cardinal mention your +words?" asked Caboccini. + +"He knows," replied the half-caste, abruptly. "Good night!" + +"Good-night, my friend! I can only approve of your excellent sentiments +with regard to our Company. Alas! it is in want of energetic defenders, +for there are said to be traitors in its bosom." + +"For those," said Faringhea, "we must have no pity." + +"Certainly," said the good little father; "we understand one another." + +"Perhaps," said the half-caste. "Do not, at all events, forget to remind +Father Rodin to go to chapel to-morrow morning." + +"I will take care of that," said Father Caboccini. + +The two men parted. On his return to the house, Caboccini learned that a +courier, only arrived that night from Rome, had brought despatches to +Rodin. + + + + +CHAPTER LXVIII. + +THE FIRST OF JUNE. + +The chapel belonging to the house of the reverend fathers in the Rue de +Vaugirard, was gay and elegant. Large panes of stained glass admitted a +mysterious light; the altar shone with gold and silver; and at the +entrance of this little church, in an obscure corner beneath the organ- +loft, was a font for holy water in sculptured marble. It was close to +this font, in a dark nook where he could hardly be seen, that Faringhea +knelt down, early on the 1st of June, as soon indeed as the chapel doors +were opened. The half-caste was exceedingly sad. From time to time he +started and sighed, as if agitated by a violent internal struggle. This +wild, untamable being, possessed with the monomania of evil and +destruction, felt, as may be imagined, a profound admiration for Rodin, +who exercised over him a kind of magnetic fascination. The half-caste, +almost a wild beast in human form, saw something supernatural in the +infernal genius of Rodin. And the latter, too sagacious not to have +discovered the savage devotion of this wretch, had made, as we have seen, +good use of him, is bringing about the tragical termination of the loves +of Adrienne and Djalma. But what excited to an incredible degree the +admiration of Faringhea, was what he knew of the Society of Jesus. This +immense, occult power, which undermined the world by its subterraneous +ramifications, and reached its ends by diabolical means, had inspired the +half-caste with a wild enthusiasm. And if anything in the world +surpassed his fanatical admiration for Rodin, it was his blind devotion +to the Company of Ignatius de Loyola, which, as he said, could make +corpses that walk about. Hid in the shadow of the organ-loft, Faringhea +was reflecting deeply on these things, when footsteps were heard, and +Rodin entered the chapel, accompanied by his socius, the little one-eyed +father. + +Whether from absence of mind, or that the shadow of the orange-loft +completely concealed the half-caste, Rodin dipped his fingers into the +font without perceiving Faringhea, who stood motionless as a statue, +though a cold sweat streamed from his brow. The prayer of Rodin was, as +may be supposed, short; he was in haste to get to the Rue Saint-Francois. +After kneeling down with Father Caboccini for a few seconds, he rose, +bowed respectfully to the altar, and returned towards the door, followed +by his socius. At the moment Rodin approached the font he perceived the +tall figure of the half-caste standing out from the midst of the dark +shadow; advancing a little, Faringhea bowed respectfully to Rodin, who +said to him, in a low voice; "Come to me at two o'clock." + +So saying, Rodin stretched forth his hand to dip it into the holy water; +but Faringhea spared him the trouble, by offering him the sprinkling- +brush, which generally stood in the font. + +Pressing between his dirty fingers the damp hairs of the brush, which the +half-caste held by the handle, Rodin wetted his thumb and forefinger, +and, according to custom, traced the sign of the cross upon his forehead. +Then, opening the door of the chapel, he went out, after again repeating +to Faringhea: "Come to me at two o'clock." + +Thinking he would also make use of the sprinkling-brush, which, +Faringhea, still motionless, held with a trembling hand, Father Caboccini +stretched out his fingers to reach it, when the half-breed, as if +determined to confine his favors to Rodin, hastily withdrew the +instrument. Deceived in his expectation, Father Caboccini lost no time +in following Rodin, whom he was not to leave that day for a single +moment, and, getting into a hackney-coach with him, set out for the Rue +Saint-Francois. It is impossible to describe the look which the half- +breed fixed upon Rodin as the latter quitted the chapel. Left alone in +the sacred edifice, Faringhea sank upon the stones, half kneeling, half +crouching, with his face buried in his hands. As the coach drew near the +quarter of the Marais, in which was situated the house of Marius de +Rennepont, a feverish agitation, and the devouring impatience of triumph, +were visible on the countenance of Rodin. Two or three times he opened +his pocketbook, and read and arranged the different certificates of death +of the various members of the Rennepont family; and from time to time he +thrust his head anxiously from the coach-window, as if he had wished to +hasten the slow progress of the vehicle. + +The good little father, his socius, did not take his eye off Rodin, and +his look had a strange and crafty expression. At last the coach entered +the Rue Saint-Francois, and stopped before the iron-studded door of the +old house, which had been closed for a century and a half. Rodin sprang +from the coach with the agility of a young man, and knocked violently at +the door, whilst Father Caboccini, less light of foot, descended more +prudently to the ground. No answer was returned to the loud knocking of +Rodin. Trembling with anxiety, he knocked again. This time, as he +listened attentively, he heard slow steps approaching. They stopped at +some distance from the door, which was not yet opened. + +"It is keeping one upon red-hot coals," said Rodin, for he felt as if +there was a burning fire in his chest. He again shook the door +violently, and began to gnaw his nails according to his custom. + +Suddenly the door opened, and Samuel, the Jew guardian, appeared beneath +the porch. The countenance of the old man expressed bitter grief. Upon +his venerable cheeks were the traces of recent tears, which he strove to +dry with his trembling hands, as he opened the door to Rodin. + +"Who are you, gentlemen?" said Samuel. + +"I am the bearer of a power of attorney from the Abbe Gabriel, the only +living representative of the Rennepont family," answered Rodin, hastily. +"This gentleman is my secretary," added he, pointing to Father Caboccini, +who bowed. + +After looking attentively at Rodin, Samuel resumed: "I recognize you, +sir. Please to follow me." And the old guardian advanced towards the +house in the garden, making a sign to the two reverend fathers to follow. + +"That confounded old man kept me so long at the door," said Rodin to his +socius, "that I think I have caught a cold in consequence. My lips and +throat are dried up, like parchment baked at the fire." + +"Will you not take something, my dear, good father? Suppose you were to +ask this man for a glass of water," cried the little one-eyed priest, +with tender solicitude. + +"No, no," answered Rodin; "it is nothing. I am devoured by impatience. +That is all." + +Pale and desolate, Bathsheba, the wife of Samuel, was standing at the +door of the apartment she occupied with her husband, in the building next +the street. As the Jew passed before her, he said, in Hebrew: "The +curtains of the Hall of Mourning?" + +"Are closed." + +"And the iron casket?" + +"Is prepared," answered Bathsheba, also in Hebrew. + +After pronouncing these words, completely unintelligible to Rodin and +Caboccini, Samuel and Bathsheba exchanged a bitter smile, notwithstanding +the despair impressed on their countenances. + +Ascending the steps, followed by the two reverend fathers, Samuel entered +the vestibule of the house, in which a lamp was burning. Endowed with an +excellent local memory, Rodin was about to take the direction of the Red +Saloon, in which had been held the first convocation of the heirs, when +Samuel stopped him, and said: "It is not that way." + +Then, taking the lamp, he advanced towards a dark staircase, for the +windows of the house had not been un-bricked. + +"But," said Rodin, "the last time, we met in a saloon on the ground +floor." + +To-day, we must go higher," answered Samuel, as he began slowly to ascend +the stairs. + +"Where to? higher!" said Rodin, following him. + +"To the Hall of Mourning," replied the Jew, and he continued to ascend. + +"What is the Hall of Mourning?" resumed Rodin, in some surprise. + +"A place of tears and death," answered the Israelite; and he kept on +ascending through the darkness, for the little lamp threw but a faint +light around. + +"But," said Rodin, more and more astonished, and stopping short on the +stairs, "why go to this place?" + +"The money is there," answered Samuel, and he went on, + +"Oh? if the money is there, that alters the case," replied Rodin; and he +made haste to regain the few steps he had lost by stopping. + +Samuel continued to ascend, and, at a turn of the staircase, the two +Jesuits could see by the pale light of the little lamp, the profile of +the old Israelite, in the space left between the iron balustrade and the +wall, as he climbed on with difficulty above them. Rodin was struck with +the expression of Samuel's countenance. His black eyes, generally so +calm, sparkled with ardor. His features, usually impressed with a +mixture of sorrow, intelligence, and goodness, seemed to grow harsh and +stern, and his thin lips wore a strange smile. + +"It is not so very high," whispered Rodin to Caboccini. "and yet my legs +ache, and I am quite out of breath. There is a strange throbbing too in +my temples." + +In fact, Rodin breathed hard, and with difficulty. To this confidential +communication, good little Father Caboccini, in general so full of tender +care for his colleague, made no answer. He seemed to be in deep thought. + +"Will we soon be there?" said Rodin, impatiently, to Samuel. + +"We are there," replied the Israelite. + +"And a good thing too," said Rodin. + +"Very good," said the Jew. + +Stopping in the midst of a corridor, he pointed with the hand in which he +held the lamp to a large door from which streamed a faint light. In +spite of his growing surprise. Rodin entered resolutely, followed by +Father Caboccini and Samuel. The apartment in which these three +personage, now found themselves was very large. The daylight only +entered from a belvedere in the roof, the four sides of which had been +covered with leaden plates, each of which was pierced with seven holes, +forming a cross, thus: + * + * * * + * + * + * + +Now, the light being only admitted through these holes, the obscurity +would have been complete, had it not been for a lamp, which burned on a +large massive slab of black marble, fixed against one of the walls. One +would have taken it for a funeral chamber, for it was all hung with black +curtains, fringed with white. There was no furniture, save the slab of +black marble we have already mentioned. On this slab was an iron casket, +of the manufacture of the seventeenth century, admirably adorned with +open work, like lace made of metal. + +Addressing Rodin, who was wiping his forehead with his dirty +handkerchief, and looking round him with surprise, but not fear, Samuel +said to him: "The will of the testator, however strange it may appear, is +sacred with me, and must be accomplished in all things." + +"Certainly," said Rodin; "but what are we to do here?" + +"You will know presently, sir. You are the representative of the only +remaining heir of the Rennepont family, the Abbe Gabriel de Rennepont?" + +"Yes, sir, and here are my papers," replied Rodin. + +"To save time," resumed Samuel, "I will, previous to the arrival of the +magistrate, go through the inventory of the securities contained in this +casket, which I withdrew yesterday from the custody of the Bank of +France." + +"The securities are there?" cried Rodin, advancing eagerly towards the +casket. + +"Yes, sir," replied Samuel, "as by the list. Your secretary will call +them over, and I will produce each in turn. They can then be replaced in +the casket, which I will deliver up to you in presence of the +magistrate." + +"All this seems perfectly correct," said Rodin. + +Samuel delivered the list to Father Caboccini, and approaching the +casket, touched a spring, which was not seen by Rodin. The heavy lid +flew open, and, while Father Caboccini read the names of the different +securities, Samuel showed them to Rodin, who returned them to the old +Jew, after a careful examination. This verification did not last long, +for this immense fortune was all comprised, as we already know, in eight +government securities, five hundred thousand francs in bank-note, thirty- +five thousand francs in gold, and two hundred and fifty francs in silver- +-making in all an amount of two hundred and twelve millions, one hundred +and seventy-five thousand francs. When Rodin had counted the last of the +five hundred bank-notes, of a thousand francs each, he said, as he +returned them to Samuel: "It is quite right. Two hundred and twelve +millions, one hundred and seventy-five thousand francs!" + +He was no doubt almost choked with joy, for he breathed with difficulty, +his eyes closed, and he was obliged to lean upon Father Caboccini's arm, +as he said to him in an altered voice: "It is singular. I thought myself +proof against all such emotions; but what I feel is extraordinary." + +The natural paleness of the Jesuit increased so much, and he seemed so +much agitated with convulsive movements, that Father Caboccini exclaimed: +"My dear father, collect yourself; do not let success overcome you thus." + +Whilst the little one-eyed man was, attending to Rodin, Samuel carefully +replaced the securities in the iron casket. Thanks to his unconquerable +energy, and to the joy he felt at seeing himself so near the term of his +labors, Rodin mastered this attack of weakness, and drawing himself up, +calm and proud, he said to Caboccini: "It is nothing. I did not survive +the cholera to die of joy on the first of June." + +And, though still frightfully pale, the countenance of the Jesuit shone +with audacious confidence. But now, when Rodin appeared to be quite +recovered, Father Caboccini seemed suddenly transformed. Though short, +fat, and one-eyed, his features assumed on the instant so firm, harsh, +and commanding an expression, that Rodin recoiled a step as he looked at +him. Then Father Caboccini, drawing a paper from his pocket, kissed it +respectfully, glanced sternly at Rodin, and read as follows, in a severe +and menacing tone: + +"`On receipt of the present rescript, the Reverend Father Rodin will +deliver up all his powers to the Reverend Father Caboccini, who is alone +commissioned, with the Reverend Father d'Aigrigny, to receive the +inheritance of the Rennepont family, if, in His eternal justice, the Lord +should restore this property, of which our Company has been wronged. + +"`Moreover, on receipt of the present rescript, the Reverend Father +Rodin, in charge of a person to be named by the Reverend Father +Caboccini, shall be conveyed to our house in the Town of Laval, to be +kept in strict seclusion in his cell until further orders.'" + +Then Father Caboccini handed the rescript to Rodin, that the latter might +read the signature of the General of the Company. Samuel, greatly +interested by this scene, drew a few steps nearer, leaving the casket +half-open. Suddenly, Rodin burst into a loud laugh--a laugh of joy, +contempt and triumph, impossible to describe. Father Caboccini +looked at him with angry astonishment; when Rodin, growing still more +imperious and haughty, and with an air of more sovereign disdain than +ever, pushed aside the paper with the back of his dirty hand and said: +"What is the date of that scribble?" + +"The eleventh of May," answered Father Caboccini in amazement. + +"Here is a brief, that I received last night from Rome, under date of the +eighteenth. It informs me that I am appointed GENERAL OF THE ORDER. +Read!" + +Father Caboccini took the paper, read it, and remained thunderstruck. +Then, returning it humbly to Rodin, he respectfully bent his knee before +him. Thus seemed the ambitious views of Rodin accomplished. In spite of +the hatred and suspicion of that party, of which Cardinal Malipieri was +the representative and the chief, Rodin, by address and craft, audacity +and persuasion, and in consequence of the high esteem in which his +partisans at Rome held his rare capacity, had succeeded in deposing his +General, and in procuring his own elevation to that eminent post. Now, +according to his calculation, aided by the millions he was about to +possess, it would be but one step from that post to the pontifical +throne. A mute witness of this scene, Samuel smiled also with an air of +triumph, as he closed the casket by means of the spring known only to +himself. That metallic sound recalled Rodin from the heights of his mad +ambition to the realities of life, and he said to Samuel in a sharp +voice: "You have heard? These millions must be delivered to me alone." + +He extended his hands eagerly and impatiently towards the casket, as if +he would have taken possession of it, before the arrival of the +magistrate. Then Samuel in his turn seemed transfigured, and, folding +his arms upon his breast, and drawing up his aged form to its full +height, he assumed a threatening and imposing air. His eyes flashed with +indignation, and he said in a solemn tone: "This fortune--at first the +humble remains of the inheritance of the most noble of men, whom the +plots of the sons of Loyola drove to suicide--this fortune, which has +since become royal in amount, thanks to the sacred probity of three +generations of faithful servants--this fortune shall never be the reward +of falsehood, hypocrisy and murder. No! the eternal justice of heaven +will not allow it." + +"On murder? what do you mean, sir?" asked Rodin, boldly. + +Samuel made no answer. He stamped his foot, and extended his arm slowly +towards the extremity of the apartment. Then Rodin and Father Caboccini +beheld an awful spectacle. The draperies on the wall were drawn aside, +as if by an invisible hand. Round a funeral vault, faintly illumined-by +the bluish light of a silver lamp, six dead bodies were ranged upon black +biers, dressed in long black robes. They were: Jacques Rennepont-- +Francois Hardy--Rose and Blanche Simon--Adrienne and Djalma. They +appeared to be asleep. Their eyelids were closed, their hands crossed +over their breasts. Father Caboccini, trembling in every limb, made the +sign of the cross, and retreating to the opposite wall, buried his face +in his hands. Rodin on the contrary, with agitated countenance, staring +eyes, and hair standing on end, yielding to an invincible attraction, +advanced towards those inanimate forms. One would have said that these +last of the Renneponts had only just expired. They seemed to be in the +first hour of the eternal sleep.[44] + +"Behold those whom thou host slain!" cried Samuel, in a voice broken with +sobs. "Yea! your detestable plots caused their death--and, as they fell +one by one, it was my pious care to obtain possession of their poor +remains, that they may all repose in the same sepulchre. Oh!--cursed-- +cursed--cursed--be thou who has killed them! But their spoils shall +escape thy murderous hands." + +Rodin, still drawn forward in spite of himself, had approached the +funeral couch of Djalma. Surmounting his first alarm, the Jesuit, to +assure himself that he was not the sport of frightful dream, ventured to +touch the hands of the Asiatic--and found that they were damp and pliant, +though cold as ice. + +The Jesuit drew back in horror. For some seconds, he trembled +convulsively. But, his first amazement over, reflection returned, and, +with reflection came that invincible energy, that infernal obstinacy of +character, that gave him so much power. Steadying himself on his legs, +drawing his hand across his brow, raising his head, moistening his lips +two or three times before he spoke--for his throat and mouth grew ever +drier and hotter, without his being able to explain the cause--he +succeeded in giving to his features an imperious and ironical expression, +and, turning towards Samuel, who wept in silence, he said to him, in a +hoarse, guttural voice: "I need not show you the certificates of their +death. There they are in person." And he pointed with his bony hand to +the six dead bodies. + +At these words of his General, Father Caboccini again made the sign of +the cross, as if he had seen a fiend. + +"Oh, my God!" cried Samuel; "Thou hast quite abandoned this man. With +what a calm look he contemplates his victims!" + +"Come, sir!" said Rodin, with a horrid smile; "this is a natural waxwork +exhibition, that is all. My calmness proves my innocence--and we had +best come at once to business. I have an appointment at two o'clock. So +let us carry down this casket." + +He advanced towards the marble slab. Seized with indignation and horror, +Samuel threw himself before him, and, pressing with all his might on a +knob in the lid of the casket--a knob which yielded to the pressure--he +exclaimed: "Since your infernal soul is incapable of remorse, it may +perhaps be shaken by disappointed avarice." + +"What does he say?" cried Rodin. "What is he doing?" + +"Look!" said Samuel, in his turn assuming an air of savage triumph. "I +told you, that the spoils of your victims should escape your murderous +hands." + +Hardly had he uttered these words, before through the open-work of the +iron casket rose a light cloud of smoke, and an odor as of burnt paper +spread itself through the room. Rodin understood it instantly. "Fire!" +he exclaimed, as he rushed forward to seize the casket. It had been made +fast to the heavy marble slab. + +"Yes, fire," said Samuel. "In a few minutes, of that immense treasure +there will remain nothing but ashes. And better so, than that it should +belong to you or yours. This treasure is not mine, and it only remains +for me to destroy it--since Gabriel de Rennepont will be faithful to the +oath he has taken." + +"Help! water! water!" cried Rodin, as he covered the casket with his +body, trying in vain to extinguish the flames, which, fanned by the +current of air, now issued from the thousand apertures in the lid; but +soon the intensity of the fire diminished, a few threads of bluish smoke +alone mounted upwards--and then, all was extinct. + +The work was done! Breathless and faint, Rodin leaned against the marble +slab. For the first time in his life, he wept; large tears of rage +rolled down his cadaverous cheeks. But suddenly, dreadful pains, at +first dull, but gradually augmenting in intensity, seized on him with so +much fury, though he employed all his energy to struggle against them, +that he fell on his knees, and, pressing his two hands to his chest, +murmured with an attempt to smile: "It is nothing. Do not be alarmed. A +few spasms--that is all. The treasure is destroyed--but I remain General +of the Order. Oh! I suffer. What a furnace!" he added, writhing in +agony. "Since I entered this cursed house, I know not what ails me. If +--I had not lived on roots--water--bread--which I go myself to buy--I +should think--I was poisoned--for I triumph--and Cardinal Malipieri has +long arms. Yes--I still triumph--for I will not die--this time no more +than the other--I will not die!" + +Then, as he stretched out his arms convulsively, he continued: "It is +fire that devours my entrails. No doubt, they have tried to poison me. +But when? but how?" + +After another pause, Rodin again cried out, in a stifled voice: "Help! +help me, you that stand looking on--like, spectres!--Help me, I say!" + +Horror-struck at this dreadful agony, Samuel and Father Caboccini were +unable to stir. + +"Help!" repeated Rodin, in a tone of strangulation, "This poison is +horrible.--But how--" Then, with a terrific cry of rage, as if a sudden +idea had struck him, he exclaimed: "Ha! Faringhea--this morning--the holy +water--he knows such subtle poisons. Yes--it is he--he had an interview +with Malipieri. The demon!--Oh! it was well played. The Borgias are +still the same. Oh! it is all over. I die. They will regret me, the +fools!--Oh! hell! hell! The Church knows not its loss--but I burn-- +help!" + +They came to his assistance. Quick steps were heard upon the stairs, and +Dr. Baleinier, followed by the Princess de Saint-Dizier, appeared at the +entrance of the Hall of Mourning. The princess had learned vaguely that +morning the death of Father d'Aigrigny, and had come to question Rodin +upon the subject. When this woman, entering the room, suddenly saw the +frightful spectacle that offered itself to her view--when she saw Rodin +writhing in horrible agony, and, further on, by the light of the +sepulchral lamp, those six corpses--and, amongst them, her own niece, and +the two orphans whom she had sent to meet their death--she stood +petrified with horror, and her reason was unable to withstand the shock. +She looked slowly round her, and then raised her arms on high, and burst +into a wild fit of laughter. She had gone mad. Whilst Dr. Baleinier +supported the head of Rodin, who expired in his arms, Faringhea appeared +at the door; remaining in the shade, he cast a ferocious glance at the +corpse of the Jesuit. "He would have made himself the chief of the +Company of Jesus, to destroy it," said he; "with me, the Company of Jesus +stands in the place of Bowanee. I have obeyed the cardinal!" + +[44] Should this appear incredible, we would remind the reader of the +marvellous discoveries in the art of embalming--particularly Dr. +Gannal's. + + + + +EPILOGUE. + +CHAPTER I. + +FOUR YEARS AFTER. + +Four years had elapsed, since the events we have just related, when +Gabriel de Rennepont wrote the following letter to Abbe Joseph +Charpentier, curate of the Parish of Saint-Aubin, a hamlet of Sologne: + +"Springwater Farm, +"June 2d, 1836. + +"Intending to write to you yesterday, my bear Joseph, I seated myself at +the little old black table, that you will remember well. My window +looks, you know, upon the farmyard, and I can see all that takes place +there. These are grave preliminaries, my friend, but I am coming to the +point. I had just taken my seat at the table, when, looking from the +window, this is what I saw. You, my dear Joseph, who can draw so well, +should have been there to have sketched the charming scene. The sun was +sinking, the sky serene, the air warm and balmy with the breath of the +hawthorn, which, flowering by the side of a little rivulet, forms the +edge which borders the yard. Under the large pear-tree, close to the +wall of the barn, sat upon the stone bench my adopted father, Dagobert, +that brave and honest soldier whom you love so much. He appeared +thoughtful, his white head was bowed on his bosom; with absent mind, he +patted old Spoil-sport, whose intelligent face was resting on his +master's knees. By his side was his wife, my dear adopted mother, +occupied with her sewing; and near them, on a stool, sat Angela, the wife +of Agricola, nursing her last-born child, while the gentle Magdalen, with +the eldest boy in her lap, was occupied in teaching him the letters of +the alphabet. Agricola had just returned from the fields, and was +beginning to unyoke his cattle, when, struck, like me, no doubt, with +this picture, he stood gazing on it for a moment, with his hand still +leaning on the yoke, beneath which bent submissive the broad foreheads of +his two large black oxen. I cannot express to you, my friend, the +enchanting repose of this picture, lighted by the last rays of the sun, +here and there broken by the thick foliage. What various and touching +types! The venerable face of the soldier--the good, loving countenance +of my adopted mother--the fresh beauty of Angela, smiling on her little +child--the soft melancholy of the hunchback, now and then pressing her +lips to the fair, laughing cheek of Agricola's eldest son--and then +Agricola himself, in his manly beauty, which seems to reflect so well the +valor and honesty of his heart! Oh, my Friend! in contemplating this +assemblage of good, devoted, noble, and loving beings, so dear to each +other, living retired in a little farm of our poor Sologne, my heart rose +towards heaven with a feeling of ineffable gratitude. This peace of the +family circle--this clear evening, with the perfume of the woods and wild +flowers wafted on the breeze--this deep silence, only broken by the +murmur of the neighboring rill--all affected me with one of these passing +fits of vague and sweet emotion, which one feels but cannot express. You +well know it, my friend, who, in your solitary walks, in the midst of +your immense plains of flowering heath, surrounded by forests of fir +trees, often feel your eyes grow moist, without being able to explain the +cause of that sweet melancholy, which I, too, have often felt, during +those glorious nights passed in the profound solitudes of America. + +"But, alas! a painful incident disturbed the serenity of the picture. +Suddenly I heard Dagobert's wife say to him: `My dear--you are weeping!' + +"At these words, Agricola, Angela, and Magdalen gathered round the +soldier. Anxiety was visible upon every face. Then, as he raised his +head abruptly, one could see two large tears trickle down his cheek to +his white moustache. `It is nothing, my children,' said he, in a voice +of emotion `it is nothing. Only, to-day is the first of June--and this +day four years--' He could not complete the sentence; and, as he raised +his hands to his eyes, to brush away the tears, we saw that he held +between his fingers a little bronze chain, with a medal suspended to it. +That is his dearest relic. Four years ago, almost dying with despair at +the loss of the two angels, of whom I have so often spoken to you, my +friend, he took from the neck of Marshal Simon, brought home dead from a +fatal duel, this chain and medal which his children had so long worn. I +went down instantly, as you may suppose, to endeavor to soothe the +painful remembrances of this excellent man; gradually, he grew calmer, +and the evening was passed in a pious and quiet sadness. + +"You cannot imagine, my friend, when I returned to my chamber, what cruel +thoughts came to my mind, as I recalled those past events, from which I +generally turn away with fear and horror. Then I saw once more the +victims of those terrible and mysterious plots, the awful depths of which +have never been penetrated thanks to the death of Father d'A. and Father +R., and the incurable madness of Madame de St.-D., the three authors or +accomplices of the dreadful deeds. The calamities occasioned by them are +irreparable; for those who were thus sacrificed to a criminal ambition, +would have been the pride of humanity by the good they would have done. +Ah, my friend! if you had known those noble hearts; if you had known the +projects of splendid charity, formed by that young lady, whose heart was +so generous, whose mind so elevated, whose soul so great! On the eve of +her death, as a kind of prelude to her magnificent designs, after a +conversation, the subject of which I must keep secret, even from you, she +put into my hands a considerable sum, saying, with her usual grace and +goodness: "I have been threatened with ruin, and it might perhaps come. +What I now confide to you will at least be safe--safe--for those who +suffer. Give much--give freely--make as many happy hearts as you can. +My happiness shall have a royal inauguration!!" I do not know whether I +ever told you, my friend, that, after those fatal events, seeing Dagobert +and his wife reduced to misery, poor "Mother Bunch" hardly able to earn a +wretched subsistence, Agricola soon to become a father, and myself +deprived of my curacy, and suspended by my bishop, for having given +religious consolations to a Protestant, and offered up prayers at the +tomb of an unfortunate suicide--I considered myself justified in +employing a small portion of the sum intrusted to me by Mdlle. de +Cardoville in the purchase of this farm in Dagobert's name. + +"Yes, my friend, such is the origin of my fortune. The farmer to whom +these few acres formerly belonged, gave us the rudiments of our +agricultural education, and common sense, and the study of a few good +practical books, completed it. From an excellent workman, Agricola has +become an equally excellent husbandman; I have tried to imitate him, and +have put my hand also to the plough there is no derogation in it, for the +labor which provides food for man is thrice hallowed, and it is truly to +serve and glorify God, to cultivate and enrich the earth He has created. +Dagobert, when his first grief was a little appeased, seemed to gather +new vigor from this healthy life of the fields; and, during his exile in +Siberia, he had already learned to till the ground. Finally, my dear +adopted mother and sister, and Agricola's good wife, have divided between +them the household cares; and God has blessed this little colony of +people, who, alas! have been sorely tried by misfortune, and who now only +ask of toil and solitude, a quite, laborious, innocent life, and oblivion +of great sorrows. Sometimes, in our winter evenings, you have been able +to appreciate the delicate and charming mind of the gentle "Mother +Bunch," the rare poetical imagination of Agricola, the tenderness of his +mother, the good sense of his father, the exquisite natural grace of +Angela. Tell me, my friend, was it possible to unite more elements of +domestic happiness? What long evenings have we passed round the fire of +crackling wood, reading, or commenting on a few immortal works, which +always warm the heart, and enlarge the soul! What sweet talk have we +had, prolonged far into the night! And then Agricola's pastorals, and +the timid literary confidences of Magdalen! And the fresh, clear voice +of Angela, joined to the deep manly tones of Agricola, in songs of simple +melody! And the old stories of Dagobert, so energetic and picturesque in +their warlike spirit! And the adorable gayety of the children, in their +sports with good old Spoil-sport, who rather lends himself to their play +than takes part in it--for the faithful, intelligent creature seems +always to be looking for somebody, as Dagobert says--and he is right. +Yes, the dog also regrets those two angels, of whom he was the devoted +guardian! + +"Do not think, my friend, that our happiness makes us forgetful. No, no; +not a day passes without our repeating, with pious and tender respect, +those names so dear to our heart. And these painful memories, hovering +forever about us, give to our calm and happy existence that shade of mild +seriousness which struck you so much. No doubt, my friend, this kind of +life, bounded by the family circle, and not extending beyond, for the +happiness or improvement of our brethren, may be set down as selfish; +but, alas! we have not the means--and though the poor man always finds a +place at our frugal table, and shelter beneath our roof, we must renounce +all great projects of fraternal action. The little revenue of our farm +just suffices to supply our wants. Alas! when I think over it, +notwithstanding a momentary regret, I cannot blame my resolution to keep +faithfully my sacred oath, and to renounce that great inheritance, which, +alas! had become immense by the death of my kindred. Yes, I believe I +performed a duty, when I begged the guardian of that treasure to reduce +it to ashes, rather than let it fall into the hands of people, who would +have made an execrable use of it, or to perjure myself by disputing a +donation which I had granted freely, voluntarily, sincerely. And yet, +when I picture to myself the realization of the magnificent views of--my +ancestor--an admirable Utopia, only possible with immense resources--and +which Mdlle. de Cardoville hoped to carry into execution, with the aid of +M. Francois Hardy, of Prince Djalma, of Marshal Simon and his daughters, +and of myself--when I think of the dazzling focus of living forces, which +such an association would have been, and of the immense influence it +might have had on the happiness of the whole human race--my indignation +and horror, as an honest man and a Christian, are excited against that +abominable Company, whose black plots nipped in their bud all those great +hopes, which promised so much for futurity. What remains now of all +these splendid projects? Seven tombs. For my grave also is dug in that +mausoleum, which Samuel has erected on the site of the house in the Rue +Neuve-Saint-Francois, and of which he remains the keeper--faithful to the +end! + +"I had written thus far, my friend, when I received your letter. So, +after having forbidden you to see me, your bishop now orders that you +shall cease to correspond with me. Your touching, painful regrets have +deeply moved me, my friend. Often have we talked together of +ecclesiastical discipline, and of the absolute power of the bishops over, +us, the poor working clergy, left to their mercy without remedy. It is +painful, but it is the law of the church, my friend, and you have sworn +to observe it. Submit as I have submitted. Every engagement is binding +upon the man of honor! My poor, dear Joseph! would that you had the +compensations which remained to me, after the rupture of ties that I so +much value. But I know too well what you must feel--I cannot go on I +find it impossible to continue this letter, I might be bitter against +those whose orders we are bound to respect. Since it must be so, this +letter shall be my last. Farewell, my friend! farewell forever. My +heart is almost broken. + +"GABRIEL DE RENNEPONT." + + + + +CHAPTER 11. + +THE REDEMPTION. + +Day was about to dawn. A rosy light, almost imperceptible, began to +glimmer in the east; but the stars still shone, sparkling with radiance, +upon the azure of the zenith. The birds awoke beneath the fresh foliage +of the great woods; and, with isolated warblings, sang the prelude of +their morning-concert. A light mist rose from the high grass, bathed in +nocturnal dew, while the calm and limpid waters of a vast lake reflected +the whitening dawn in their deep, blue mirror. Everything promised one +of those warm and joyous days, that belong to the opening of summer. + +Half-way up the slope of a hill, facing the east, a tuft of old, moss- +grown willows, whose rugged bark disappeared beneath the climbing +branches of wild honeysuckle and harebells, formed a natural harbor; and +on their gnarled and enormous roots, covered with thick moss, were seated +a man and a woman, whose white hair, deep wrinkles, and bending figures, +announced extreme old age. And yet this woman had only lately been young +and beautiful, with long black hair overshadowing her pale forehead. And +yet this man had, a short time ago, been still in the vigor of his age. +From the spot where this man and woman were reposing, could be seen the +valley, the lake, the woods, and, soaring above the woods, the blue +summit of a high mountain, from behind which the sun was about to rise. +This picture, half veiled by the pale transparency of the morning +twilight, was pleasing, melancholy, and solemn. + +"Oh, my sister!" said the old man to the woman, who was reposing with him +beneath the rustic arbor formed by the tuft of willow-trees; "oh, my +sister! how many times during the centuries in which the hand of the Lord +carried us onward, and, separated from each other, we traversed the world +from pole to pole--how many times we have witnessed this awakening of +nature with a sentiment of incurable grief!--Alas! it was but another day +of wandering--another useless day added to our life, since it brought +death no nearer!" + +"But now what happiness, oh, my brother! since the Lord has had mercy on +us, and, with us, as with all other creatures, every returning day is a +step nearer to the grave. Glory to Him! yes, glory!" + +"Glory to Him, my sister! for since yesterday, when we again met, I feel +that indescribable languor which announces the approach of death." + +"Like you, my brother, I feel my strength, already shaken, passing away +in a sweet exhaustion. Doubtless, the term of our life approaches. The +wrath of the Lord is satisfied." + +"Alas, my sister! doubtless also, the last of my doomed race, will, at +the same time, complete our redemption by his death; for the will of +heaven is manifest, that I can only be pardoned, when the last of my +family shall have disappeared from the face of the earth. To him, +holiest amongst the holiest--was reserved the favor of accomplishing this +end he who has done so much for the salvation of his brethren!" + +"Oh, yes, my brother! he who has suffered so much, and without +complaining, drunk to the dregs the bitter cup of woe--he, the minister +of the Lord, who has been his Master's image upon earth--he was fitted +for the last instrument of this redemption!" + +"Yes, for I feel, my sister, that, at this hour, the last of my race, +touching victim of slow persecution, is on the point of resigning his +angelic soul to God. Thus, even to the end, have I been fatal to my +doomed family. Lord, if Thy mercy is great, Thy anger is great +likewise!" + +"Courage and hope, my brother! Think how after the expiration cometh +pardon, and pardon is followed by a blessing. The Lord punished, in you +and your posterity, the artisan rendered wicked by misfortune and +injustice. He said to you: `Go on! without truce or rest--and your labor +shall be vain--and every evening, throwing yourself on the hard ground, +you shall be no nearer to the end of your eternal course!'--And so, for +centuries, men without pity have said to the artisan: 'Work! work! work! +without truce or rest--and your labor shall be fruitful for all others, +but fruitless for yourself--and every evening, throwing yourself on the +hard ground, you shall be no nearer to happiness and repose; and your +wages shall only suffice to keep you alive in pain, privation, and +poverty!'" + +"Alas! alas! will it be always thus?" + +"No, no, my brother! and instead of weeping over your lost race, rejoice +for them--since their death was needed for your redemption, and in +redeeming you, heaven will redeem the artisan, cursed and feared by +those--who have laid on him the iron yoke. Yes, my brother! the time +draweth nigh--heaven's mercy will not stop with us alone. Yes, I tell +you; in us will be rescued both the WOMAN and the SLAVE of these modern +ages. The trial has been hard, brother; it has lasted throughout +eighteen centuries; but it will last no longer. Look, my brother! see +that rosy light, there in the east, gradually spreading over the +firmament! Thus will rise the sun of the new emancipation--peaceful, +holy, great, salutary, fruitful, filling the world with light and +vivifying heat, like the day-star that will soon appear in heaven!" + +"Yes, yes, my sister! I feel it. Your words are prophetic. We shall +close our heavy eyes just as we see the aurora of the day of deliverance +--a fair, a splendid day, like that which is about to dawn. Henceforth I +will only shed tears of pride and glory for those of my race, who have +died the martyrs of humanity, sacrificed by humanity's eternal enemies-- +for the true ancestors of the sacrilegious wretches, who blaspheme the +name of Jesus by giving it to their Company, were the false Scribes and +Pharisees, whom the Saviour cursed!--Yes! glory to the descendants of my +family, who have been the last martyrs offered up by the accomplices of +all slavery and all despotism, the pitiless enemies of those who wish to +think, and not to suffer in silence--of those that would feign enjoy, as +children of heaven, the gifts which the Creator has bestowed upon all the +human family. Yes, the day approaches--the end of the reign of our +modern Pharisees--the false priests, who lend their sacrilegious aid to +the merciless selfishness of the strong against the weak, by daring to +maintain in the face of the exhaustless treasures of the creation, that +God has made man for tears, and sorrow, and suffering--the false priests, +who are the agents of all oppression, and would bow to the earth, in +brutish and hopeless humiliation, the brow of every creature. No, no! +let man lift his head proudly! God made him to be noble and intelligent +free and happy." + +"Oh, my brother! your words also are prophetic. Yes, yes! the dawn of +that bright day approaches, even as the dawn of the natural day which, by +the mercy of God, will be our last on earth." + +"The last, my sister; for a strange weakness creeps over me, all matter +seems dissolving in me, and my soul aspires to mount to heaven." + +"Mine eyes are growing dim, brother; I can scarcely see that light in the +east, which lately appeared so red." + +"Sister! it is through a confused vapor that I now see the valley--the +lake--the woods. My strength fails me." + +"Blessed be God, brother! the moment of eternal rest is at hand." + +"Yes, it comes, my sister! the sweetness of the everlasting sleep takes +possession of my senses." + +"Oh, happiness! I am dying--" + +"These eyes are closing, sister!" + +"We are then forgiven!" + +"Forgiven!" + +"Oh, my brother! may this Divine redemption extend to all those who +suffer upon the earth!" + +"Die in peace, my sister! The great day has dawned--the sun is rising-- +behold!" + +"Blessed be God!" + +"Blessed be God!" + +And at the moment when those two voices ceased forever, the sun rose +radiant and dazzling, and deluged the valley with its beams. + +To M. C--P--. + +To you, my friend, I dedicated this book. To inscribe it with your name, +was to assume an engagement that, in the absence of talent, it should be +at least conscientious, sincere, and of a salutary influence, however +limited. My object is attained. Some select hearts, like yours, my +friend, have put into practice the legitimate association of labor, +capital, and intelligence, and have already granted to their workmen a +proportionate share in the profits of their industry. Others have laid +the foundations of Common Dwelling-houses, and one of the chief +capitalists of Hamburg has favored me with his views respecting an +establishment of this kind, on the most gigantic scale. + +As for the dispersion of the members of the Company of Jesus, I have +taken less part in it than other enemies of the detestable doctrines of +Loyola, whose influence and authority were far greater than mine. + +Adieu, my friend. I could have wished this work more worthy of you; but +you are indulgent, and will at least give me credit for the intentions +which dictated it. + +Believe me, +Yours truly, + +EUGENE SUE. + +Paris, 25th August, 1845. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg Etext of The Wandering Jew, V11, by Eugene Sue + diff --git a/old/es11v10.zip b/old/es11v10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bc20fec --- /dev/null +++ b/old/es11v10.zip diff --git a/old/es11v11.txt b/old/es11v11.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..111cee2 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/es11v11.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5881 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Wandering Jew v11, by Eugene Sue +#11 in our series by Eugene Sue + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the laws for your country before redistributing these files!!!!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. + +Please do not remove this. + +This should be the first thing seen when anyone opens the book. +Do not change or edit it without written permission. 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Four Years After +II. The Redemption + + + + +CHAPTER L. + +THE RUINS OF THE ABBEY OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST. + +The sun is fast sinking. In the depths of an immense piny wood, in the +midst of profound solitude, rise the ruins of an abbey, once sacred to +St. John the Baptist. Ivy, moss, and creeping plants, almost entirely +conceal the stones, now black with age. Some broken arches, some walls +pierced with ovals, still remain standing, visible on the dark background +of the thick wood. Looking down upon this mass of ruins from a broken +pedestal, half-covered with ivy, a mutilated, but colossal statue of +stone still keeps its place. This statue is strange and awful. It +represents a headless human figure. Clad in the antique toga, it holds +in its hand a dish and on that dish is a head. This head is its own. It +is the statue of St. John the Baptist and Martyr, put to death by wish of +Herodias. + +The silence around is solemn. From time to time, however, is heard the +dull rustling of the enormous branches of the pine-trees, shaken by the +wind. Copper-colored clouds, reddened by the setting sun, pass slowly +over the forest, and are reflected in the current of a brook, which, +deriving its source from a neighboring mass of rocks, flows through the +ruins. The water flows, the clouds pass on, the ancient trees tremble, +the breeze murmurs. + +Suddenly, through the shadow thrown by the overhanging wood, which +stretches far into endless depths, a human form appears. It is a woman. +She advances slowly towards the ruins. She has reached them. She treads +the once sacred ground. This woman is pale, her look sad, her long robe +floats on the wind, her feet covered with dust. She walks with +difficulty and pain. A block of stone is placed near the stream, almost +at the foot of the statue of John the Baptist. Upon this stone she sinks +breathless and exhausted, worn out with fatigue. And yet, for many days, +many years, many centuries, she has walked on unwearied. + +For the first time, she feels an unconquerable sense of lassitude. For +the first time, her feet begin to fail her. For the first time, she, who +traversed, with firm and equal footsteps, the moving lava of torrid +deserts, while whole caravans were buried in drifts of fiery sand--who +passed, with steady and disdainful tread, over the eternal snows of +Arctic regions, over icy solitudes, in which no other human being could +live--who had been spared by the devouring flames of conflagrations, and +by the impetuous waters of torrents--she, in brief, who for centuries had +had nothing in common with humanity--for the first time suffers mortal +pain. + +Her feet bleed, her limbs ache with fatigue, she is devoured by burning +thirst. She feels these infirmities, yet scarcely dares to believe them +real. Her joy would be too immense! But now, her throat becomes dry, +contracted, all on fire. She sees the stream, and throws herself on her +knees, to quench her thirst in that crystal current, transparent as a +mirror. What happens then? Hardly have her fevered lips touched the +fresh, pure water, than, still kneeling, supported on her hands, she +suddenly ceases to drink, and gazes eagerly on the limpid stream. +Forgetting the thirst which devours her, she utters a loud cry--a cry of +deep, earnest, religious joy, like a note of praise and infinite +gratitude to heaven. In that deep mirror, she perceives that she has +grown older. + +In a few days, a few hours, a few minutes, perhaps in a single second, +she has attained the maturity of age. She, who for more than eighteen +centuries has been as a woman of twenty, carrying through successive +generations the load of her imperishable youth--she has grown old, and +may, perhaps, at length, hope to die. Every minute of her life may now +bring her nearer to the last home! Transported by that ineffable hope, +she rises, and lifts her eyes to heaven, clasping her hands in an +attitude of fervent prayer. Then her eyes rest on the tall statue of +stone, representing St. John. The head, which the martyr carries in his +hand, seems, from beneath its half-closed granite eyelid, to cast upon +the Wandering Jewess a glance of commiseration and pity. And it was she, +Herodias who, in the cruel intoxication of a pagan festival, demanded the +murder of the saint! And it is at the foot of the martyr's image, that, +for the first time, the immortality, which weighed on her for so many +centuries, seems likely to find a term! + +"Oh, impenetrable mystery! oh, divine hope!" she cries. "The wrath of +heaven is at length appeased. The hand of the Lord brings me to the feet +of the blessed martyr, and I begin once more to feel myself a human +creature. And yet it was to avenge his death, that the same heaven +condemned me to eternal wanderings! + +"Oh, Lord! grant that I may not be the only one forgiven. May he--the +artisan, who like me, daughter of a king, wanders on for centuries-- +likewise hope to reach the end of that immense journey! + +"Where is he, Lord? where is he? Hast thou deprived me of the power once +bestowed, to see and hear him through the vastness of intervening space? +Oh, in this mighty moment, restore me that divine gift--for the more I +feel these human infirmities, which I hail and bless as the end of my +eternity of ills, the more my sight loses the power to traverse +immensity, and my ear to catch the sound of that wanderer's accent, from +the other extremity of the globe?" + +Night had fallen, dark and stormy. The wind rose in the midst of the +great pine-trees. Behind their black summits, through masses of dark +cloud, slowly sailed the silver disk of the moon. The invocation of the +Wandering Jewess had perhaps been heard. Suddenly, her eyes closed--with +hands clasped together, she remained kneeling in the heart of the ruins-- +motionless as a statue upon a tomb. And then she had a wondrous dream! + + + + +CHAPTER LI. + +THE CALVARY. + +This was the vision of Herodias: On the summit of a high, steep, rocky +mountain, there stands a cross. The sun is sinking, even as when the +Jewess herself, worn out with fatigue, entered the ruins of St. John's +Abbey. The great figure on the cross--which looks down from this +Calvary, on the mountain, and on the vast, dreary plain beyond--stands +out white and pale against the dark, blue clouds, which stretch across +the heavens, and assume a violent tint towards the horizon. There, where +the setting sun has left a long track of lurid light, almost of the hue +of blood--as far as the eye can reach, no vegetation appears on the +surface of the gloomy desert, covered with sand and stones, like the +ancient bed of some dried-up ocean. A silence as of death broods over +this desolate tract. Sometimes, gigantic black vultures, with red +unfeathered necks, luminous yellow eyes, stooping from their lofty flight +in the midst of these solitudes, come to make their bloody feast on the +prey they have carried off from less uncultivated regions. + +How, then, did this Calvary, this place of prayer, come to be erected so +far from the abodes of men? This Calvary was prepared at a great cost by +a repentant sinner. He had done much harm to his fellow-creatures, and, +in the hope of obtaining pardon for his crimes, he had climbed this +mountain on his knees, and become a hermit, and lived there till his +death, at the foot of this cross, only sheltered by a roof of thatch, now +long since swept away by the wind. The sun is still sinking. The sky +becomes darker. The luminous lines on the horizon grow fainter and +fainter, like heated bars of iron that gradually grow cool. Suddenly, on +the eastern side of the Calvary, is heard the noise of some falling +stones, which, loosened from the side of the mountain, roll down +rebounding to its base. These stones have been loosened by the foot of a +traveller, who, after traversing the plain below, has, during the last +hour, been climbing the steep ascent. He is not yet visible--but one +hears the echo of his tread--slow, steady, and firm. At length, he +reaches the top of the mountain, and his tall figure stands out against +the stormy sky. + +The traveller is pale as the great figure on the cross. On his broad +forehead a black line extends from one temple to the other. It is the +cobbler of Jerusalem. The poor artisan, who hardened by misery, +injustice and oppression, without pity for the suffering of the Divine +Being who bore the cross, repulsed him from his dwelling, and bade him: +"Go ON! GO ON! GO ON!" And, from that day, the avenging Deity has in his +turn said to the artisan of Jerusalem: "GO ON! GO ON! GO ON!" + +And he has gone on, without end or rest. Nor did the divine vengeance +stop there. From time to time death has followed the steps of the +wanderer, and innumerable graves have been even as mile-stones on his +fatal path. And if ever he found periods of repose in the midst of his +infinite grief, it was when the hand of the Lord led him into deep +solitudes, like that where he now dragged his steps along. In passing +over that dreary plain, or climbing to that rude Calvary, he at least +heard no more the funeral knell, which always, always sounded behind him +in every inhabited region. + +All day long, even at this hour, plunged in the black abyss of his +thoughts, following the fatal track--going whither he was guided by the +invisible hand, with head bowed on his breast, and eyes fixed upon the +ground, the wanderer had passed over the plain, and ascended the +mountain, without once looking at the sky--without even perceiving the +Calvary--without seeing the image upon the cross. He thought of the last +descendants of his race. He felt, by the sinking of his heart, that +great perils continued to threaten him. And in the bitterness of a +despair, wild and deep as the ocean, the cobbler of Jerusalem seated +himself at the foot of the cross. At this moment a farewell ray of the +setting sun, piercing the dark mass of clouds, threw a refection upon the +Calvary, vivid as a conflagration's glare. The Jew rested his forehead +upon his hand. His long hair, shaken by the evening breeze, fell over +his pale face--when sweeping it back from his brow, he started with +surprise--he, who had long ceased to wonder at anything. With eager +glance he contemplated the long lock of hair that he held between his +fingers. That hair, until now black as night, had become gray. He also, +like unto Herodias, was growing older. + +His progress towards old age, stopped for eighteen hundred years, had +resumed its course. Like the Wandering Jewess, he might henceforth hope +for the rest of the grave. Throwing himself on his knees, he stretched +his hands towards heaven, to ask for the explanation of the mystery which +filled him with hope. Then, for the first time, his eyes rested on the +Crucified One, looking down upon the Calvary, even as the Wandering +Jewess had fixed her gaze on the granite eyelids of the Blessed Martyr. + +The Saviour, his head bowed under the weight of his crown of thorns, +seemed from the cross to view with pity, and pardon the artisan, who for +so many centuries had felt his curse--and who, kneeling, with his body +thrown backward in an attitude of fear and supplication, now lifted +towards the crucifix his imploring hands. + +"Oh, Messiah!" cried the Jew, "the avenging arm of heaven brings me back +to the foot of this heavy cross, which thou didst bear, when, stopping at +the door of my poor dwelling, thou wert repulsed with merciless +harshness, and I said unto thee: 'Go on! go on!'--After my long life of +wanderings, I am again before this cross, and my hair begins to whiten. +Oh Lord! in thy divine mercy, hast thou at length pardoned me? Have I +reached the term of my endless march? Will thy celestial clemency grant +me at length the repose of the sepulchre, which, until now, alas! has +ever fled before me?--Oh! if thy mercy should descend upon me, let it +fall likewise upon that woman, whose woes are equal to mine own! Protect +also the last descendants of my race! What will be their fate? Already, +Lord, one of them--the only one that misfortune had perverted--has +perished from the face of the earth. Is it for this that my hair grows +gray? Will my crime only be expiated when there no longer remains in +this world one member of our accursed race? Or does this proof of thy +powerful goodness, Lord, which restores me to the condition of humanity, +serve also as a sign of the pardon and happiness of my family? Will they +at length triumph over the perils which beset them? Will they, +accomplishing the good which their ancestor designed for his fellow- +creatures, merit forgiveness both for themselves and me? Or will they, +inexorably condemned as the accursed scions of an accursed stock, expiate +the original stain of my detested crime? + +"Oh, tell me--tell me, gracious Lord! shall I be forgiven with them, or +will they be punished with me?" + + +The twilight gave place to a dark and stormy night, yet the Jew continued +to pray, kneeling at the foot of the cross. + + + + +CHAPTER LII. + +THE COUNCIL. + +The following scene took place at Saint-Dizier House, two days after the +reconciliation of Marshal Simon with his daughters. The princess is +listening with the most profound attention to the words of Rodin. The +reverend father, according to his habit, stands leaning against the +mantelpiece, with his hands thrust into the pockets of his old brown +great-coat. His thick, dirty shoes have left their mark on the ermine +hearth-rug. A deep sense of satisfaction is impressed on the Jesuit's +cadaverous countenance. Princess de Saint-Dizier, dressed with that sort +of modest elegance which becomes a mother of the church, keeps her eyes +fixed on Rodin--for the latter has completely supplanted Father +d'Aigrigny in the good graces of this pious lady. The coolness, audacity +lofty intelligence, and rough and imperious character of the ex-socius +have overawed this proud woman, and inspired her with a sincere +admiration. Even his filthy habits and often brutal repartees have their +charm for her, and she now prefers them to the exquisite politeness and +perfumed elegance of the accomplished Father d'Aigrigny. + +"Yes, madame," said Rodin, in a sanctified tone, for these people do not +take off their masks even with their accomplices, "yes, madame, we have +excellent news from our house at St. Herem. M. Hardy, the infidel, the +freethinker, has at length entered the pale of the holy Roman Catholic +and Apostolic Church." Rodin pronounced these last word with a nasal +twang, and the devout lady bowed her head respectfully. + +"Grace has at length touched the heart of this impious man," continued +Rodin, "and so effectually that, in his ascetic enthusiasm, he has +already wished to take the vows which will bind him forever to our divine +Order." + +"So soon, father?" said the princess, in astonishment. + +"Our statutes are opposed to this precipitation, unless in the case of a +penitent in articulo mortis--on the very gasp of death--should such a +person consider it necessary for his salvation to die in the habit of our +Order, and leave us all his wealth for the greater glory of the Lord." + +"And is M. Hardy in so dangerous a condition, father?" + +"He has a violent fever. After so many successive calamities, which have +miraculously brought him into the path of salvation," said Rodin, +piously, "his frail and delicate constitution is almost broken up, +morally and physically. Austerities, macerations, and the divine joys of +ecstasy, will probably hasten his passage to eternal life, and in a few +clays," said the priest, shaking his head with a solemn air, "perhaps--" + +"So soon as that, father?" + +"It is almost certain. I have therefore made use of my dispensations, to +receive the dear penitent, as in articulo mortis, a member of our divine +Company, to which, in the usual course, he has made over all his +possessions, present and to come--so that now he can devote himself +entirely to the care of his soul, which will be one victim more rescued +from the claws of Satan." + +"Oh, father!" cried the lady, in admiration; "it is a miraculous +conversion. Father d'Aigrigny told me how you had to contend against the +influence of Abbe Gabriel." + +"The Abbe Gabriel," replied Rodin, "has been punished for meddling with +what did not concern him. I have procured his suspension, and he has +been deprived of his curacy. I hear that he now goes about the cholera- +hospitals to administer Christian consolation; we cannot oppose that--but +this universal comforter is of the true heretical stamp." + +"He is a dangerous character, no doubt," answered the princess, "for he +has considerable influence over other men. It must have needed all your +admirable and irresistible eloquence to combat the detestable counsels of +this Abbe Gabriel, who had taken it into his head to persuade M. Hardy to +return to the life of the world. Really, father, you are a second St. +Chrysostom." + +"Tut, tut, madame!" said Rodin, abruptly, for he was very little sensible +to flattery; "keep that for others." + +"I tell you that you're a second St. Chrysostom father," repeated the +princess with enthusiasm; "like him, you deserve the name of Golden +Mouth." + +"Stuff, madame!" said Rodin, brutally, shrugging his shoulders; "my lips +are too pale, my teeth too black, for a mouth of gold. You must be only +joking." + +"But, father--" + +"No, madame, you will not catch old birds with chaff," replied Rodin, +harshly. "I hate compliments, and I never pay them." + +"Your modesty must pardon me, father," said the princess, humbly; "I +could not resist the desire to express to you my admiration, for, as you +almost predicted, or at least foresaw, two members of the Rennepont +family, have, within the last few months, resigned all claim to the +inheritance." + +Rodin looked at Madame de Saint-Dizier with a softened and approving air, +as he heard her thus describe the position of the two defunct claimants. +For, in Rodin's view of the case, M. Hardy, in consequence of his +donation and his suicidal asceticism, belonged no longer to this world. + +The lady continued: "One of these men, a wretched artisan, has been led +to his ruin by the exaggeration of his vices. You have brought the other +into the path of salvation, by carrying out his loving and tender +qualities. Honor, then. to your foresight, father! for you said that you +would make use of the passions to attain your end." + +"Do not boast too soon," said Rodin, impatiently. "Have you forgotten +your niece, and the Hindoo, and the daughters of Marshal Simon? Have +they also made a Christian end, or resigned their claim to share in this +inheritance?" + +"No, doubtless." + +"Hence, you see, madame, we should not lose time in congratulating +ourselves on the past, but make ready for the future. The great day +approaches. The first of June is not far off. Heaven grant we may not +see the four surviving members of the family continue to live impenitent +up to that period, and so take possession of this enormous property--the +source of perdition in their hands--but productive of the glory of the +Church in the hands of our Company!" + +"True, father!" + +"By the way, you were to see your lawyers on the subject of your niece?" + +"I have seen them, father. However uncertain may be the chance of which +I spoke, it is worth trying. I shall know to-day, I hope, if it is +legally possible." + +"Perhaps then,--in the new condition of life to which she would be +reduced, we might find means to effect her conversion," said Rodin, with +a strange and hideous smile; "until now, since she has been so fatally +brought in contact with the Oriental, the happiness of these two pagans +appears bright and changeless as the diamond. Nothing bites into it, not +even Faringhea's tooth. Let us hope that the Lord will wreak justice on +their vain and guilty felicity!" + +This conversation was here interrupted by Father d'Aigrigny, who entered +the room with an air of triumph, and exclaimed, "Victory!" + +"What do you say"' asked the princess. + +"He is gone--last night," said Father d'Aigrigny. + +"Who?" said Rodin. + +"Marshal Simon," replied the abbe. + +"At last!" said Rodin, unable to hide his joy. + +"It was no doubt his interview with General d'Havrincourt which filled up +the measure," cried the princess, "for I know he had a long conversation +with the general, who like so many others, believed the reports in +circulation. All means are good against the impious!" added the +princess, by way of moral. + +"Have you any details?" asked Rodin. + +"I have just left Robert," said Father d'Aigrigny. "His age and +description agree with the marshal's, and the latter travels with his +papers. Only one thing has greatly surprised your emissary." + +"What is that?" said Rodin. + +"Until now, he had always to contend with the hesitations of the marshal, +and had moreover noticed his gloomy and desponding air. Yesterday, on +the contrary, he found him so bright with happiness, that he could not +help asking him the cause of the alteration." + +"Well?" said Rodin and the princess together, both extremely surprised. + +"The marshal answered: 'I am indeed the happiest man in the world; for I +am going joyfully to accomplish a sacred duty!" + +The three actors in this scene looked at each other in silence. + +"And what can have produced this sudden change in the mind of the +marshal?" said the princess, with a pensive air. "We rather reckon on +sorrow and every kind of irritation to urge him to engage in this +adventurous enterprise." + +"I cannot make it out," said Rodin, reflecting; "but no matter--he is +gone. We must not lose a moment, to commence operations on his +daughters. Has he taken that infernal soldier with him?" + +"No," said Father d'Aigrigny; "unfortunately, he has not done so. Warned +by the past, he will redouble his precautions; and a man, whom we might +have used against him at a pinch, has just been taken with the +contagion." + +"Who is that?" asked the princess. + +"Morok. I could count upon him anywhere and for anything. He is lost to +us; for, should he recover from the cholera, I fear he will fall a victim +to a horrible and incurable disease." + +"How so?" + +"A few days ago, he was bitten by one of the mastiffs of his menagerie, +and, the next day, the dog showed symptoms of hydrophobia." + +"Ah! it is dreadful," cried the princess; "and where is this unfortunate +man?" + +"He has been taken to one of the temporary hospitals established in +Paris, for at present he has only been attacked with cholera. It is +doubly unfortunate, I repeat, for he was a devoted, determined fellow, +ready for anything. Now this soldier, who has the care of the orphans, +will be very difficult to get at, and yet only through him can we hope to +reach Marshal Simon's daughters." + +"That is clear," said Rodin, thoughtfully. + +"Particularly since the anonymous letters have again awakened his +suspicions," added Father d'Aigrigny "and--" + +"Talking of the anonymous letters," said Rodin suddenly, interrupting +Father d'Aigrigny, "there is a fact that you ought to know; I will tell +you why." + +"What is it?" + +"Besides the letters that you know of, Marshal Simon has received a +number of others unknown to you, in which, by every possible means, it is +tried to exasperate his irritation against yourself--for they remind him +of all the reasons he has to hate you, and mock at him, because your +sacred character shelters you from his vengeance." + +Father d'Aigrigny looked at Rodin with amazement, colored in spite of +himself, and said to him: "But for what purpose has your reverence acted +in this manner?" + +"First of all, to clear myself of suspicion with regard to the letters; +then, to excite the rage of the marshal to madness, by incessantly +reminding him of the just grounds he has to hate you, and of the +impossibility of being avenged upon you. This, joined to the other +emotions of sorrow and anger, which ferment in the savage bosom of this +man of bloodshed, tended to urge him on to the rash enterprise, which is +the consequence and the punishment of his idolatry for a miserable +usurper." + +"That may be," said Father d'Aigrigny, with an air of constraint: "but I +will observe to your reverence, that it was, perhaps, rather dangerous +thus to excite Marshal Simon against me." + +"Why?" asked Rodin, as he fixed a piercing look upon Father d'Aigrigny. + +"Because the marshal, excited beyond all bounds, and remembering only our +mutual hate, might seek me out--" + +"Well! and what then?" + +"Well! he might forget that I am a priest--" + +"Oh, you are afraid are you?" said Rodin, disdainfully, interrupting +Father d'Aigrigny. + +At the words: "You are afraid," the reverend father almost started from +his chair; but recovering his coolness, he answered: "Your reverence is +right; yes, I should be afraid under such circumstances; I should be +afraid of forgetting that I am a priest, and of remembering too well that +I have been a soldier." + +"Really?" said Rodin, with sovereign contempt. "You are still no further +than that stupid and savage point of honor? Your cassock has not yet +extinguished the warlike fire? So that if this brawling swordsman, whose +poor, weak head, empty and sonorous as a drum, is so easily turned with +the stupid jargon of 'Military honor, oaths, Napoleon II.'--if this +brawling bravo, I say, were to commit some violence against you, it would +require a great effort, I suppose, for you to remain calm?" + +"It is useless, I think," said Father d'Aigrigny, quite unable to control +his agitation, "for your reverence to enter upon such questions." + +"As your superior," answered Rodin, severely, "I have the right to ask. +If Marshal Simon had lifted his hand against you--" + +"Sir," cried the reverend father. + +"There are no sirs here--we are only priests," said Rodin, harshly. +Father d'Aigrigny held down his head, scarcely able to repress his rage. + +"I ask you," continued Rodin, obstinately, "if Marshal Simon had struck +you? Is that clear?" + +"Enough! in mercy," said Father d'Aigrigny, "enough!" + +"Or, if you like it better, had Marshal Simon left the marks of his +fingers on your cheek?" resumed Rodin, with the utmost pertinacity. + +Father d'Aigrigny, pale as death, ground his teeth in a kind of fury at +the very idea of such an insult, while Rodin, who had no doubt his object +in asking the question, raised his flabby eyelids, and seemed to watch +attentively the significant symptoms revealed in the agitated countenance +of the ex-colonel. + +At length, recovering partly his presence of mind, Father d'Aigrigny +replied, in a forcedly calm tone: "If I were to be exposed to such an +insult, I would pray heaven to give me resignation and humility." + +"And no doubt heaven would hear your prayers," said Rodin, coldly, +satisfied with the trial to which he had just put him. "Besides, you are +now warned, and it is not very probable," added he, with a grim smile, +"that Marshal Simon will ever return to test your humility. But if he +were to return," said Rodin, fixing on the reverend father a long and +piercing look, "you would know how to show this brutal swordsman, in +spite of all his violence, what resignation and humility there is in a +Christian soul!" + +Two humble knocks at the door here interrupted the conversation for a +moment. A footman entered, bearing a large sealed packet on a salver, +which he presented to the princess. After this, he withdrew. Princess +de Saint-Dizier, having by a look asked Rodin's permission to open the +letter, began to read it--and a cruel satisfaction was soon visible on +her face. + +"There is hope," cried she addressing herself to Rodin: "the demand is +rigorously legal, and the consequence may be such as we desire. In a +word, my niece may, any day, be exposed to complete destitution. She, +who is so extravagant! what a change in her life!" + +"We shall then no doubt have some hold on that untamable character," said +Rodin with a meditative air; "for, till now, all has failed in that +direction, and one would suppose some kinds of happiness are +invulnerable," added the Jesuit, gnawing his flat and dirty nails. + +"But, to obtain the result we desire, we must exasperate my niece's +pride. It is, therefore, absolutely necessary, that I should see and +talk to her," said the Princess de Saint-Dizier, reflecting. + +"Mdlle. de Cardoville will refuse this interview," said Father +d'Aigrigny. + +"Perhaps," replied the princess. "But she is so happy that her audacity +must be at its height. Yes, yes--I know her--and I will write in such a +manner, that she will come." + +"You think so?" asked Rodin, with a doubtful air. + +"Do not fear it, father," answered the lady, "she will come. And her +pride once brought into play, we may hope a good deal from it." + +"We must then act, lady," resumed Rodin; "yes, act promptly. The moment +approaches. Hate and suspicion are awake. There is not a moment to +lose." + +"As for hate," replied the princess, "Mdlle. de Cardoville must have seen +to what her lawsuit would lead, about what she called her illegal +detention in a lunatic asylum, and that of the two young ladies in St. +Mary's Convent. Thank heaven, we have friends everywhere! I know from +good authority, that the case will break down from want of evidence, in +spite of the animosity of certain parliamentary magistrates, who shall be +well remembered." + +"Under these circumstances," replied Rodin, "the departure of the marshal +gives us every latitude. We must act immediately on his daughters." + +"But how?" said the princess. + +"We must see them," resumed Rodin, "talk with them, study them. Then we +shall act in consequence." + +"But the soldier will not leave them a second," said Father d'Aigrigny. + +"Then," replied Rodin, "we must talk to them in presence of the soldier, +and get him on our side." + +"That hope is idle," cried Father d'Aigrigny. "You do not know the +military honor of his character. You do not know this man." + +"Don't I know him?" said Rodin, shrugging his shoulders. "Did not Mdlle. +de Cardoville present me to him as her liberator, when I denounced you as +the soul of the conspiracy? Did I not restore to him his ridiculous +imperial relic--his cross of honor--when we met at Dr. Baleinier's? Did +I not bring him back the girls from the convent, and place them in the +arms of their father?" + +"Yes," replied the princess; "but, since that time, my abominable niece +has either guessed or discovered all. She told you so herself, father." + +"She told me, that she considered me her most mortal enemy," said Rodin. +"Be it so. But did she tell the same to the marshal? Has she ever +mentioned me to him? and if she have done so, has the marshal +communicated this circumstance to his soldier? It may be so; but it is +by no means sure; in any case. I must ascertain the fact; if the soldier +treats me as an enemy, we shall see what is next to be done--but I will +first try to be received as a friend." + +"When?" asked the princess. + +"To-morrow morning," replied Rodin. + +"Good heaven, my clear father!" cried the Princess de Saint-Dizier, in +alarm; "if this soldier were to treat you as an enemy--beware--" + +"I always beware, madame. I have had to face worse enemies than he is," +said the Jesuit showing his black teeth; "the cholera to begin with." + +"But he may refuse to see you, and in what way will you then get at +Marshal Simon's daughters?" said Father d'Aigrigny. + +"I do not yet know." answered Rodin. "But as I intend to do it, I shall +find the means." + +"Father," said the princess, suddenly, on reflection, "these girls have +never seen me, and I might obtain admittance to them, without sending in +my name." + +"That would be perfectly useless at present, madame, for I must first +know what course to take with respect to them. I must see and converse +with them, at any cost, and then, after I have fixed my plan, your +assistance may be very useful. In any case, please to be ready to- +morrow, madame, to accompany me." + +"To what place, father?" + +"To Marshal Simon's." + +"To the marshal's?" + +"Not exactly. You will get into your carriage, and I will take a +hackney-coach. I will then try to obtain an interview with the girls, +and, during that time, you will wait for me at a few yards from the +house. If I succeed, and require your aid, I will come and fetch you; I +can give you my instructions without any appearance of concert between +us." + +"I am content, reverend father; but, in truth, I tremble at the thought +of your interview with that rough trooper." + +"The Lord will watch over his servant, madame!" replied Rodin. "As for +you, father," added he, addressing the Abbe d'Aigrigny, "despatch +instantly to Vienna the note which is all prepared to announce the +departure and speedy arrival of the marshal. Every precaution has been +taken. I shall write more fully this evening." + +The next morning, about eight o'clock, the Princess de Saint-Dizier, in +her carriage, and Rodin, in his hackney-coach, took the direction of +Marshal Simon's house. + + + + +CHAPTER LIII. + +HAPPINESS. + +Marshal Simon has been absent two days. It is eight o'clock in the +morning. Dagobert, walking on tip-toe with the greatest caution, so as +not to make the floor creak beneath his tread, crosses the room which +leads to the bedchamber of Rose and Blanche and applies his ear to the +door of the apartment. With equal caution, Spoil-sport follows exactly +the movements of his master. The countenance of the soldier is uneasy +and full of thought. As he approaches the door, he says to himself: "I +hope the dear children heard nothing of what happened in the night! It +would alarm them, and it is much better that they should not know it at +present. It might afflict them sadly, poor dears! and they are so gay, +so happy, since they feel sure of their father's love for them. They +bore his departure so bravely! I would not for the world that they +should know of this unfortunate event." + +Then as he listened, the soldier resumed: "I hear nothing--and yet they +are always awake so early. Can it be sorrow?" + +Dagobert's reflections were here interrupted by two frank, hearty bursts +of laughter, from the interior of the bedroom. + +"Come! they are not so sad as I thought," said the soldier, breathing +more freely. "Probably they know nothing about it." + +Soon, the laughter was again heard with redoubled force, and the soldier, +delighted at this gayety, so rare on the part of "his children," was much +affected by it: the tears started to his eyes at the thought that the +orphans had at length recovered the serenity natural to their age; then, +passing from one emotion to the other, still listening at the door, with +his body leaning forward, and his hands resting on his knees, Dagobert's +lip quivered with an expression of mute joy, and, shaking his head a +little, he accompanied with his silent laughter, the increasing hilarity +of the young girls. At last, as nothing is so contagious as gayety, and +as the worthy soldier was in an ecstasy of joy, he finished by laughing +aloud with all his might, without knowing why, and only because Rose and +Blanche were laughing. Spoil-sport had never seen his master in such a +transport of delight; he looked at him for a while in deep and silent +astonishment, and then began to bark in a questioning way. + +At this well-known sound, the laughter within suddenly ceased, and a +sweet voice, still trembling with joyous emotion, exclaimed: "Is it you, +Spoil-sport, that have come to wake us?" The dog understood what was +said, wagged his tail, held down his ears, and, approaching close to the +door, answered the appeal of his young mistress by a kind of friendly +growl. + +"Spoil-sport," said Rose, hardly able to restrain her laughter, "you are +very early this morning." + +"Tell us what o'clock it is, if you please, old fellow?" added Blanche. + +"Young ladies, it is past eight," said suddenly the gruff voice of +Dagobert, accompanying this piece of humor with a loud laugh. + +A cry of gay surprise was heard, and then Rose resumed: "Good-morning, +Dagobert." + +"Good-morning, my children. You are very lazy to-day, I must tell you." + +"It is not our fault. Our dear Augustine has not yet been to call us. +We are waiting for her." + +"Oh! there it is," said Dagobert to himself, his features once more +assuming an expression of anxiety. Then he returned aloud, in a tone of +some embarrassment, for the worthy man was no hand at a falsehood: "My +children, our companion went out this morning--very early. She is gone +to the country--on business--she will not return for some days--so you +had better get up by yourselves for today." + +"Our good Madame Augustine!" exclaimed Blanche, with interest. "I hope +it is nothing bad that has made her leave suddenly--eh, Dagobert?" + +"No, no--not at all--only business," answered the soldier. "To see one +of her relations." + +"Oh, so much the better!" said Rose. "Well, Dagobert, when we call you +can come in." + +"I will come back in a quarter of an hour," said the soldier as he +withdrew; and he thought to himself: "I must lecture that fool Loony--for +he is so stupid, and so fond of talking, that he will let it all out." + +The name of the pretended simpleton will serve as a natural transition, +to inform the reader of the cause of the hilarity of the sisters. They +were laughing at the numberless absurdities of the idiot. The girls rose +and dressed themselves, each serving as lady's-maid to the other. Rose +had combed and arranged Blanche's hair; it was now Blanche's turn to do +the same for her sister. Thus occupied, they formed a charming picture. +Rose was seated before the dressing-table; her sister, standing behind +her, was smoothing her beautiful brown hair. Happy age! so little +removed from childhood, that present joy instantly obliterates the traces +of past sorrow! But the sisters felt more than joy; it was happiness, +deep and unalterable, for their father loved them, and their happiness +was a delight, and not a pain to him. Assured of the affection of his +children, he, also, thanks to them, no longer feared any grief. To those +three beings, thus certain of their mutual love, what was a momentary +separation? Having explained this, we shall understand the innocent +gayety of the sisters, notwithstanding their father's departure, and the +happy, joyous expression, which now filled with animation their charming +faces, on which the late fading rose had begun once more to bloom. Their +faith in the future gave to their countenances something resolute and +decisive, which added a degree of piquancy to the beauty of their +enchanting features. + +Blanche, in smoothing her sister's hair, let fall the comb, and, as she +was stooping to pick it up, Rose anticipated her, saying: "If it had been +broken, we would have put it into the handle-basket." + +Then the two laughed merrily at this expression, which reminded them of +an admirable piece of folly on the part of Loony. + +The supposed simpleton had broken the handle of a cup, and when the +governess of the young ladies had reprimanded him for his carelessness, +he had answered: "Never mind, madame; I have put it into the handle- +basket." + +"The handle-basket, what is that?" + +"Yes, Madame; it is where I keep all the handles I break off the things!" + +"Dear me!" said Rose, drying her eyes; "how silly it is to laugh at such +foolishness." + +"It is droll," replied Blanche; "how can we help it?" + +"All I regret is, that father cannot hear us laugh." + +"He was so happy to see us gay!" + +"We must write to him to-day, the story of the handle-basket." + +"And that of the feather-brush, to show that, according to promise, we +kept up our spirits during his absence." + +"Write to him, sister? no, he is to write to us, and we are not to answer +his letters." + +"True! well then, I have an idea. Let us address letters to him here, +Dagobert can put them into the post, and, on his return, our father will +read our correspondence." + +"That will be charming! What nonsense we will write to him, since he +takes pleasure in it!" + +"And we, too, like to amuse ourselves." + +"Oh, certainly! father's last words have given us so much courage." + +"As I listened to them, I felt quite reconciled to his going." + +"When he said to us: 'My children, I will confide in you all I can. I go +to fulfill a sacred duty, and I must be absent for some time; for though, +when I was blind enough to doubt your affection, I could not make up my +mind to leave you, my conscience was by no means tranquil. Grief takes +such an effect on us, that I had not the strength to come to a decision, +and my days were passed in painful hesitation. But now that I am certain +of your tenderness, all this irresolution has ceased, and I understand +how one duty is not to be sacrificed to another, and that I have to +perform two duties at once, both equally sacred; and this I now do with +joy, and delight, and courage!'" + +"Go on, sister!" cried Blanche, rising to draw nearer to Rose. "I think +I hear our father when I remember those words, which must console and +support us during his absence." + +"And then our father continued: 'Instead of grieving at my departure, you +would rejoice in it, you should be proud and happy. I go to perform a +good and generous act. Fancy to yourselves, that there is somewhere a +poor orphan, oppressed and abandoned by all--and that the father of that +orphan was once my benefactor, and that I had promised him to protect his +son--and that the life of that son is now in peril--tell me, my children; +would you regret that I should leave you to fly to the aid of such an +orphan?'--" + +"'No, no, brave father!' we answered: 'we should not then be your +daughters!'" continued Rose, with enthusiasm. "'Count upon us! We +should be indeed unhappy if we thought that our sorrow could deprive thee +of thy courage. Go! and every day we will say to ourselves proudly, "It +was to perform a great and noble duty that our father left us--we can +wait calmly for his return." + +"How that idea of duty sustains one, sister!" resumed Rose, with growing +enthusiasm. "It gave our father the courage to leave us without regret, +and to us the courage to bear his absence gayly!" + +"And then, how calm we are now! Those mournful dreams, which seemed to +portend such sad events, no longer afflict us." + +"I tell you, sister, this time we are really happy once for all." + +"And then, do you feel like me? I fancy, that I am stronger and more +courageous and that I could brave every danger." + +"I should think so! We are strong enough now. Our father in the midst, +you on one side, I on the other--" + +"Dagobert in the vanguard, and Spoil-sport in the rear! Then the army +will be complete, and let 'em come on by thousands!" added a gruff, but +jovial voice, interrupting the girl, as Dagobert appeared at the half- +open door of the room. It was worth looking at his face, radiant with +joy; for the old fellow had somewhat indiscreetly been listening to the +conversation. + +"Oh! you were listening, Paul Pry!" said Rose gayly, as she entered the +adjoining room with her sister, and both affectionately embraced the +soldier. + +"To be sure, I was listening; and I only regretted not to have ears as +large as Spoil-sport's! Brave, good girls! that's how I like to see you- +-bold as brass, and saying to care and sorrow: 'Right about face! march! +go to the devil!'" + +"He will want to make us swear, now," said Rose to her sister, laughing +with all her might. + +"Well! now and then, it does no harm," said the soldier; "it relieves and +calms one, when if one could not swear by five hundred thousand de--" + +"That's enough!" said Rose, covering with her pretty hand the gray +moustache, so as to stop Dagobert in his speech. "If Madame Augustine +heard you--" + +"Our poor governess! so mild and timid," resumed Blanche. "How you would +frighten her!" + +"Yes," said Dagobert, as he tried to conceal his rising embarrassment; +"but she does not hear us. She is gone into the country." + +"Good, worthy woman!" replied Blanche, with interest. "She said +something of you, which shows her excellent heart." + +"Certainly," resumed Rose; "for she said to us, in speaking of you, 'Ah, +young ladies! my affection must appear very little, compared with M. +Dagobert's. But I feel that I also have the right to devote myself to +you.'" + +"No doubt, no doubt! she has a heart of gold," answered Dagobert. Then +he added to himself, "It's as if they did it on purpose, to bring the +conversation back to this poor woman." + +"Father made a good choice," continued Rose. "She is the widow of an old +officer, who was with him in the wars." + +"When we were out of spirits," said Blanche, "you should have seen her +uneasiness and grief, and how earnestly she set about consoling us." + +"I have seen the tears in her eyes when she looked at us," resumed Rose. +"Oh! she loves us tenderly, and we return her affection. With regard to +that, Dagobert, we have a plan as soon as our father comes back." + +"Be quiet, sister!" said Blanche, laughing. "Dagobert will not keep our +secret." + +"He!" + +"Will you keep it for us, Dagobert?" + +"I tell you what," said the soldier, more and more embarrassed; "you had +better not tell it to me." + +"What! can you keep nothing from Madame Augustine?" + +"Ah, Dagobert! Dagobert!" said Blanche, gayly holding up her finger at +the soldier; "I suspect you very much of paying court to our governess." + +"I pay court?" said the soldier--and the expression of his face was so +rueful, as he pronounced these words, that the two sisters burst out +laughing. + +Their hilarity was at its height when the door opened and Loony advanced +into room announcing, with a loud voice, "M. Rodin!" In fact, the Jesuit +glided almost imperceptibly into the apartment, as if to take possession +of the ground. Once there, he thought the game his own, and his reptile +eyes sparkled with joy. It would be difficult to paint the surprise of +the two sisters, and the anger of the soldier, at this unexpected visit. + +Rushing upon Loony, Dagobert seized him by the collar, and exclaimed: +"Who gave you leave to introduce any one here without my permission?" + +"Pardon, M. Dagobert!" said Loony, throwing himself on his knees, and +clasping his hands with an air of idiotic entreaty. + +"Leave the room!--and you too!" added the soldier, with a menacing +gesture, as he turned towards Rodin, who had already approached the +girls, with a paternal smile on his countenance. + +"I am at your orders, my dear sir," said the priest, humbly; and he made +a low bow, but without stirring from the spot. + +"Will you go?" cried the soldier to Loony, who was still kneeling, and +who, thanks to the advantages of this position, was able to utter a +certain number of words before Dagobert could remove him. + +"M. Dagobert," said Loony in a doleful voice, "I beg pardon for bringing +up the gentleman without leave; but, alas, my head is turned, because of +the misfortune that happened to Madame Augustine." + +"What misfortune?" cried Rose and Blanche together, as they advanced +anxiously towards Loony. + +"Will you go?" thundered Dagobert, shaking the servant by the collar, to +force him to rise. + +"Speak--speak!" said Blanche, interposing between the soldier and his +prey. "What has happened to Madame Augustine?" + +"Oh," shouted Loony, in spite of the cuffs of the soldier. "Madame +Augustine was attacked in the night with cholera, and taken--" + +He was unable to finish. Dagobert struck him a tremendous blow with his +fist, right on the jaw, and, putting forth his still formidable strength, +the old horse-grenadier lifted him to his legs, and with one violent kick +bestowed on the lower part of his back, sent him rolling into the ante- +chamber. + +Then turning to Rodin, with flushed cheek and sparkling eye, Dagobert +pointed to the door with an expressive gesture, and said in an angry +voice: "Now, be off with you and that quickly!" + +"I must pay my respects another time, my dear sir," said Rodin, as he +retired towards the door, bowing to the young girls. + + + + +CHAPTER LIV. + +DUTY. + +Rodin, retreating slowly before the fire of Dagobert's angry looks, +walked backwards to the door, casting oblique but piercing glances at the +orphans, who were visibly affected by the servant's intentional +indiscretion. (Dagobert had ordered him not to speak before the girls of +the illness of their governess, and that was quite enough to induce the +simpleton to take the first opportunity of doing so.) + +Rose hastily approached the soldier, and said to him: "Is it true--is it +really true that poor Madame Augustine has been attacked with the +cholera?" + +"No--I do not know--I cannot tell," replied the soldier, hesitating; +"besides, what is it to you?" + +"Dagobert, you would conceal from us a calamity," said Blanche. "I +remember now your embarrassment, when we spoke to you of our governess." + +"If she is ill, we ought not to abandon her. She had pity on our +sorrows; we ought to pity her sufferings." + +"Come, sister; come to her room," said Blanche, advancing towards the +door, where Rodin had stopped short, and stood listening with growing +attention to this unexpected scene, which seemed to give him ample food +for thought. + +"You will not leave this room," said the soldier, sternly, addressing the +two sisters. + +"Dagobert," replied Rose, firmly, "it is a sacred duty, and it would be +cowardice not to fulfil it." + +"I tell you that you shall not leave the room," said the soldier, +stamping his foot with impatience. + +"Dagobert," replied Blanche, with as resolute an air as her sister's, and +with a kind of enthusiasm which brought the blood to her fair cheek, "our +father, when he left us, give us an admirable example of devotion and +duty. He would not forgive us were we to forget the lesson." + +"What," cried Dagobert, in a rage, and advancing towards the sisters to +prevent their quitting the apartment; "you think that if your governess +had the cholera, I would let you go to her under the pretext of duty?-- +Your duty is to live, to live happy, for your father's sake--and for mine +into the bargain--so not a word more of such folly!" + +"We can run no danger by going to our governess in her room," said Rose. + +"And if there were danger," added Blanche, "we ought not to hesitate. +So, Dagobert, be good! and let us pass." + +Rodin, who had listened to what precedes, with sustained attention, +suddenly started, as if a thought had struck him; his eye shone brightly, +and an expression of fatal joy illumined his countenance. + +"Dagobert, do not refuse!" said Blanche. "You would do for us what you +reproach us with wishing to do for another." + +Dagobert had as it were, till now stood in the path of the Jesuit and the +twins by keeping close to the door; but, after a moments reflection, he +shrugged his shoulders, stepped to one side, and said calmly: "I was an +old fool. Come, young ladies; if you find Madame Augustine in the house, +I will allow you to remain with her." + +Surprised at these words, the girls stood motionless and irresolute. + +"If our governess is not here, where is she, then?" said Rose. + +"You think, perhaps, that I am going to tell you in the excitement in +which you are!" + +"She is dead!" cried Rose growing pale. + +"No, no--be calm," said the soldier, hastily; "I swear to you, by your +father's honor, that she is not dead. At the first appearance of the +disorder, she begged to be removed from the house, fearing the contagion +for those in it." + +"Good and courageous woman!" said Rose tenderly, "And you will not allow +us--" + +"I will not allow you to go out, even if I have to lock you up in your +room," cried the soldier, again stamping with rage; then, remembering +that the blunderhead's indiscretion was the sole cause of this +unfortunate incident, he added, with concentrated fury: "Oh! I will break +my stick upon that rascal's back." + +So saying, he turned towards the door, where Rodin still stood, silent +and attentive, dissembling with habitual impassibility the fatal hopes he +had just conceived in his brain. The girls, no longer doubting the +removal of their governess, and convinced that Dagobert would not tell +them whither they had conveyed her, remained pensive and sad. + +At sight of the priest, whom he had forgotten for the moment, the +soldier's rage increased, and he said to him abruptly: "Are you still +there?" + +"I would merely observe to you, my dear sir," said Rodin, with that air +of perfect good nature which he knew so well how to assume, "that you +were standing before the door, which naturally prevented me from going +out." + +Well, now nothing prevents you--so file off!" + +"Certainly, I will file off, if you wish it, my dear sir though I think I +have some reason to be surprised at such a reception." + +"It is no reception at all--so begone!" + +"I had come, my dear sir to speak to you--" + +"I have no time for talking." + +"Upon business of great importance." + +"I have no other business of importance than to remain with these +children." + +"Very good, my dear sir," said Rodin, pausing on the threshold. "I will +not disturb you any longer; excuse my indiscretion. The bearer of +excellent news from Marshal Simon, I came--" + +"News from our father!" cried Rose, drawing nearer to Rodin. + +"Oh, speak, speak, sir!" added Blanche. + +"You have news of the marshal!" said Dagobert, glancing suspiciously at +Rodin. "Pray, what is this news?" + +But Rodin, without immediately answering the question, returned from the +threshold into the room, and, contemplating Rose and Blanche by turns +with admiration, he resumed: "What happiness for me, to be able to bring +some pleasure to these dear young ladies. They are even as I left them +graceful, and fair, and charming--only less sad than on the day when I +fetched them from the gloomy convent in which they were kept prisoners, +to restore them to the arms of their glorious father!" + +"That was their place, and this is not yours," said Dagobert, harshly, +still holding the door open behind Rodin. + +"Confess, at least that I was not so much out of place at Dr. +Baleinier's," said the Jesuit, with a cunning air. "You know, for it was +there that I restored to you the noble imperial cross you so much +regretted--the day when that good Mdlle. de Cardoville only prevented you +from strangling me by telling you that I was her liberator. Aye! it was +just as I have the honor of stating, young ladies," added Rodin, with a +smile; "this brave soldier was very near strangling me, for, be it said +without offense, he has, in spite of his age, a grasp of iron. Ha, ha! +the Prussians and Cossacks must know that better than I!" + +These few words reminded Dagobert and the twins of the services which +Rodin had really rendered them; and though the marshal had heard Mdlle. +de Cardoville speak of Rodin as of a very dangerous man, he had +forgotten, in the midst of so many anxieties, to communicate this +circumstance to Dagobert. But this latter, warned by experience, felt, +in spite of favorable appearances, a secret aversion for the Jesuit; so +he replied abruptly: "The strength of my grasp has nothing to do with the +matter." + +"If I allude to that little innocent playfulness on your part, my dear +sir," said Rodin, in his softest tone, approaching the two sisters with a +wriggle which was peculiar to him; "if I allude to it, you see, it was +suggested by the involuntary recollection of the little services I was +happy enough to render you." Dagobert looked fixedly at Rodin, who +instantly veiled his glance beneath his flabby eyelids. + +"First of all," said the soldier, after a moment's silence, "a true man +never speaks of the services he has rendered, and you come back three +times to the subject." + +"But Dagobert," whispered Rose, "if he brings news of our father?" + +The soldier made a sign, as if to beg the girl to let him speak, and +resumed, looking full at Rodin: "You are cunning, but I'm no raw +recruit." + +"I cunning?" said Rodin, with a sanctified air. + +"Yes, very. You think to puzzle me with your fine phrases; but I'm not +to be caught in that way. Just listen to me. Some of your band of +black-gowns stole my cross; you returned it to me. Some of the same band +carried off these children; you brought them back. It is also true that +you denounced the renegade D'Aigrigny. But all this only proves two +things: first, that you were vile enough to be the accomplice of these +scoundrels; and secondly, that, having been their accomplice, you were +base enough to betray them. Now, those two facts are equally bad, and I +suspect you most furiously. So march off at once; your presence is not +good for these children." + +"But, my dear sir--" + +"I will have no buts," answered Dagobert, in an angry voice. "When a man +of your look does good, it is only to hide some evil; and one must be on +guard." + +"I understand your suspicions," said Rodin coolly, hiding his growing +disappointment, for he had hoped it would have been easy to coax the +soldier; but, if you reflect, what interest have I in deceiving you? And +in what should the deception consist?" + +"You have some interest or other in persisting to remain here, when I +tell you to go away." + +"I have already had the honor of informing you of the object of my visit, +my dear sir." + +"To bring news of Marshal Simon?" + +"That is exactly the case. I am happy enough to have news of the +marshal. Yes, my dear young ladies," added Rodin, as he again approached +the two sisters, to recover, as it were, the ground he had lost, "I have +news of your glorious father!" + +"Then come to my room directly, and you can tell it to me," replied +Dagobert. + +"What! you would be cruel enough to deprive these dear ladies of the +pleasure--" + +"By heaven, sir!" cried Dagobert, in a voice of thunder, "you will make +me forget myself. I should be sorry to fling a man of your age down the +stairs. Will you be gone?" + +"Well, well," said Rodin mildly, "do not be angry with a poor old man. I +am really not worth the trouble. I will go with you to your room, and +tell you what I have to communicate. You will repent not having let me +speak before these dear young ladies; but that will be your punishment, +naughty man!" + +So saying, Rodin again bowed very low, and, concealing his rage and +vexation, left the room before Dagobert, who made a sign to the two +sisters, and then followed, closing the door after him. + +"What news of our father, Dagobert?" said Rose anxiously, when the +soldier returned, after a quarter of an hours absence. + +"Well, that old conjurer knows that the marshal set out in good spirits, +and he seems acquainted with M. Robert. How could he be informed of all +this? I cannot tell," added the soldier, with a thoughtful air; "but it +is only another reason to be on one's guard against him." + +"But what news of our father?" asked Rose. + +"One of that old rascal's friends (I think him a rascal still) knows your +father, he tells me, and met him five-and-twenty leagues from here. +Knowing that this man was coming to Paris, the marshal charged him to let +you know that he was in perfect health, and hoped soon to see you again." + +"Oh, what happiness!" cried Rose. + +"You see, you were wrong to suspect the poor old man, Dagobert," added +Blanche. "You treated him so harshly!" + +"Possibly so; but I am not sorry for it." + +"And why?" + +"I have my reasons; and one of the best is that, when I saw him came in, +and go sidling and creeping round about us, I felt chilled to the marrow +of my bones, without knowing why. Had I seen a serpent crawling towards +you, I should not have been more frightened. I knew, of course, that he +could not hurt you in my presence; but I tell you, my children, in spite +of the services he has no doubt rendered us, it was all I could do to +refrain from throwing him out of the window. Now, this manner of proving +my gratitude is not natural, and one must be on one's guard against +people who inspire us with such ideas." + +"Good Dagobert, it is your affection for us that makes you so +suspicious," said Rose, in a coaxing tone; "it proves how much you love +us." + + + + +CHAPTER LV. + +THE IMPROVISED HOSPITAL + +Among a great number of temporary hospitals opened at the time of the +cholera in every quarter of Paris, one had been established on the +ground-floor of a large house in the Rue du Mont-Blanc. The vacant +apartments had been generously placed by their proprietor at the disposal +of the authorities; and to this place were carried a number of persons, +who, being suddenly attacked with the contagion, were considered in too +dangerous a state to be removed to the principal hospitals. + +Two days had elapsed since Rodin's visit to Marshal Simon's daughters. +Shortly after he had been expelled, the Princess de Saint-Dizier had +entered to see them, under the cloak of being a house-to-house visitor to +collect funds for the cholera sufferers. + +Choosing the moment when Dagobert, deceived by her lady-like demeanor, +had withdrawn, she counselled the twins that it was their duty to go and +see their governess, whom she stated to be in the hospital we now +describe. + +It was about ten o'clock in the morning. The persons who had watched +during the night by the sick people, in the hospital established in the +Rue du Mont-Blanc, were about to be relieved by other voluntary +assistants. + +"Well, gentlemen," said one of those newly arrived, "how are we getting +on? Has there been any decrease last night in the number of the sick?" + +"Unfortunately, no; but the doctors think the contagion has reached its +height." + +Then there is some hope of seeing it decrease." + +"And have any of the gentlemen, whose places we come to take, been +attacked by the disease?" + +"We came eleven strong last night; we are only nine now." + +"That is bad. Were these two persons taken off rapidly?" + +"One of the victims, a young man of twenty-five years of age, a cavalry +officer on furlough, was struck as it were by lightning. In less than a +quarter of an hour he was dead. Though such facts are frequent, we were +speechless with horror." + +"Poor young man!" + +"He had a word of cordial encouragement and hope for every, one. He had +so far succeeded in raising the spirits of the patients, that some of +them who were less affected by the cholera than by the fear of it, were +able to quit the hospital nearly well." + +"What a pity! So good a young man! Well, he died gloriously; it requires +as much courage as on the field of battle." + +"He had only one rival in zeal and courage, and that is a Young priest, +with an angelic countenance, whom they call the Abbe Gabriel. He is +indefatigable; he hardly takes an hour's rest, but runs from one to the +other, and offers himself to everybody. He forgets nothing. The +consolation; which he offers come from the depths of his soul, and are +not mere formalities in the way of his profession. No, no, I saw him +weep over a poor woman, whose eyes he had closed after a dreadful agony. +Oh, if all priests were like him!" + +"No doubt, a good priest is most worthy of respect. But! who is the +other victim of last night?" + +"Oh! his death was frightful. Do not speak of it. I have still the +horrible scene before my eyes." + +"A sudden attack of cholera?" + +"If it had only been the contagion, I should not so shudder at the +remembrance." + +"What then did he die of?" + +"It is a string of horrors. Three days ago, they brought here a man, who +was supposed to be only attacked with cholera. You have no doubt heard +speak of this personage. He is the lion-tamer, that drew all Paris to +the Porte-Saint-Martin." + +"I know the man you mean. Called Morok. He performed a kind of play +with a tame panther." + +"Exactly so; I was myself present at a similar scene, which a stranger, +an Indian, in consequence of a wager, was said at the time, jumped upon +the stage and killed the panther." + +"Well, this Morok, brought here as a cholera-patient, and indeed with all +the symptoms of the contagion, soon showed signs of a still more +frightful malady." + +"And this was--" + +"Hydrophobia." + +"Did he become mad?" + +"Yes; he confessed, that he had been bitten a few days before by one of +the mastiffs in his menagerie; unfortunately, we only learnt this +circumstance after the terrible attack, which cost the life of the poor +fellow we deplore." + +"How did it happen, then?" + +"Morok was in a room with three other patients. Suddenly seized with a +sort of furious delirium, he rose, uttering ferocious cries, and rushed +raving mad into the passage. Our poor friend made an attempt to stop +him. This kind of resistance increased the frenzy of Morok, who threw +himself on the man that crossed his path, and, tearing him with his +teeth, fell down in horrible convulsions." + +"Oh! you are right. 'Twas indeed frightful. And, not withstanding every +assistance this victim of Morok's--" + +"Died during the night, in dreadful agony; for the shock had been so +violent, that brain-fever almost instantly declared itself." + +"And is Morok dead?" + +"I do not know. He was to be taken to another hospital, after being fast +bound in the state of weakness which generally succeeds the fit. But, +till he can be removed he has been confined in a room upstairs." + +"But he cannot recover." + +"I should think he must be dead by this time. The doctors did not give +him twenty-four hours to live." + +The persons engaged in this conversation were standing in an ante-chamber +on the ground-floor, in which usually assembled those who came to offer +their voluntary aid to the sick. One door of this room communicated with +the rest of the hospital, and the other with the passage that opened upon +the courtyard. + +"Dear me!" said one of the two speakers, looking through the window. +"See what two charming girls have just got out of that elegant carriage. +How much alike they are! Such a resemblance is indeed extraordinary." + +"No doubt they are twins. Poor young girls! dressed in Mourning. They +have perhaps lost father or mother." + +"One would imagine they are coming this way." + +"Yes, they are coming up the steps." + +And indeed Rose and Blanche soon entered the antechamber, with a timid, +anxious air, though a sort of feverish excitement was visible in their +looks. One of the two men that were talking together, moved by the +embarrassment of the girls, advanced toward them, and said, in a tone of +attentive politeness: "Is there anything I can do for you, ladies?" + +"Is not this, sir," replied Rose, "the infirmary of the Rue du Mont- +Blanc?" + +"Yes, miss." + +"A lady, called Madame Augustine du Tremblay, was brought here, we are +told, about two days ago. Could we see her?" + +"I would observe to you, miss, that there is some danger in entering the +sick-wards." + +It is a dear friend that we wish to see," answered Rose, in a mild and +firm tone, which sufficiently expressed that she was determined to brave +the danger. + +"I cannot be sure, miss," resumed the other, "that the person you seek is +here; but, if you will take the trouble to walk into this room on the +left, you will find there the good Sister Martha; she has the care of the +women's wards, and will give you all the information you can desire." + +"Thank you, sir," said Blanche, with a graceful bow; and she and her +sister entered together the apartment which had been pointed out to them. + +"They are really charming," said the man, looking after the two sisters, +who soon disappeared from his view. "It would be a great pity if--" + +He was unable to finish. A frightful tumult, mingled with cries of alarm +and horror, rose suddenly from the adjoining rooms. Almost instantly, +two doors were thrown open, and a number of the sick, half-naked, pale, +fleshless, and their features convulsed with terror, rushed into the +antechamber, exclaiming: "Help! help! the madman!" It is impossible to +paint the scene of despairing and furious confusion which followed this +panic of so many affrighted wretches, flying to the only other door, to +escape from the perils they dreaded, and there, struggling and trampling +on each other to pass through the narrow entrance. + +At the moment when the last of these unhappy creatures succeeded in +reaching the door, dragging himself along upon his bleeding hands, for he +had been thrown down and almost crushed in the confusion--Morok, the +object of so much terror--Morok himself appeared. He was a horrible +sight. With the exception of a rag bound about his middle, his wan form +was entirely naked, and from his bare legs still hung the remnants of the +cords he had just broken. His thick, yellow hair stood almost on end, +his beard bristled, his savage eyes rolled full of blood in their orbits, +and shone with a glassy brightness; his lips were covered with foam; from +time to time, he uttered hoarse, guttural cries. The veins, visible on +his iron limbs were swollen almost to bursting. He bounded like a wild +beast, and stretched out before him his bony and quivering hands. At the +moment Morok reached the doorway, by which those he pursued made their +escape, some persons, attracted by the noise, managed to close this door +from without, whilst others secured that which communicated with the +sick-ward. + +Morok thus found himself a prisoner. He ran to the window to force it +open, and threw himself into the courtyard. But, stopping suddenly, he +drew back from the glittering panes, seized with that invincible horror +which all the victims of hydrophobia feel at the sight of any shining +object, particularly glass. The unfortunate creatures whom he had +pursued, saw him from the courtyard exhausting himself in furious efforts +to open the doors that just had been closed upon him. Then, perceiving +the inutility of his attempts, he uttered savage cries, and rushed +furiously round the room, like a wild beast that seeks in vain to escape +from its cage. + +But, suddenly, those spectators of this scene, who had approached nearest +to the window, uttered a loud exclamation of fear and anguish. Morok had +perceived the little door which led to the closet occupied by Sister +Martha, where Rose and Blanche had entered a few minutes before. Hoping +to get out by this way, Morok drew the door violently towards him, and +succeeded in half opening it, notwithstanding the resistance he +experienced from the inside. For an instant the affrighted crowd saw the +stiffened arms Of Sister Martha and the orphans, clinging to the door, +and holding it back with all their might. + + + + +CHAPTER LVI. + +HYDROPHOBIA. + +When the sick people, assembled in the courtyard, saw the desperate +efforts of Morok to force the door of the room which contained Sister +Martha and the orphans, their fright redoubled. "It is all over, Sister +Martha!" cried they. + +"The door will give way." + +"And the closet has no other entrance." + +"There are two young girls in mourning with her." + +"Come! we must not leave these poor women to encounter the madman. +Follow me, friends!" cried generously one of the spectators, who was +still blessed with health, and he rushed towards the steps to return to +the ante-chamber. + +"It's too late! it's only exposing yourself in vain," cried many persons, +holding him back by force. + +At this moment, voices were heard, exclaiming: "Here is the Abbe +Gabriel." + +"He is coming downstairs. He has heard the noise." + +"He is asking what is the matter." + +"What will he do?" + +Gabriel, occupied with a dying person in a neighboring room, had, indeed, +just learned that Morok, having broken his bonds, had succeeded in +escaping from the chamber in which he had been temporarily confined. +Foreseeing the terrible dangers which might result from the escape of the +lion-tamer, the missionary consulted only his courage, and hastened down, +in the hope of preventing greater misfortunes. In obedience to his +orders, an attendant followed him, bearing a brazier full of hot cinders, +on which lay several irons, at a white heat, used by the doctors for +cauterizing, in desperate cases of cholera. + +The angelic countenance of Gabriel was very pale; but calm intrepidity +shone upon his noble brow. Hastily crossing the passage, and making his +way through the crowd, he went straight to the ante-chamber door. As he +approached it, one of the sick people said to him, in a lamentable voice; +"Ah, sir! it is all over. Those who can see through the window say that +Sister Martha is lost." + +Gabriel made no answer, but grasped the key of the door. Before entering +the room, however, he turned to the attendant, and said to him in a firm +voice: "Are the irons of a white heat?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Then wait here, and be ready. As for you, my friends," he added, +turning to some of the sick, who shuddered with terror, "as soon as I +enter shut the door after me. I will answer for the rest. And you; +friend, only bring your irons when I call." + +And the young missionary turned the key in the lock. At this juncture, a +cry of alarm, pity, and admiration rose from every lip, and the +spectators drew back from the door, with an involuntary feeling of fear. +Raising his eyes to heaven, as if to invoke its assistance at this +terrible moment, Gabriel pushed open the door, and immediately closed it +behind him. He was alone with Morok. + +The lion-tamer, by a last furious effort, had almost succeeded in opening +the door, to which Sister Martha and the orphans were clinging, in a fit +of terror, uttering piercing cries. At the sound of Gabriel's footsteps, +Morok turned round suddenly. Then, instead of continuing his attack on +the closet, he sprang, with a roar and a bound, upon the new-comer. + +During this time, Sister Martha and the orphans, not knowing the cause of +the sudden retreat of their assailant, took advantage of the opportunity +to close and bolt the door, and thus placed themselves in security from a +new attack. Morok, with haggard eye, and teeth convulsively clinched, +had rushed upon Gabriel, his hands extended to seize him by the throat. +The missionary stood the shock valiantly. Guessing, at a glance, the +intention of his adversary, he seized him by the wrists as he advanced, +and, holding him back, bent him down violently with a vigorous hand. For +a second, Morok and Gabriel remained mute, breathless, motionless, gazing +on each other; then the missionary strove to conquer the efforts of the +madman, who, with violent jerks, attempted to throw himself upon him, and +to seize and tear him with his teeth. + +Suddenly the lion-tamer's strength seemed to fail, his knees quivered, +his livid head sank upon his shoulder, his eyes closed. The missionary, +supposing that a momentary weakness had succeeded to the fit of rage, and +that the wretch was about to fall, relaxed his hold in order to lend him +assistance. But no sooner did he feel himself at liberty, thanks to his +crafty device, than Morok flung himself furiously upon Gabriel. +Surprised by this sudden attack, the latter stumbled, and at once felt +himself clasped into the iron arms of the madman. Yet, with redoubled +strength and energy, struggling breast to breast, foot to foot, the +missionary in his turn succeeded in tripping up his adversary, and, +throwing him with a vigorous effort, again seized his hands, and now held +him down beneath his knee. Having thus completely mastered him, Gabriel +turned his head to call for assistance, when Morok, by a desperate +strain, succeeded in raising himself a little, and seized with his teeth +the left arm of the missionary. At this sharp, deep, horrible bite, +which penetrated to the very bone, Gabriel could not restrain a scream of +anguish and horror. He strove in vain to disengage himself, for his arm +was held fast, as in a vice, between the firm-set jaws of Morok. + +This frightful scene had lasted less time than it has taken in the +description, when suddenly the door leading to the passage was violently +opened, and several courageous men, who had learned from the patients to +what danger the young priest was exposed, came rushing to his assistance, +in spite of his recommendation not to enter till he should call. The +attendant was amongst the number, with the brazier and the hot irons. +Gabriel, as soon as he perceived him, said to him in an agitated voice: +"Quick, friend! your iron. Thank God I had thought of that." + +One of the men who had entered the room was luckily provided with a +blanket; and the moment the missionary succeeded in wresting his arm from +the clinched teeth of Morok, whom he still held down with his knee, this +blanket was thrown over the madman's head, so that he could now be held +and bound without danger, notwithstanding his desperate resistance. Then +Gabriel rose, tore open the sleeve of his cassock, and laying bare his +left arm, on which a deep bite was visible, bleeding, of a bluish color, +he beckoned the attendant to draw near, seized one of the hot irons, and, +with a firm and sure hand, twice applied the burning metal to the wound, +with a calm heroism which struck all the spectators, with admiration. +But soon so many various emotions, intrepidly sustained, were followed by +a natural reaction. Large drops of sweat stood upon Gabriel's brow; his +long light hair clung to his temples; he grew deadly pale, reeled, lost +his senses, and was carried into the next room to receive immediate +attention. + +An accidental circumstance, likely enough to occur, had converted one of +the Princess de Saint-Dizier's falsehoods into a truth. To induce the +orphans to go to the hospital, she had told them Gabriel was there, which +at the time she was far from believing. On the contrary, she would have +wished to prevent a meeting, which, from the attachment of the missionary +to the girls, might interfere with her projects. A little while after +the terrible scene we have just related, Rose and Blanche, accompanied by +Sister Martha, entered a vast room, of a strange and fatal aspect, +containing a number of women who had suddenly been seized with cholera. + +These immense apartments, generously supplied for the purpose of a +temporary hospital, had been furnished with excessive luxury. The room +now occupied by the sick women, of whom we speak, had been used for a +ball-room. The white panels glittered with sumptuous gilding, and +magnificent pier-glasses occupied the spaces between the windows, through +which could be seen the fresh verdure of a pleasant garden, smiling +beneath the influence of budding May. In the midst of all this gilded +luxury, on a rich, inlaid floor of costly woods, were seen arranged in +regular order four rows of beds, of every shape and kind, from the humble +truckle-bed to the handsome couch in carved mahogany. + +This long room was divided into two compartments by a temporary +partition, four or five feet in height. They had thus been able to +manage the four rows of beds. This partition finished at some little +distance from either end of the room, so as to leave an open space +without beds, for the volunteer attendants, when the sick did not require +their aid. At one of these extremities of the room was a lofty and +magnificent marble chimney piece, ornamented with gilt bronze. On the +fire beneath, various drinks were brewing for the patients. To complete +the singular picture, women of every class took their turns in attending +upon the sick, to whose sighs and groans they always responded with +consoling words of hope and pity. Such was the place, strange and +mournful, that Rose and Blanche entered together, hand in hand, a short +time after Gabriel had displayed such heroic courage in the struggle +against Morok. Sister Martha accompanied Marshal Simon's daughters. +After speaking a few words to them in a whisper, she pointed out to them +the two divisions in which the beds were arranged, and herself went to +the other end of the room to give some orders. + +The orphans, still under the impression of the terrible danger from which +Gabriel had rescued them without their knowing it, were both excessively +pale; yet their eyes were expressive of firm resolution. They had +determined not only to perform what they considered an imperative duty, +but to prove themselves worthy of their valiant father; they were acting +too for their mother's sake, since they had been told that, dying in +Siberia without receiving the sacrament, her eternal felicity might +depend on the proofs they gave of Christian devotion. Need we add that +the Princess de Saint-Dizier, following the advice of Rodin, had, in a +second interview, skillfully brought about without the knowledge of +Dagobert, taken advantage of the excitable qualities of these poor, +confiding, simple, and generous souls, by a fatal exaggeration of the +most noble and courageous sentiments. The orphans having asked Sister +Martha if Madame Augustine du Tremblay had been brought to this asylum +within the last three days, that person had answered, that she really did +not know, but, if they would go through the women's wards, it would be +easy for them to ascertain. For the abominable hypocrite, who, in +conjunction with Rodin, had sent these two children to encounter a mortal +peril, had told an impudent falsehood when she affirmed that their +governess had been removed to this hospital. During their exile, and +their toilsome journey with Dagobert, the sisters had been exposed to +many hard trials. But never had they witnessed so sad a spectacle as +that which now offered itself to their view. + +The long row of beds, on which so many poor creatures writhed in agony, +some uttering deep groans, some only a dull rattle in the throat, some +raving in the delirium of fever, or calling on those from whom they were +about to part forever--these frightful sights and sounds, which are too +much even for brave men, would inevitably, (such was the execrable design +of Rodin and his accomplices) make a fatal impression on these young +girls, urged by the most generous motives to undertake this perilous +visit. And then--sad memory! which awoke, in all its deep and poignant +bitterness, by the side of the first beds they came to--it was of this +very malady, the Cholera, that their mother had died a painful death. +Fancy the twins entering this vast room, of so fearful an aspect, and, +already much shaken by the terror which Morok had inspired, pursuing +their search in the midst of these unfortunate creatures, whose dying +pangs reminded them every instant of the dying agony of their mother! +For a moment, at sight of the funeral hall, Rose and Blanche had felt +their resolution fail them. A black presentiment made them regret their +heroic imprudence; and, moreover, since several minutes they had begun to +feel an icy shudder, and painful shootings across the temples; but, +attributing these symptoms to the fright occasioned by Morok, their good +and valiant natures soon stifled all these fears. They exchanged glances +of affection, their courage revived, and both of them--Rose on one side +of the partition, and Blanche on the other--proceeded with their painful +task. Gabriel, carried to the doctors' private room, had soon recovered +his senses. Thanks to his courage and presence of mind, his wound, +cauterized in time, could have no dangerous consequences. As soon as it +was dressed he insisted on returning to the women's ward, where he had be +offering pious consolations to a dying person at the moment they had come +to inform him of the frightful danger caused by the escape of Morok. + +A few minutes before the missionary entered the room, Rose and Blanche +arrived almost together at the term of their mournful search, one from +the left, the other from the right-hand row of beds, separated by the +partition which divided the hall into compartments. The sisters had not +yet seen each other. Their steps tottered as they advanced, and they +were forced, from time to time, to lean against the beds as they passed +along. Their strength was--rapidly failing them. Giddy with fear and +pain, they appeared to act almost mechanically. Alas! the orphans had +been seized almost at the same moment with the terrible symptoms of +cholera. In consequence of that species of physiological phenomenon, of +which we have already spoken--a phenomenon by no means rare in twins, +which had already been displayed on one or two occasions of their +sickness--their organizations seemed liable to the same sensations, the +same simultaneous accidents, like two flowers on one stem, which bloom +and fade together. The sight of so much suffering, and so many deaths, +had accelerated the development of this dreadful disease. Already, on +their agitated and altered countenances, they bore the mortal tokens of +the contagion, as they came forth, each on her own side, from the two +subdivisions of the room in which they had vainly sought their governess. +Until now separated by the partition, Rose and Blanche had not yet seen +each other; but, when at length their eyes met, there ensued a heart- +rending scene. + + + + +CHAPTER LVII. + +THE GUARDIAN ANGEL. + +To the charming freshness of the sisters' faces had succeeded a livid +pallor. Their large blue eyes, now hollow and sunk in, appeared of +enormous dimensions. Their lips, once so rosy, were now suffused with a +violet hue, and a similar color was gradually displacing the transparent +carmine of their cheeks and fingers. It was as if all the roses in their +charming countenances were fading and turning blue before the icy blast +of death. + +When the orphans met, tottering and hardly able to sustain themselves, a +cry of mutual horror burst from their lips. Each of them exclaimed, at +sight of the fearful change in her sister's features. "Are you also ill, +sister?" And then, bursting into tears, they threw themselves into each +other's arms, and looked anxiously at one another. + +"Good heaven, Rose! how pale you are!" + +"Like you, sister." + +"And do you feel a cold shudder?" + +"Yes, and my sight fails me." + +"My bosom is all on fire." + +"Sister, we are perhaps going to die." + +"Let it only be together!" + +"And our poor father?" + +"And Dagobert?" + +"Sister, our dream has come true!" cried Rose, almost deliriously, as she +threw her arms round Blanche's neck. "Look! look! the Angel Gabriel is +here to fetch us." + +Indeed, at this moment, Gabriel entered the open space at the end of the +room. "Heaven! what do I see?" cried the young priest. "The daughters +of Marshal Simon!" + +And, rushing forward, he received the sisters in his arms, for they were +no longer able to stand. Already their drooping heads, their half-closed +eyes, their painful and difficult breathing, announced the approach of +death. Sister Martha was close at hand. She hastened to respond to the +call of Gabriel. Aided by this pious woman, he was able to lift the +orphans upon a bed reserved for the doctor in attendance. For fear that +the sight of this mournful agony should make too deep an impression on +the other patients, Sister Martha drew a large curtain, and the sisters +were thus in some sort walled off from the rest of the room. Their hands +had been so tightly clasped together, during a nervous paroxysm, that it +was impossible to separate them. It was in this position that the first +remedies were applied--remedies incapable of conquering the violence of +the disease, but which at least mitigated for a few moments the excessive +pains they suffered, and restored some faint glimmer of perception to +their obscured and troubled senses. At this moment, Gabriel was leaning +over the bed with a look of inexpressible grief. With breaking heart, +and face bathed in tears, he thought of the strange destiny, which thus +made him a witness of the death of these girls, his relations, whom but a +few months before he had rescued from the horrors of the tempest. In +spite of his firmness of soul, the missionary could not help shuddering +as he reflected on the fate of the orphans, the death of Jacques +Rennepont, and the fearful devices by which M. Hardy, retired to the +cloistered solitude of St. Herein, had become a member of the Society of +Jesus almost in dying. The missionary said to himself, that already four +members of the Rennepont family--his family--had been successively struck +down by some dreadful fate; and he asked himself with alarm, how it was +that the detestable interests of the Society of Loyola should be served +by a providential fatality? The astonishment of the young missionary +would have given place to the deepest horror, could he have known the +part that Rodin and his accomplices had taken, both in the death of +Jacques Rennepont, by exciting, through Morok, the evil propensities of +the artisan, and in the approaching end of Rose and Blanche, by +converting, through the Princess de Saint-Dizier, the generous +inspirations of the orphans into suicidal heroism. + +Roused for a moment from the painful stupor in which they had been +plunged, Rose and Blanche half-opened their large eyes, already dull and +faded. Then, more and more bewildered they both gazed fixedly at the +angelic countenance of Gabriel. + +"Sister," said Rose, in a faint voice, "do you see the archangel--as in +our dreams, in Germany?" + +"Yes--three days ago--he appeared to us." + +"He is come to fetch us." + +"Alas! will our death save our poor mother from purgatory?" + +"Angel! blessed angel! pray God for our mother--and for us!" Until now, +stupefied with amazement and sorrow, almost suffocated with sobs, Gabriel +had not been able to utter a word. But at these words of the orphans, he +exclaimed: "Dear children, why doubt of your mother's salvation? Oh! +never did a purer soul ascend to its Creator. Your mother? I know from +my adopted father, that her virtues and courage were the admiration of +all who knew her. Oh! believe me; God has blessed her." + +"Do you hear, sister?" cried Rose, as a ray of celestial joy illumined +for an instant the livid faces of the orphans. "God has blessed our +mother." + +"Yes, yes," resumed Gabriel; "banish these gloomy ideas. Take courage, +poor children! You must not die. Think of your father." + +"Our father?" said Blanche, shuddering; and she continued, with a mixture +of reason and wild excitement, which would have touched the soul of the +most indifferent: "Alas! he will not find us on his return. Forgive us, +father! we did not think to do any harm. We wished, like you, to do +something generous--to help our governess." + +"And we did not think to die so quickly, and so soon. Yesterday, we were +gay and happy." + +"Oh, good angel! you will appear to our father, even as you have appeared +to us. You will tell him that, in dying--the last thought of his +children--was of him." + +"We came here without Dagobert's knowing it--do not let our father scold +him." + +"Blessed angel!" resumed the other sister in a still more feeble voice; +"appear to Dagobert, also. Tell him, that we ask his forgiveness, for +the grief our death will occasion him." + +"And let our old friend caress our poor Spoil-sport for us--our faithful +guardian," added Blanche, trying to smile. + +"And then," resumed Rose, in a voice that was growing still fainter, +"promise to appear to two other persons, that have been so kind to us-- +good Mother Bunch--and the beautiful Lady Adrienne." + +"We forget none whom we have loved," said Blanche, with a last effort. +"Now, God grant we may go to our mother, never to leave her more!" + +"You promised it good angel--you know you did--in the dream. You said to +us: 'Poor children--come from so far--you will have traversed the earth-- +to rest on the maternal bosom!'" + +"Oh! it is dreadful--dreadful! So young--and no hope!" murmured Gabriel, +as he buried his face in his hands. "Almighty Father! Thy views are +impenetrable. Alas! yet why should these children die this cruel death?" + +Rose heaved a deep sigh and said in an expiring tone: "Let us be buried +together!--united in life, in death not divided--" + +And the two turned their dying looks upon Gabriel, and stretched out +towards him their supplicating hands. + +"Oh, blessed martyrs to a generous devotion!" cried the missionary, +raising to heaven his eyes streaming with tears. "Angelic souls! +treasures of innocence and truth! ascend, ascend to heaven--since God +calls you to him, and the earth is not worthy to possess you!" + +"Sister! father!" were the last words that the orphans pronounced with +their dying voices. + +And then the twins, by a last instinctive impulse, endeavored to clasp +each other, and their eyes half-opened to exchange yet another glance. +They shuddered twice or thrice, their limbs stiffened, a deep sigh +struggled from their violet-colored lips. Rose and Blanche were both +dead! Gabriel and Sister Martha, after closing the eyes of the orphans, +knelt down to pray by the side of that funeral couch. Suddenly a great +tumult was heard in the room. Rapid footsteps, mingled with +imprecations, sounded close at hand, the curtain was drawn aside from +this mournful scene, and Dagobert entered precipitately, pale, haggard, +his dress in disorder. At sight of Gabriel and the Sister of Charity +kneeling beside the corpses of his children, the soldier uttered a +terrible roar, and tried to advance--but in vain--for, before Gabriel +could reach him, Dagobert fell flat on the ground, and his gray head +struck violently on the floor. + +It is night--a dark and stormy night. One o'clock in the morning has +just sounded from the church of Montmartre. It is to the cemetery of +Montmartre that is carried the coffin which, according to the last wishes +of Rose and Blanche contains them both. Through the thick shadow, which +rests upon that field of death, may be seen moving a pale light. It is +the gravedigger. He advances with caution; a dark lantern is in his +hand. A man wrapped in a cloak accompanies him. He holds down his head +and weeps. It is Samuel. The old Jew--the keeper of the house in the +Rue Saint-Francois. On the night of the funeral of Jacques Rennepont, +the first who died of the seven heirs, and who was buried in another +cemetery, Samuel had a similar mysterious interview with the gravedigger, +to obtain a favor at the price of gold. A strange and awful favor! +After passing down several paths, bordered with cypress trees, by the +side of many tombs, the Jew and the gravedigger arrived, at a little +glade, situated near the western wall of the cemetery. The night was so +dark, that scarcely anything could be seen. After moving his lantern up +and down, and all about, the gravedigger showed Samuel, at the foot of a +tall yew-tree, with long black branches, a little mound of newly-raised +earth, and said: "It is here." + +"You are sure of it?" + +"Yes, yes--two bodies in one coffin! it is not such a common thing." + +"Alas! two in the same coffin!" said the Jew, with a deep sigh. + +"Now that you know the place, what do you want more?" asked the +gravedigger. + +Samuel did not answer. He fell on his knees, and piously kissed the +little mound. Then rising, with his cheeks bathed in tears, he +approached the gravedigger, and spoke to him for some moments in a +whisper--though they were alone, and in the centre of that deserted +place. Then began between those two men a mysterious dialogue, which the +night enveloped in shade and silence. The gravedigger, alarmed at what +Samuel asked him, at first refused his request. + +But the Jew, employing persuasions, entreaties, tears, and at last the +seduction of the jingling gold, succeeded in conquering the scruples of +the gravedigger. Though the latter trembled at the thought of what he +promised, he said to Samuel in an agitated tone: "To-morrow night, then, +at two o'clock." + +"I shall be behind the wall," answered Samuel, pointing out the place +with the aid of a lantern. "I will throw three stones into the cemetery, +for a signal." + +"Yes, three stones--as a signal," replied the gravedigger shuddering, and +wiping the cold sweat from his forehead. + +With considerable remains of vigor, notwithstanding his great age, Samuel +availed himself of the broken surface of the low wall, and climbing over +it, soon disappeared. The gravedigger returned home with hasty strides. +From time to time, he looked fearfully behind him, as though he had been +pursued by some fatal vision. + +On the evening after the funeral of Rose and Blanche, Rodin wrote two +letters. The first, addressed to his mysterious correspondent at Rome, +alluded to the deaths of Jacques Rennepont, and Rose and Blanche Simon, +as well as to the cession of M. Hardy's property, and the donation +of Gabriel--events which reduced the claimants of the inheritance to two- +-Mdlle. de Cardoville and Djalma. This first note written by Rodin for +Rome, contained only the following words: "Five from seven leaves two. +Announce this result to the Cardinal-Prince. Let him go on. I advance- +advance-advance!" The second note, in a feigned hand, was addressed to +Marshal Simon, to be delivered by a sure messenger, contained these few +lines: "If there is yet time, make haste to return. Your daughters are +both dead. You shall learn who killed them." + + + + +CHAPTER LVIII. + +RUIN. + +It is the day after the death of Marshal Simon's daughters. Mdlle. de +Cardoville is yet ignorant of the sad end of her young relatives. Her +countenance is radiant with happiness, and never has she looked more +beautiful; her eye has never been more brilliant, her complexion more +dazzling white, her lip of a richer coral. According to her somewhat +eccentric custom of dressing herself in her own house in a picturesque +style, Adrienne wears to-day, though it is about three o'clock in the +afternoon, a pale green watered-silk dress, with a very full skirt, the +sleeves and bodice slashed with rose-colored ribbon, and adorned with +white bugle-beads, of exquisite workmanship; while a slender network, +also of white bugle-beads, concealing the thick plait of Adrienne's back- +hair, forms an oriental head-dress of charming originality, and contrasts +agreeably with the long curls which fall in front almost to the swell of +the bosom. To the expression of indescribable happiness which marks the +features of Mdlle. de Cardoville, is added a certain resolute, cutting, +satirical air, which is not habitual to her. Her charming head, and +graceful, swan-like neck, are raised in an attitude of defiance; her +small, rose-colored nostrils seem to dilate with ill-repressed ardor, and +she waits with haughty impatience for the moment of an aggressive and +ironical interview. Not far from Adrienne is Mother Bunch. She has +resumed in the house the place which she at first occupied. The young +sempstress is in mourning for her sister, but her countenance is +expressive of a mild, calm sorrow. She looks at Mdlle. de Cardoville +with surprise; for never, till now, has she seen the features of the fair +patrician impressed with such a character of ironical audacity. Mdlle. +de Cardoville was exempt from the slightest coquetry, in the narrow and +ordinary sense of the word. Yet she now cast an inquiring look at the +glass before which she was standing, and, having restored the elastic +smoothness to one of her long, golden curls, by rolling it for a moment +round her ivory finger, she carefully effaced with her hands some almost +imperceptible folds, which had formed themselves in the thick material of +her elegant corsage. This movement, and that of turning her back to the +glass, to see if her dress sat perfectly on all points, revealed, in +serpentine undulations, all the charms and graces of her light and +elegant figure; for, in spite of the rich fulness of her shoulders, white +and firm as sculptured alabaster, Adrienne belonged to that class of +privileged persons, who are able at need to make a girdle out of a +garter. + +Having performed, with indescribable grace, these charming evolutions of +feminine coquetry, Adrienne turned towards Mother Bunch, whose surprise +was still on the increase, and said to her, smiling: "My dear Magdalen, +do not laugh at my question--but what would you say to a picture, that +should represent me as I am now?" + +"Why, lady--" + +"There you are again, with your lady-ing," said Adrienne, in a tone of +gentle reproach. + +"Well, then, Adrienne," resumed Mother Bunch, "I think it would be a +charming picture, for you are dressed, as usual with perfect taste." + +"But am I not better dressed than on other days, my dear poetess? I +began by telling you that I do not ask the question for my own sake," +said Adrienne, gayly. + +"Well, I suppose so," replied Mother Bunch, with a faint smile. "It is +certainly impossible to imagine anything that would suit you better. The +light green and the pale rose-color, with the soft lustre of the white +ornaments, harmonize so well with your golden hair, that I cannot +conceive, I tell you, a more graceful picture." + +The speaker felt what she said, and she was happy to be able to express +it, for we know the intense admiration of that poetic soul for all that +was beautiful. + +"Well!" went on Adrienne, gayly, "I am glad, my dear, that you find me +better dressed than usual." + +"Only," said the hunchback, hesitating. + +"Only?" repeated Adrienne, looking at her with an air of interrogation. + +"Why, only," continued the other, "if I have never seen you look more +pretty, I have also never observed in your features the resolute and +ironical expression which they had just now. It was like an air of +impatient defiance." + +"And so it was, my dear little Magdalen," said Adrienne, throwing her +arms round the girl's neck with joyous tenderness. "I must kiss you, for +having guessed it. You see, I expect a visit from my dear aunt." + +"The Princess de Saint-Dizier?" cried Mother Bunch, in alarm. "That +wicked lady, who did you so much evil?" + +"The very same. She has asked for an interview, and I shall be delighted +to receive her." + +"Delighted?" + +"Yes--a somewhat ironical and malicious delight, it is true," answered +Adrienne, still more gayly. "You shall judge for yourself. She regrets +her gallantries, her beauty, her youth--even her size afflicts the holy +woman!--and she will see me young, fair, beloved--and above all thin-- +yes, thin," added Mdlle. de Cardoville, laughing merrily. "And you may +imagine, my dear, how much envy and despair, the sight of a young, thin +woman excites in a stout one of a certain age!" + +"My friend," said Mother Bunch, gravely, "you speak in jest. And yet, I +know not why, the coming of this princess alarms me." + +"Dear, gentle soul, be satisfied!" answered Adrienne, affectionately. "I +do not fear this woman--I no longer have any fear of her--and to prove it +to her confusion, I will treat her--a monster of hypocrisy and +wickedness, who comes here, no doubt, on some abominable design--I will +treat her as an inoffensive, ridiculous fat woman!" And Adrienne again +laughed. + +A servant here entered the room, and interrupted the mirth of Adrienne, +by saying: "The Princess de Saint-Dizier wishes to know if you can +receive her?" + +"Certainly," said Mdlle. de Cardoville; and the servant retired. Mother +Bunch was about to rise and quit the room; but Adrienne held her back, +and said to her, taking her hand with an air of serious tenderness: +"Stay, my dear friend, I entreat you." + +"Do you wish it?" + +"Yes; I wish--still in revenge, you know," said Adrienne, with a smile, +"to prove to her highness of Saint-Dizier, that I have an affectionate +friend--that I have, in fact, every happiness." + +"But, Adrienne," replied the other, timidly, "consider--" + +"Silence! here is the princess. Remain! I ask it as a favor. The +instinct of your heart will discover any snare she may have laid. Did +not your affection warn me of the plots of Rodin?" + +Mother Bunch could not refuse such a request. She remained, but was +about to draw back from the fireplace. Adrienne, however, took her by +the hand, and made her resume her seat in the arm-chair, saying: "My dear +Magdalen, keep your place. You owe nothing to the lady. With me it is +different; she comes to my house." + +Hardly had Adrienne uttered these words, than the princess entered with +head erect, and haughty air (we have said, she could carry herself most +loftily), and advanced with a firm step. The strongest minds have their +side of puerile weakness; a savage envy, excited by the elegance, wit, +and beauty of Adrienne, bore a large part in the hatred of the princess +for her niece; and though it was idle to think of eclipsing Adrienne, and +the Princess de Saint-Dizier did not seriously mean to attempt it, she +could not forbear, in preparing for the interview she had demanded, +taking more pains even than usual in the arrangement of her dress. +Beneath her robe of shot silk, she was laced in and tightened to excess-- +a pressure which considerably increased the color in her cheeks. The +throng of jealous and hateful sentiments, which inspired her with regard +to Adrienne, had so troubled the clearness of her ordinarily calm +judgment, that, instead of the plain and quiet style, in which, as a +woman of tact and taste, she was generally attired, she now committed the +folly of wearing a dress of changing hues, and a crimson hat, adorned +with a magnificent bird of paradise. Hate, envy, the pride of triumph-- +for she thought of the skillful perfidy with which she had sent to almost +certain death the daughters of Marshal Simon--and the execrable hope of +succeeding in new plots, were all expressed in the countenance of the +Princess de Saint-Dizier, as she entered her niece's apartment. + +Without advancing to meet her aunt, Adrienne rose politely from the sofa +on which she was seated, made a half-curtsey, full of grace and dignity, +and immediately resumed her former posture. Then, pointing to an arm- +chair near the fireplace, at one corner of which sat Mother Bunch, and +she herself at the other, she said: "Pray sit down, your highness." The +princess turned very red, remained standing, and cast a disdainful glance +of insolent surprise at the sempstress, who, in compliance with +Adrienne's wish, only bowed slightly at the entrance of the Princess de +Saint-Dizier, wihout offering to give up her place. In acting thus, the +young sempstress followed the dictates of her conscience, which told her +that the real superiority did not belong to this base, hypocritical, and +wicked princess, but rather to such a person as herself, the admirable +and devoted friend. + +"Let me beg your highness to sit down," resumed Adrienne, in a mild tone, +as she pointed to the vacant chair. + +"The interview I have demanded, niece," said the princess "must be a +private one." + +"I have no secrets, madame, from my best friend; you may speak in the +presence of this young lady." + +"I have long known," replied Madame de Saint-Dizier, with bitter irony, +"that in all things you care little for secrecy, and that you are easy in +the choice of what you call your friends. But you will permit me to act +differently from you. If you have no secrets, madame, I have--and I do +not choose to confide them to the first comer." + +So saying, the pious lady glanced contemptuously at the sempstress. The +latter, hurt at the insolent tone of the princess, answered mildly and +simply: + +"I do not see what can be the great difference between the first and the +last comer to Mdlle. de Cardoville's." + +"What! can it speak!" cried the princess, insolently. + +"It can at least answer, madame," replied Mother Bunch, in her calm +voice. + +"I wish to see you alone, niece--is that clear?" said the princess, +impatiently, to her niece. + +"I beg your pardon, but I do not quite understand your highness," said +Adrienne, with an air of surprise. "This young lady, who honors me with +her friendship, is willing to be present at this interview, which you +have asked for--I say she has consented to be present, for it needs, I +confess, the kindest condescension in her to resign herself, from +affection for me, to hear all the graceful, obliging, and charming things +which you have no doubt come hither to communicate." + +"Madame--" began the princess, angrily. + +"Permit me to interrupt your highness," returned Adrienne, in a tone of +perfect amenity, as if she were addressing the most flattering +compliments to her visitor. "To put you quite at your ease with the lady +here, I will begin by informing you that she is quite aware of all the +holy perfidies, pious wrongs, and devout infamies, of which you nearly +made me the victim. She knows that you are a mother of the Church, such +as one sees but few of in these days. May I hope, therefore, that your +highness will dispense with this delicate and interesting reserve?" + +"Really," said the princess, with a sort of incensed amazement, "I +scarcely know if I wake or sleep." + +"Dear me!" said Adrienne, in apparent alarm; "this doubt as to the state +of your faculties is very shocking, madame. I see that the blood flies +to your head, for your face sufficiently shows it; you seem oppressed, +confined, uncomfortable--perhaps (we women may say so between ourselves), +perhaps you are laced a little too tightly, madame?" + +These words, pronounced by Adrienne with an air of warm interest and +perfect simplicity, almost choked the princess with rage. She became +crimson, seated herself abruptly, and exclaimed: "Be it so, madame! I +prefer this reception to any other. It puts me at my ease, as you say." + +"Does it indeed, madame?" said Adrienne, with a smile. "You may now at +least speak frankly all that you feel, which must for you have the charm +of novelty! Confess that you are obliged to me for enabling you, even +for a moment, to lay aside that mask of piety, amiability, and goodness, +which must be so troublesome to you." + +As she listened to the sarcasms of Adrienne (an innocent and excusable +revenge, if we consider all the wrongs she had suffered), Mother Bunch +felt her heart sink within her; for she dreaded the malignity of the +princess, who replied, with the utmost calmness: "A thousand thanks, +madame, for your excellent intentions and sentiments. I appreciate them +as I ought, and I hope in a short time to prove it to you." + +"Well, madame," said Adrienne, playfully, "let us have it all at once. I +am full of impatient curiosity." + +"And yet," said the princess, feigning in her turn a bitter and ironical +delight, "you are far from having the least notion of what I am about to +announce to you." + +"Indeed! I fear that your highness's candor and modesty deceive you," +replied Adrienne, with the same mocking affability; "for there are very +few things on your part that can surprise me, madame. You must be aware +that from your highness, I am prepared for anything." + +"Perhaps, madame," said the princess, laying great stress on her words, +"if, for instance, I were to tell you that within twenty-four hours-- +suppose between this and to-morrow-thou will be reduced to poverty--" + +This was so unexpected, that Mdlle. de Cardoville started in spite of +herself, and Mother Bunch shuddered. + +"Ah, madame!" said the princess, with triumphant joy and cruel mildness, +as she watched the growing surprise of her niece, "confess that I have +astonished you a little. You were right in giving to our interview the +turn it has taken. I should have needed all sorts of circumlocution to +say to you, 'Niece, to-morrow you will be as poor as you are rich to- +day.' But now I can tell you the fact quite plainly and simply." + +Recovering from her first amazement, Adrienne replied, with a calm smile, +which checked the joy of the princess: "Well, I confess frankly, madame, +that you have surprised me; I expected from you one of those black pieces +of malignity, one of those well-laid plots, in which you are known to +excel, and I did not think you would make all this fuss about such a +trifle." + +"To be ruined--completely ruined," cried the princess. "and that by to- +morrow--you that have been so prodigal, will see your house, furniture, +horses, jewels, even the ridiculous dresses of which you are so vain, all +taken from you--do you call that a trifle? You, that spend with +indifference thousands of louis, will be reduced to a pension inferior to +the wages you gave your foot-boy--do you call that a trifle?" + +To her aunt's cruel disappointment, Adrienne, who appeared quite to have +recovered her serenity was about to answer accordingly, when the door +suddenly opened, and, without being announced, Prince Djalma entered the +room. A proud and tender expression of delight beamed from the radiant +brow of Adrienne at sight of the prince, and it is impossible to describe +the look of triumphant happiness and high disdain that she cast upon the +Princess de Saint-Dizier. Djalma himself had never looked more handsome, +and never had more intense happiness been impressed on a human +countenance. The Hindoo wore a long robe of white Cashmere, adorned with +innumerable stripes of gold and purple; his turban was of the same color +and material; a magnificent figured shawl was twisted about his waist. +On seeing the Indian, whom she had not hoped to meet at Mdlle. de +Cardoville's, the Princess de Saint-Dizier could not at first conceal her +extreme surprise. It was between these four, then, that the following +scene took place. + + + + +CHAPTER LIX. + +MEMORIES. + +Djalma, having never before met the Princess de Saint-Dizier at +Adrienne's, at first appeared rather astonished at her presence. The +princess, keeping silence for a moment, contemplated with implacable +hatred and envy those two beings, both so fair and young, so loving and +happy. Suddenly she started, as if she had just remembered something of +great importance, and for some seconds she remained absorbed in thought. + +Adrienne and Djalma availed themselves of this interval to gaze fondly on +each other, with a sort of ardent idolatry, which filled their eyes with +sweet tears. Then, at a movement of the Princess de Saint-Dizier, who +seemed to rouse herself from her momentary trance, Mdlle. de Cardoville +said to the young prince, with a smile: "My dear cousin, I have to repair +an omission (voluntary, I confess, and for good reasons), in never having +before mentioned to you one of my relations, whom I have now the honor to +present to you. The Princess de Saint-Dizier!" + +Djalma bowed; but Mdlle. de Cardoville resumed, just as her aunt was +about to make some reply: "Her Highness of Saint-Dizier came very kindly +to inform me of an event which is a most fortunate one for me, and of +which I will speak to you hereafter, cousin--unless this amiable lady +should wish to deprive me of the pleasure of making such a +communication." + +The unexpected arrival of the prince, and the recollections which had +suddenly occurred to the princess, had no doubt greatly modified her +first plans: for, instead of continuing the conversation with regard to +Adrienne's threatened loss of fortune, the princess answered, with a +bland smile, that covered an odious meaning: "I should be sorry, prince, +to deprive my dear and amiable niece of the pleasure of announcing to you +the happy news to which she alludes, and which, as a near relative, I +lost no time in communicating to her. I have here some notes on this +subject, added the princess, delivering a paper to Adrienne, "which I +hope will prove, to her entire satisfaction, the reality of what I have +announced to her." + +"A thousand thanks, my dear aunt," said Adrienne, receiving the paper +with perfect indifference; "these precautions and proofs are quite +superfluous. You know that I always believe you on your word, when it +concerns your good feeling towards myself." + +Notwithstanding his ignorance of the refined perfidy and cruel politeness +of civilized life, Djalma, endowed with a tact and fineness of perception +common to most natures of extreme susceptibility, felt some degree of +mental discomfort as he listened to this exchange of false compliments. +He could not guess their full meaning, but they sounded hollow to his +ear; and moreover, whether from instinct or presentiment, he had +conceived a vague dislike for the Princess de Saint-Dizier. That pious +lady, full of the great affair in hand, was a prey to the most violent +agitation, which betrayed itself in the growing color of her cheeks, her +bitter smile, and the malicious brightness of her glance. As he gazed on +this woman, Djalma was unable to conquer his rising antipathy, and he +remained silent and attentive, whilst his handsome countenance lost +something of its former serenity. Mother Bunch also felt the influence +of a painful impression. She glanced in terror at the princess, and then +imploringly at Adrienne, as though she entreated the latter to but an end +to an interview of which the young sempstress foresaw the fatal +consequences. But, unfortunately, the Princess de Saint-Dizier was too +much interested in prolonging this conversation; and Mdlle. de +Cardoville, gathering new courage and confidence from the presence of the +man she adored, took delight in vexing the princess with the exhibition +of their happy love. + +After a short silence, the Princess de Saint-Dizier observed, in a soft +and insinuating tone: "Really, prince, you cannot think how pleased I was +to learn by public report (for people talk of nothing else, and with good +reason) of your chivalrous attachment to my dear niece; for, without +knowing it, you will extricate me from a difficult position." + +Djalma made no answer, but he looked at Mdlle. de Cardoville with a +surprised and almost sorrowful air, as if to ask what her aunt meant to +insinuate. + +The latter, not perceiving this mute interrogation, resumed as follows: +"I will express myself more clearly, prince. You can understand that, +being the nearest relative of this dear, obstinate girl, I am more or +less responsible for her conduct in the eyes of the world; and you, +prince, seem just to have arrived on purpose, from the end of the earth, +to take charge of a destiny which had caused me considerable +apprehension. It is charming, it is excellent; and I know not which most +to admire, your courage or your good fortune." The princess threw a +glance of diabolical malice at Adrienne, and awaited her answer with an +air of defiance. + +"Listen to our good aunt, my dear cousin," said the young lady, smiling +calmly. "Since our affectionate kinswoman sees you and me united and +happy, her heart is swelling with such a flood of joy, that it must run +over, and the effects will he delightful. Only have a little patience, +and you will behold them in their full beauty. I do not know," added +Adrienne, in the most natural tone, "why, in thinking of these +outpourings of our dear aunt's affection, I should remember what you told +me, cousin, of a certain viper in your country which sometimes, in a +powerless bite, breaks its fangs, and, absorbing its own venom, becomes +the victim of the poison it distills. Come, my dear aunt, you that had +so good and noble a heart, I am sure you must feel interested in the fate +of those poor vipers." + +The princess darted an implacable look at her niece, and replied, in an +agitated voice, "I do not see the object of this selection of natural +history. Do you, prince?" + +Djalma made no answer; leaning with his arm on the mantelpiece, he threw +dark and piercing glances upon the princess. His involuntary hatred of +this woman filled his heart. + +"Ah, my dear aunt!" resumed Adrienne, in a tone of self-reproach; "have I +presumed too much on the goodness of your heart? Have you not even +sympathy for vipers? For whom, then, have you any? After all, I can +very well understand it," added Adrienne, as if to herself; "vipers are +so thin. But, to lay aside these follies," she continued, gayly, as she +saw the ill-repressed rage of the pious woman, "tell us at once, my dear +aunt, all the tender things which the sight of our happiness inspires." + +"I hope to do so, my amiable niece. First, I must congratulate this dear +prince, on having come so far to take charge, in all confidence, and with +his eyes shut, of you, my poor child, whom we were obliged to confine as +mad, in order to give a decent color to your excesses. You remember the +handsome lad, that we found in your apartment. You cannot be so +faithless, as already to have forgotten his name? He was a fine, youth, +and a poet--one Agricola Baudoin--and was discovered in a secret place, +attached to your bed-chamber. All Paris was amused with the scandal--for +you are not about to marry an unknown person, dear prince; her name has +been in every mouth." + +At these unexpected and dreadful words, Adrienne, Djalma, and Mother +Bunch, though under the influence of different kinds of resentment, +remained for a moment mute with surprise; and the princess, judging it no +longer necessary to repress her infernal joy and triumphant hatred, +exclaimed, as she rose from her seat, with flushed cheek, and flashing +eyes, "Yes, I defy you to contradict me. Were we not forced to confine +you, on the plea of madness? And did we not find a workman (your lover) +concealed in your bedroom?" + +On this horrible accusation, Djalma's golden complexion, transparent as +amber, became suddenly the color of lead; his eyes, fixed and staring +showed the white round the pupil--his upper lip, red as blood, was curled +in a kind of wild convulsion, which exposed to view the firmly-set teeth +--and his whole countenance became so frightfully threatening and +ferocious, that Mother Bunch shuddered with terror. Carried away by the +ardor of his blood, the young Oriental felt a sort of dizzy, +unreflecting, involuntary rage--a fiery commotion, like that which makes +the blood leap to the brave man's eyes and brain, when he feels a blow +upon his face. If, during that moment, rapid as the passage of the +lightning through the cloud, action could have taken the place of +thought, the princess and Adrienne, Mother Bunch and himself, would all +have been annihilated by an explosion as sudden and fatal as that of the +bursting of a mine. He would have killed the princess, because she +accused Adrienne of infamous deception he would have killed Adrienne, +because she could even be suspected of such infamy--and Mother Bunch, for +being a witness of the accusation--and himself, in order not to survive +such horrid treachery. But, oh wonder! his furious and bloodshot gaze +met the calm look of Adrienne--a look so full of dignity and serene +confidence--and the expression of ferocious rage passed away like a flash +of lightning. + +Much more: to the great surprise of the princess and the young workgirl, +as the glances which Djalma cast upon Adrienne went (as it were) deeper +into that pure soul, not only did the Indian grow calm, but, by a kind of +transfiguration, his countenance seemed to borrow her serene expression, +and reflect, as in a mirror, the noble serenity impressed on the young +lady's features. Let us explain physically this moral revolution, as +consoling to the terrified workgirl, as provoking to the princess. +Hardly had the princess distilled the atrocious calumny from her venomous +lips, than Djalma, then standing before the fireplace, had, in the first +paroxysm of his fury, advanced a step towards her; but, wishing as it +were to moderate his rage, he held by the marble chimney-piece, which he +grasped with iron strength. A convulsive trembling shook his whole body, +and his features, altered and contracted, became almost frightful. +Adrienne, on her part, when she heard the accusation, yielding to a first +impulse of just indignation, even as Djalma had yielded to one of blind +fury, rose abruptly, with offended pride flashing from her eyes; but, +almost immediately appeased by the consciousness of her own purity, her +charming face resumed its expression of adorable serenity. It was then +that her eyes met Djalma's. For a second, the young lady was even more +afflicted than terrified at the threatening and formidable expression of +the young Indian's countenance. "Can stupid indignity exasperate him to +this degree?" said Adrienne to herself. "Does he suspect me; then?" + +But to this reflection, as rapid as it was painful, succeeded the most +lively joy, when the eyes of Adrienne rested for a short time on those of +the Indian, and she saw his agitated countenance grow calm as if by +magic, and become radiant and beautiful as before. Thus was the +abominable plot of the princess de Saint-Dizier utterly confounded by the +sincere and confiding expression of Adrienne's face. That was not all. +At the moment, when, as a spectator of this mute and expressive scene +(which proved so well the wondrous sympathy of those two beings, who, +without speaking a word, had understood and satisfied each other), the +princess was choking with rage and vexation--Adrienne, with a charming +smile and gesture, extended her fair hand to Djalma, who, kneeling, +imprinted on it a kiss of fire, which sent a light blush to the forehead +of the young lady. + +Then the Hindoo, placing himself on the ermine carpet at the feet of +Mdlle. de Cardoville, in an attitude full of grace: and respect, rested +his chin on the palm of one of his hands, and gazed on her silently, in a +sort of mute adoration--while Adrienne, bending over him with a happy +smile "looked at the babies in his eyes," as the song says, with as much +amorous complacency, as if the hateful princess had not been present. +But soon, as if something were wanting to complete her happiness, +Adrienne beckoned to Mother Bunch, and made her sit down by her side. +Then, with her hand clasped in that of this excellent friend, Mdlle. de +Cardoville smiled on Djalma, stretched adoringly at her feet, and cast on +the dismayed princess a look of such calm and firm serenity, so nobly +expressive of the invincible quiet of her happiness, and her lofty +disdain of all calumnious attacks, that the Princess de Saint-Dizier, +confused and stupefied, murmured some hardly intelligible words, in a +voice trembling with passion, and, completely losing her presence of +mind, rushed towards the door. But, at this moment, the hunchback, who +feared some ambush, some perfidious plot in the background, resolved, +after exchanging a glance with Adrienne, to accompany the princess to her +carriage. + +The angry disappointment of the Princess de Saint-Dizier, when she saw +herself thus followed and watched, appeared so comical to Mdlle. de +Cardoville that she could not help laughing aloud; and it was to the +sound of contemptuous hilarity that the hypocritical princess, with rage +and despair in her heart, quitted the house to which she had hoped to +bring trouble end misery. Adrienne and Djalma were left alone. Before +relating the scene which took place between them, a few retrospective +words are indispensable. It will easily be imagined, that since Mdlle. +de Cardoville and the Oriental had been brought into such close contact, +after so many disappointments, their days had passed away like a dream of +happiness. Adrienne had especially taken pains to bring to light, one by +one, all the generous qualities of Djalma, of which she had read so much +in her books of travels. The young lady had imposed on herself this +tender and patient study of Djalma's character, not only to justify to +her own mind the intensity of her love, but because this period of trial, +to which she had assigned a term, enabled her to temper and divert the +violence of Djalma's passion--a task the more meritorious, as she herself +was of the same ardent temperament. For, in those two lovers, the finest +qualities of sense and soul seemed exactly to balance each other, and +heaven had bestowed on them the rarest beauty of form, and the most +adorable excellence of heart, as if to legitimatize the irresistible +attraction which drew and bound them together. What, then, was to be the +term of this painful trial, which Adrienne had imposed on Djalma and on +herself? This is what Mdlle. de Cardoville intended to tell the prince, +in the interview she had with him, after the abrupt departure of the +Princess de Saint-Dizier. + + + + +CHAPTER LX. + +THE ORDEAL. + +Adrienne de Cardoville and Djalma had remained alone. Such was the noble +confidence which had succeeded in the Hindoo's mind to his first movement +of unreflecting fury, caused by the infamous calumny, that, once alone +with Adrienne, he did not even allude to that shameful accusation. + +On her side (touching and admirable sympathy of those two hearts!), the +young lady was too proud, conscious of the purity of her love, to descend +to any justification of herself. + +She would have considered it an insult both to herself and him. +Therefore, the lovers began their interview, as if the princess had never +made any such remark. The same contempt was extended to the papers, +which the princess had brought with her to prove the imminent ruin to +which Adrienne was exposed. The young lady had laid them down, without +reading them, on a stand within her reach. She made a graceful sign to +Djalma to seat himself by her side, and accordingly he quitted, not +without regret, the place he had occupied at her feet. + +"My love," said Adrienne, in a grave and tender voice, "you have often +impatiently asked me, when would come the term of the trial we have laid +upon ourselves. That moment is at hand." + +Djalma started, and could not restrain a cry of surprise and joy; but +this almost trembling exclamation was so soft and sweet, that it seemed +rather the expression of ineffable gratitude, than of exulting passion. + +Adrienne continued: "Separated--surrounded by treachery and fraud-- +mutually deceived as to each other's sentiments--we yet loved on, and in +that followed an irresistible attraction, stronger than every opposing +influence. But since then, in these days of happy retirement from the +world, we have learned to value and esteem each other more. Left to +ourselves in perfect freedom, we have had the courage to resist every +temptation, that hereafter we might be happy without remorse. During +these days, in which our hearts had been laid open to each other, we have +read them thoroughly. Yes, Djalma! I believe in you, and you in me--I +find in you all that you find in me--every possible human security for +our future happiness. But this love must yet be consecrated; and in the +eyes of the world, in which we are called upon to live, marriage is the +only consecration, and marriage enchains one's whole life." + +Djalma looked at the young lady with surprise. + +"Yes, one's whole life! and yet who can answer for the sentiments of a +whole life?" resumed Adrienne. "A God, that could see into the future, +could alone bind irrevocably certain hearts for their own happiness; but, +alas! to human eyes the future is impenetrable. Therefore, to accept +indissoluble ties, for any longer than one can answer for a present +sentiment, is to commit an act of selfish and impious folly." + +Djalma made no reply, but, with an almost respectful gesture, he urged +the speaker to continue. + +"And then," proceeded she, with a mixture of tenderness and pride, "from +respect for your dignity and mine, I would never promise to keep a law +made by man against woman, with contemptuous and brutal egotism--a law, +which denies to woman soul, mind, and heart--a law, which none can +accept, without being either a slave or perjured--a law, which takes from +the girl her name, reduces the wife to a state of degrading inferiority, +denies to the mother all rights over her own children, and enslaves one +human creature to the will of another, who is in all respects her equal +in the sight of God!--You know, my love," added the young lady, with +passionate enthusiasm, "how much I honor you, whose father was called the +Father of the Generous. I do not then fear, noble and valiant heart, to +see you use against me these tyrannical powers; but, throughout my life, +I never uttered a falsehood, and our love is too sacred and celestial to +be purchased by a double perjury. No, never will I swear to observe a +law, that my dignity, and my reason refuse to sanction. If, to-morrow, +the freedom of divorce were established, and the rights of women +recognized, I should be willing to observe usages, which would then be in +accordance with my conscience, and with what is just, possible, and +humane." Then, after a pause, Adrienne continued, with such deep and +sweet emotion, that a tear of tenderness veiled her beauteous eyes: "Oh! +if you knew, my love, what your love is to me: if you knew how dear and +sacred I hold your happiness--you would excuse, you would understand, +these generous superstitions of a loving and honest heart, which could +only see a fatal omen in forms degraded by falsehood and perjury. What I +wish, is, to attach you by love, to bind you in chains of happiness--and +to leave you free, that I may owe your constancy only to your affection." + +Djalma had listened to the young girl with passionate attention. Proud +and generous himself, he admired this proud and generous character. +After a moment's meditative silence, he answered, in his sweet, sonorous +voice, in an almost solemn tone: "Like you, I hold in detestation, +falsehood and perjury. Like you, I think that man degrades himself, by +accepting the right of being a cowardly tyrant, even though resolved +never to use the power. Like you, I could not bear the thought, that I +owed all I most valued, not to your love alone, but to the eternal +constraint of an indissoluble bond. Like you, I believe there is no +dignity but in freedom. But you have said, that, for this great and holy +love, you demand a religious consecration; and if you reject vows, that +you cannot make without folly and perjury, are there then others, which +your reason and your heart approve?--Who will pronounce the required +blessing? To whom must these vows be spoken?" + +"In a few days, my love, I believe I shall be able to tell you all. +Every evening, after your departure, I have no other thought. I wish to +find the means of uniting yourself and me--in the eyes of God, not of the +law--without offending the habits and prejudices of a world, in which it +may suit us hereafter to live. Yes, my friend! when you know whose are +the noble hands, that are to join ours together, who is to bless and +glorify God in our union--a sacred union, that will leave us worthy and +free--you will say, I am sure, that never purer hands could have been +laid upon us. Forgive me, friend! all this is in earnest--yes, earnest +as our love, earnest as our happiness. If my words seem to you strange, +my thoughts unreasonable, tell it me, love! We will seek and find some +better means, to reconcile that we owe to heaven, with what we owe to the +world and to ourselves. It is said, that lovers are beside themselves," +added the young lady, with a smile, "but I think that no creatures are +more reasonable." + +"When I hear you speak thus of our happiness," said Djalma, deeply moved, +"with so much calm and earnest tenderness, I think I see a mother +occupied with the future prospects of her darling child--trying to +surround him with all that can make him strong, valiant, and generous-- +trying to remove far from him all that is ignoble and unworthy. You ask +me to tell you if your thoughts seem strange to me, Adrienne. You +forget, that what makes my faith in our love, is my feeling exactly as +you do. What offends you, offends me also; what disgusts you, disgusts +me. Just now, when you cited to me the laws of this country, which +respect in a woman not even a mother's right--I thought with pride of our +barbarous countries, where woman, though a slave, is made free when she +becomes a mother. No, no; such laws are not made either for you or me. +Is it not to prove your sacred respect for our love, to wish to raise it +above the shameful servitude that would degrade it? You see, Adrienne, I +have often heard said by the priests of my country, that there were +beings inferior to the gods, but superior to every other creature. I did +not believe those priests; but now I do." These last words were uttered, +not in the tone of flattery, but with an accent of sincere conviction, +and with that sort of passionate veneration and almost timid fervor, +which mark the believer talking of his faith; but what is impossible to +describe, is the ineffable harmony of these almost religious words, with +the mild, deep tone of the young Oriental's voice--as well as the ardent +expression of amorous melancholy, which gave an irresistible charm to his +enchanting features. + +Adrienne had listened to Djalma with an indescribable mixture of joy, +gratitude, and pride. Laying her hand on her bosom, as if to keep down +its violent pulsations, she resumed, as she looked at the prince with +delight: "Behold him, ever the same!--just, good, great!--Oh, my heart! +my heart! how proudly it beats. Blessed be God, who created me for this +adored lover! He must mean to astonish the world, by the prodigies of +tenderness and charity, that such a love may produce. They do not yet +know the sovereign might of free, happy, ardent love. Yes, Djalma! on +the day when our hands are joined together, what hymns of gratitude will +ascend to heaven!--Ah! they do not know the immense, the insatiable +longing for joy aria delight, which possesses two hearts like ours; they +do not know what rays of happiness stream from the celestial halo of such +a flame!--Oh, yes! I feel it. Many tears will be dried, many cold hearts +warmed, at the divine fire of our love. And it will be by the +benedictions of those we serve, that they will learn the intoxication of +our rapture!" + +To the dazzled eyes of Djalma, Adrienne appeared more and more an ideal +being--partaking of the Divinity by her goodness, of the animal nature by +passion--for, yielding to the intensity of excitement, Adrienne fixed +upon Djalma looks that sparkled with love. + +'Then, almost beside himself, the Asiatic fell prostrate at the feet of +the maiden, and exclaimed, in a supplicating voice: "Mercy! my courage +fails me. Have pity on me! do not talk thus. Oh, that day! what years +of my life would I not give to hasten it!" + +"Silence! no blasphemy. Do not your years belong to me?" + +"Adrienne! you love me!" + +The young lady did not answer; but her half-veiled, burning glance, dealt +the last blow to reason. Seizing her hands in his own, he exclaimed, +with a tremulous voice: "That day, in which we shall mount to heaven, in +which we shall be gods in happiness--why postpone it any longer?" + +"Because our love must be consecrated by the benediction of heaven." + +"Are we not free?" + +"Yes, yes, my love; we are free. Let us be worthy of our liberty!" + +"Adrienne! mercy!" + +"I ask you also to have mercy--to have mercy on the sacredness of our +love. Do not profane it in its very flower. Believe my heart! believe +my presentiments! to profane it would be to kill. Courage, my adored +lover! a few days longer--and then happiness--without regret, and without +remorse!" + +"And, until then, hell! tortures without a name! You do not, cannot know +what I suffer when I leave your presence. Your image follows me, your +breath burns me up; I cannot sleep, but call on you every night with +sighs and tears--just as I called on, you, when I thought you did not +love me--and yet I know you love me, I know you are mine. But to see you +every day more beautiful, more adored--and every day to quit you more +impassioned--oh! you cannot tell--" + +Djalma was unable to proceed. What he said of his devouring tortures, +Adrienne had felt, perhaps even more intensely. Electrified by the +passionate words of Djalma, so beautiful in his excitement, her courage +failed, and she perceived that an irresistible languor was creeping over +her. By a last chaste effort of the will, she rose abruptly, and +hastening to the door, which communicated with Mother Bunch's chamber, +she exclaimed: "My, sister! help me!" + +In another moment, Mdlle. de Cardoville, her face bathed in tears, +clasped the young sempstress in her arms; while Djalma knelt respectfully +on the threshold he did not dare to pass. + + + + +CHAPTER LXI. + +AMBITION. + +A few days after the interview of Djalma and Adrienne, just described, +Rodin was alone in his bed-chamber, in the house in the Rue de Vaugirard, +walking up and down the room where he had so valiantly undergone the +moxas of Dr. Baleinier. With his hands thrust into the hind-pockets of +his greatcoat, and his head bowed upon his breast, the Jesuit seemed to +be reflecting profoundly, and his varying walk, now slow, now quick, +betrayed the agitation of his mind. + +"On the side of Rome," said Rodin to himself, "I am tranquil. All is +going well. The abdication is as good as settled, and if I can pay them +the price agreed, the Prince Cardinal can secure me a majority of nine +voices in the conclave. Our General is with me; the doubts of Cardinal +Malipieri are at an end, or have found no echo. Yet I am not quite easy, +with regard to the reported correspondence between Father d'Aigrigny and +Malipieri. I have not been able to intercept any of it. No matter; that +soldier's business is settled. A little patience and he will be wiped +out." + +Here the pale lips were contracted by one of those frightful smiles, +which gave to Rodin's countenance so diabolical an expression. + +After a pause, he resumed: "The funeral of the freethinker, the +philanthropist, the workman's friend, took place yesterday at St. Herem. +Francis Hardy went off in a fit of ecstatic delirium. I had his +donation, it is true; but this is more certain. Everything may be +disputed in this world; the dead dispute nothing." + +Rodin remained in thought for some moments; then he added, in a grave +tone: "There remain this red-haired wench and her mulatto. This is the +twenty-seventh of May; the first of June approaches, and these turtle- +doves still seem invulnerable. The princess thought she had hit upon a +good plan, and I should have thought so too. It was a good idea to +mention the discovery of Agricola Baudoin in the madcap's room, for it +made the Indian tiger roar with savage jealousy. Yes: but then the dove +began to coo, and hold out her pretty beak, and the foolish tiger +sheathed his claws, and rolled on the ground before her. It's a pity, +for there was some sense in the scheme." + +The walk of Rodin became more and more agitated. "Nothing is more +extraordinary," continued he, "than the generative succession of ideas. +In comparing this red-haired jade to a dove (colombe), I could not help +thinking of that infamous old woman, Sainte-Colombe, whom that big rascal +Jacques Dumoulin pays his court to, and whom the Abbe Corbinet will +finish, I hope, by turning to good account. I have often remarked, that, +as a poet may find an excellent rhyme by mere chance, so the germ of the +best ideas is sometimes found in a word, or in some absurd resemblance +like the present. That abominable hag, Sainte-Colombo, and the pretty +Adrienne de Cardoville, go as well together, as a ring would suit a cat, +or a necklace a fish. Well, there is nothing in it." + +Hardly had Rodin pronounced these words, than he started suddenly, and +his face shone with a fatal joy. Then it assumed an expression of +meditative astonishment, as happens when chance reveals some unexpected +discovery to the surprised and charmed inquirer after knowledge. + +Soon, with raised head and sparkling eye, his hollow cheeks swelling with +joy and pride, Rodin folded his arms in triumph on his breast, and +exclaimed: "Oh! how admirable and marvellous are these mysterious +evolutions of the mind; how incomprehensible is the chain of human +thought, which, starting from an absurd jingle of words, arrives at a +splendid or luminous idea! Is it weakness? or is it strength? Strange-- +very strange! I compare the red-haired girl to a dove--a colombe. That +makes me think of the hag, who traded in the bodies and souls of so many +creatures. Vulgar proverbs occur to me, about a ring and a cat, a fish +and a necklace--and suddenly, at the word NECKLACE, a new light dawns +upon me. Yes: that one word NECKLACE shall be to me a golden key, to +open the portals of my brain, so long foolishly closed." + +And, after again walking hastily up and down, Rodin continued: "Yes, it +is worth attempting. The more I reflect upon it, the more feasible it +appears. Only how to get at that wretch, Saint-Colombe? Well, there is +Jacques Dumoulin, and the other--where to find her? That is the +stumbling-block. I must not shout before I am out of the wood." + +Rodin began again to walk, biting his nails with an air of deep thought. +For some moments, such was the tension of his mind, large drops of sweat +stood on his yellow brow. He walked up and down, stopped, stamped with +his foot, now raised his eyes as if in search of an inspiration, and now +scratched his head violently with his left hand, whilst he continued to +gnaw the nails of the right. Finally, from time to time, he uttered +exclamations of rage, despondency, or hope, as by turns they took +possession of his mind. If the cause of this monster's agitation had not +been horrible, it would have been a curious and interesting spectacle to +watch the labors of that powerful brain--to follow, as it were, on that +shifting countenance, the progress and development of the project, on +which he was now concentrating all the resources of his strong intellect. +At length, the work appeared to be near completion, for Rodin resumed: +"Yes, yes! it is bold, hazardous--but then it is prompt, and the +consequences may be incalculable. Who can foresee the effects of the +explosion of a mine?" + +Then, yielding to a movement of enthusiasm, which was hardly natural to +him, the Jesuit exclaimed, with rapture: "Oh, the passions! the passions! +what a magical instrument do they form, if you do but touch the keys with +a light, skillful, and vigorous hand! How beautiful too is the power of +thought! Talk of the acorn that becomes an oak, the seed that grows up +to the corn--the seed takes months, the acorn centuries, to unfold its +splendors--but here is a little word in eight letters, necklace and this +word, falling into my brain but a few minutes ago, has grown and grown +till it has become larger than any oak. Yes, that word is the germ of an +idea, that, like the oak, lifts itself up towards heaven, for the greater +glory of the Lord--such as they call Him, and such as I would assert Him +to be, should I attain--and I shall attain--for these miserable +Renneponts will pass away like a shadow. And what matters it, after all, +to the moral order I am reserved to guide, whether these people live or +die? What do such lives weigh in the balance of the great destinies of +the world? while this inheritance which I shall boldly fling into the +scale, will lift me to a sphere, from which one commands many kings, many +nations--let them say and make what noise they will. The idiots--the +stupid idiots! or rather, the kind, blessed, adorable idiots! They think +they have crushed us, when they say to us men of the church: 'You take +the spiritual, but we will keep the temporal!'--Oh, their conscience or +their modesty inspires them well, when it bids them not meddle with +spiritual things! They abandon the spiritual! they despise it, they will +have nothing to do with it--oh, the venerable asses! they do not see, +that, even as they go straight to the mill, it is by the spiritual that +we go straight to the temporal. As if the mind did not govern the body! +They leave us the spiritual--that is, command of the conscience, soul, +heart, and judgment--the spiritual--that is, the distribution of heaven's +rewards, and punishments, and pardons--without check, without control, in +the secrecy of the confessional--and that dolt, the temporal, has nothing +but brute matter for his portion, and yet rubs his paunch for joy. Only, +from time to time, he perceives, too late, that, if he has the body, we +have the soul, and that the soul governs the body, and so the body ends +by coming with us also--to the great surprise of Master Temporal, who +stands staring with his hands on his paunch, and says: 'Dear me! is it +possible?'" + +Then, with a laugh of savage contempt, Rodin began to walk with great +strides, and thus continued: "Oh! let me reach it--let me but reach the +place of SIXTUS V.--and the world shall see (one day, when it awakes) +what it is to have the spiritual power in hands like mine--in the hands +of a priest, who, for fifty years, has lived hardly, frugally, chastely, +and who, were he pope, would continue to live hardly, frugally, +chastely!" + +Rodin became terrible, as he spoke thus. All the sanguinary, +sacrilegious, execrable ambition of the worst popes seemed written in +fiery characters on the brow of this son of Ignatius. A morbid desire of +rule seemed to stir up the Jesuit's impure blood; he was bathed in a +burning sweat, and a kind of nauseous vapor spread itself round about +him. Suddenly, the noise of a travelling-carriage, which entered the +courtyard of the house, attracted his attention. Regretting his +momentary excitement, he drew from his pocket his dirty white and red +cotton handkerchief, and dipping it in a glass of water, he applied it to +his cheeks and temples, while he approached the window, to look through +the half-open blinds at the traveller who had just arrived. The +projection of a portico, over the door at which the carriage had stopped, +intercepted Rodin's view. + +"No matter," said he, recovering his coolness: "I shall know presently +who is there. I must write at once to Jacques Dumoulin, to come hither +immediately. He served me well, with regard to that little slut in the +Rue Clovis, who made my hair stand on end with her infernal Beranger. +This time, Dumoulin may serve me again. I have him in my clutches, and +he will obey me." + +Rodin sat down to his desk and wrote. A few seconds later, some one +knocked at the door, which was double-locked, quite contrary to the +rules of the order. But, sure of his own influence and importance, +Rodin, who had obtained from the general permission to be rid for a time +of the inconvenient company of a socius, often took upon himself to break +through a number of the rules. A servant entered and delivered a letter +to Rodin. Before opening it the latter said to the man: "What carriage +is that which just arrived?" + +"It comes from Rome, father," answered the servant, bowing. + +"From Rome!" said Rodin, hastily; and in spite of himself, a vague +uneasiness was expressed in his countenance. But, still holding the +letter in his hands, he added: "Who comes in the carriage." + +"A reverend father of our blessed Company." + +Notwithstanding his ardent curiosity, for he knew that a reverend father, +travelling post, is always charged with some important mission, Rodin +asked no more questions on the subject, but said, as he pointed to the +paper in his hand: "Whence comes this letter?" + +"From our house at St. Herem, father." + +Rodin looked more attentively at the writing, and recognized the hand of +Father d'Aigrigny, who had been commissioned to attend M. Hardy in his +last moments. The letter ran as follows: + +"I send a despatch to inform your reverence of a fact which is, perhaps, +more singular than important. After the funeral of M. Francis Hardy, +the coffin, which contained his remains, had been provisionally deposited +in a vault beneath our chapel, until it could be removed to the cemetery +of the neighboring town. This morning, when our people went down into +the vault, to make the necessary preparations for the removal of the +body--the coffin had disappeared. + +"That is strange indeed," said Rodin with a start. Then, he continued to +read: + +"All search has hitherto been vain, to discover the authors of the +sacrilegious deed. The chapel being, as you know, at a distance from the +house, they were able to effect an entry without disturbing us. We +have found traces of a four-wheeled carriage on the damp ground in the +neighborhood; but, at some little distance from the chapel, these marks +are lost in the sand, and it has been impossible to follow them any +farther." + +"Who can have carried away this body?" said Rodin, with a thoughtful air. +"Who could have any interest in doing so?" + +He continued to read: + +"Luckily, the certificate of death is quite correct. I sent for a doctor +from Etampes, to prove the disease, and no question can be raised on that +point. The donation is therefore good and valid in every respect, but I +think it best to inform your reverence of what has happened, that you may +take measures accordingly, etc., etc." + +After a moment's reflection, Rodin said to himself: "D'Aigrigny is right +in his remark; it is more singular than important. Still, it makes one +think. We must have an eye to this affair." + +Turning towards the servant, who had brought him the letter, Rodin gave +him the note he had just written to Ninny Moulin, and said to him: "Let +this letter be taken instantly to its address, and let the bearer wait +for an answer." + +"Yes, father." + +At the moment the servant left the room, a reverend father entered, and +said to Rodin, "Father Caboccini of Rome has just arrived, with a mission +from our general to your reverence." + +At these words, Rodin's blood ran cold, but he maintained his immovable +calmness, and said simply: "Where is Father Caboccini?" + +"In the next room, father." + +"Beg him to walk in, and leave us," said the other. + +A second after, Father Caboccini of Rome entered the room and was left +alone with Rodin. + + + + +CHAPTER LXII. + +TO A SOCIUS, A SOCIUS AND A HALF. + +The Reverend Father Caboccini, the Roman Jesuit who now came to visit +Rodin, was a short man of about thirty years of age, plump, in good +condition, and with an abdomen that swelled out his black cassock. The +good little father was blind with one eye, but his remaining organ of +vision sparkled with vivacity. His rosy countenance was gay, smiling, +joyous, splendidly crowned with thick chestnut hair, which curled like a +wax doll's. His address was cordial to familiarity, and his expansive +and petulant manners harmonized well with his general appearance. In a +second, Rodin had taken his measure of the Italian emissary; and as he +knew the practice of his Company, and the ways of Rome, he felt by no +means comfortable at sight of this jolly little father, with such affable +manners. He would have less feared some tall, bony priest, with austere +and sepulchral countenance, for he knew that the Company loves to deceive +by the outward appearance of its agents; and if Rodin guessed rightly, +the cordial address of this personage would rather tend to show that he +was charged with some fatal mission. + +Suspicious, attentive, with eye and mind on the watch, like an old wolf, +expecting an attack, Rodin advanced as usual, slowly and tortuously +towards the little man, so as to have time to examine him thoroughly, and +penetrate beneath his jovial outside. But the Roman left him no space +for that purpose. In his impetuous affection he threw himself right on +the neck of Rodin, pressed him in his arms with an effusion of +tenderness, and kissed him over and over again upon both cheeks, so +loudly and plentifully that the echo resounded through the apartment. In +his life Rodin had never been so treated. More and more uneasy at the +treachery which must needs lurk under such warm embraces, and irritated +by his own evil presentiments, the French Jesuit did, all he could to +extricate himself from the Roman's exaggerated tokens of tenderness. But +the latter kept his hold; his arms, though short, were vigorous, and +Rodin was kissed over and over again, till the little one-eyed man was +quite out of breath. It is hardly necessary to state that these embraces +were accompanied by the most friendly, affectionate, and fraternal +exclamations--all in tolerably good French, but with a strong Italian +accent, which we muss beg the reader to supply for himself, after we have +given a single specimen. It will perhaps be remembered that, fully aware +of the danger he might possibly incur by his ambitious machinations, and +knowing from history that the use of poison had often been considered at +Rome as a state necessity, Rodin, on being suddenly attacked with the +cholera, had exclaimed, with a furious glance at Cardinal Malipieri, "I +am poisoned!" + +The same apprehensions occurred involuntarily to the Jesuit's mind as he +tried, by useless efforts, to escape from the embraces of the Italian +emissary; and he could not help muttering to himself, "This one-eyed +fellow is a great deal too fond. I hope there is no poison under his +Judas-kisses." At last, little Father Caboccini, being quite out of +breath, was obliged to relinquish his hold on Rodin's neck, who, +readjusting his dirty collar, and his old cravat and waistcoat, somewhat +in disorder in consequence of this hurricane of caresses, said in a gruff +tone, "Your humble servant, father, but you need not kiss quite so hard." + +Without making any answer to this reproach, the little father riveted his +one eye upon Rodin with an expression of enthusiasm, and exclaimed, +whilst he accompanied his words with petulant gestures, "At lazt I zee te +zuperb light of our zacred Company, and can zalute him from my heart-- +vonse more, vonse more." + +As the little father had already recovered his breath, and was about to +rush once again into Rodin's arms, the latter stepped back hastily, and +held out his arm to keep him off, saying, in allusion to the illogical +metaphor employed by Father Caboccini, "First of all, father, one does +not embrace a light--and then I am not a light--I am a humble and obscure +laborer in the Lord's vineyard." + +The Roman replied with enthusiasm (we shall henceforth translate his +gibberish), "You are right, father, we cannot embrace a light, but we can +prostrate ourselves before it, and admire its dazzling brightness." + +So saying, Caboccini was about to suit the action to the word, and to +prostrate himself before Rodin, had not the latter prevented this mode of +adulation by seizing the Roman by the arm and exclaiming, "This is mere +idolatry, father. Pass over my qualities, and tell me what is the object +of your journey." + +"The object, my dear father, fills me with joy and happiness. I have +endeavored to show you my affection by my caresses, for my heart is +overflowing. I have hardly been able to restrain myself during my +journey hither, for my heart rushed to meet you. The object transports, +delights, enchants me--" + +"But what enchants you?" cried Rodin, exasperated by these Italian +exaggerations. "What is the object?" + +"This rescript of our very reverend and excellent General will inform +you, my clear father." + +Caboccini drew from his pocket-book a folded paper, with three seals, +which he kissed respectfully, and delivered to Rodin, who himself kissed +it in his turn, and opened it with visible anxiety. While he read it the +countenance of the Jesuit remained impassible, but the pulsation of the +arteries on his temples announced his internal agitation. Yet he put the +letter coolly into his pocket, and looking at the Roman, said to him, "Be +it as our excellent General has commanded!" + +"Then, father," cried Caboccini, with a new effusion of tenderness and +admiration, "I shall be the shadow of your light, and, in fact, your +second self. I shall have the happiness of being always with you, day +and night, and of acting as your socius, since, after having allowed you +to be without one for some time, according to your wish, and for the +interest of our blessed Company, our excellent General now thinks fit to +send me from Rome, to fill that post about your person--an unexpected, an +immense favor, which fills me with gratitude to our General, and with +love to you, my dear, my excellent father!" + +"It is well played," thought Rodin; "but I am not so soft, and 'tis only +among the blind that your Cyclops are kings!" + +The evening of the day in which this scene took place between the Jesuit +and his new socius, Ninny Moulin, after receiving in presence of +Caboccini the instructions of Rodin, went straight to Madame de la +Sainte-Colombe's. + +This woman had made her fortune, at the time of the allies taking Paris, +by keeping one of those "pretty milliner's shops," whose "pink bonnets" +have run into a proverb not extinct in these days when bonnets are not +known. Ninny Moulin had no better well to draw inspiration from when, as +now, he had to find out, as per Rodin's order, a girl of an age and +appearance which, singularly enough, were closely resembling those of +Mdlle. de Cardoville. + +No doubt of Ninny Moulin's success in this mission, for the next morning +Rodin, whose countenance wore a triumphant expression, put with his own +hand a letter into the post. + +This letter was addressed: + +"To M. Agricola Baudoin, +"No. 2, Rue Brise-Miche, +"Paris." + + + + +CHAPTER LXIII. + +FARINGHEA'S AFFECTION. + +It will, perhaps, be remembered that Djalma, when he heard for the first +time that he was beloved by Adrienne, had, in the fulness of his joy, +spoken thus to Faringhea, whose treachery he had just discovered, "You +leagued with my enemies, and I had done you no harm. You are wicked, +because you are no doubt unhappy. I will strive to make you happy, so +that you may be good. Would you have gold?--you shall have it. Would +you have a friend?--though you are a slave, a king's son offers you his +friendship." + +Faringhea had refused the gold, and appeared to accept the friendship of +the son of Kadja-sing. Endowed with remarkable intelligence, and +extraordinary power of dissimulation the half-breed had easily persuaded +the prince of the sincerity of his repentance, and obtained credit for +his gratitude and attachment from so confiding and generous a character. +Besides, what motives could Djalma have to suspect the slave, now become +his friend? Certain of the love of Mdlle. de Cardoville, with whom he +passed a portion of every day, her salutary influence would have guarded +him against any dangerous counsels or calumnies of the half-caste, a +faithful and secret instrument of Rodin, and attached by him to the +Company. But Faringhea, whose tact was amazing, did not act so lightly; +he never spoke to the prince of Mdlle. de Cardoville, and waited +unobtrusively for the confidential communications into which Djalma was +sometimes hurried by his excessive joy. A few days after the interview +last described between Adrienne and Djalma, and on the morrow of the day +when Rodin, certain of the success of Ninny Moulin's mission to Sainte- +Colombe, had himself put a letter in the post to the address of Agricola +Baudoin, the half-caste, who for some time had appeared oppressed with a +violent grief, seemed to get so much worse, that the prince, struck with +the desponding air of the man, asked him kindly and repeatedly the cause +of his sorrow. But Faringhea, while he gratefully thanked the prince for +the interest he took in him, maintained the most absolute silence and +reserve on the subject of his grief. + +These preliminaries will enable the reader to understand the following +scene, which took place about noon in the house in the Rue de Clichy +occupied by the Hindoo. Contrary to his habit, Djalma had not passed +that morning with Adrienne. He had been informed the evening before, by +the young lady, that she must ask of him the sacrifice of this whole day, +to take the necessary measures to make their marriage sacred and +acceptable in the eyes of the world, and yet free from the restrictions +which she and Djalma disapproved. As for the means to be employed by +Mdlle. de Cardoville to attain this end, and the name of the pure and +honorable person who was to consecrate their union, these were secrets +which, not belonging exclusively to the young lady, could not yet be +communicated to Djalma. To the Indian, so long accustomed to devote +every instant to Adrienne, this day seemed interminable. By turns a prey +to the most burning agitation, and to a kind of stupor, in which he +plunged himself to escape from the thoughts that caused his tortures, +Djalma lay stretched upon a divan, with his face buried in his hands, as +if to shut out the view of a too enchanting vision. Suddenly, without +knocking at the door, as usual, Faringhea entered the prince's apartment. + +At the noise the half-caste made in entering Djalma started, raised his +head, and looked round him with surprise; but, on seeing the pale +agitated countenance of the slave, he rose hastily, and advancing towards +him, exclaimed, "What is the matter, Faringhea!" + +After a moment's silence, and as if struggling with a painful feeling of +hesitation, Faringhea threw himself at the feet of Djalma, and murmured +in a weak, despairing, almost supplicating voice: "I am very miserable. +Pity me, my good lord!" + +The tone was so touching, the grief under which the half-breed suffered +seemed to give to his features, generally fixed and hard as bronze, such +a heart-rending expression, that Djalma was deeply affected, and, bending +to raise him from the ground, said to him, in a kindly voice: "Speak to +me! Confidence appeases the torments of the heart. Trust me, friend-- +for my angel herself said to me, that happy love cannot bear to see tears +about him." + +"But unhappy love, miserable love, betrayed love--weeps tears of blood," +replied Faringhea, with painful dejection. + +"Of what love dost thou speak?" asked Djalma, in surprise. + +"I speak of my love," answered the half-caste, with a gloomy air. + +"Of your love?" said Djalma, more and more astonished; not that the half- +caste, still young, and with a countenance of sombre beauty, appeared to +him incapable of inspiring or feeling the tender passion, but that, until +now, he had never imagined him capable of conceiving so deep a sorrow. + +"My lord," resumed the half-caste, "you told me, that misfortune had made +me wicked, and that happiness would make me good. In those words, I saw +a presentiment, and a noble love entered my heart, at the moment when +hatred and treachery departed from it. I, the half-savage, found a +woman, beautiful and young, to respond to my passion. At least I thought +so. But I had betrayed you, my lord, and there is no happiness for a +traitor, even though he repent. In my turn, I have been shamefully +betrayed." + +Then, seeing the surprise of the prince, the half-caste added, as if +overwhelmed with confusion: "Do not mock me, my lord! The most frightful +tortures would not have wrung this confession from me; but you, the son +of a king, deigned to call the poor slave your friend!" + +"And your friend thanks you for the confidence," answered Djalma. "Far +from mocking, he will console you. Mock you! do you think it possible?" + +"Betrayed love merits contempt and insult," said Faringhea, bitterly. +"Even cowards may point at one with scorn--for, in this country, the +sight of the man deceived in what is dearest to his soul, the very life- +blood of his life, only makes people shrug their shoulders and laugh." + +"But are you certain of this treachery?" said Djalma, mildly. Then he +added, with visible hesitation, that proved the goodness of his heart: +"Listen to me, and forgive me for speaking of the past! It will only be +another proof, that I cherish no evil memories, and that I fully believe +in your repentance and affection. Remember, that I also once thought, +that she, who is the angel of my life, did not love me--and yet it was +false. Who tells you, that you are not, like me, deceived by false +appearances?" + +"Alas, my lord! could I only believe so! But I dare not hope it. My +brain wanders uncertain, I cannot come to any resolution, and therefore I +have recourse to you." + +"But what causes your suspicions?" + +"Her coldness, which sometimes succeeds to apparent tenderness. The +refusals she gives me in the name of duty. Yes," added the half-caste, +after a moment's silence. "she reasons about her love--a proof, that she +has never loved me, or that she loves me no more." + +"On the contrary, she perhaps loves you all the more, that she takes into +consideration the interest and the dignity of her love." + +"That is what they all say," replied the half-caste, with bitter irony, +as he fixed a penetrating look on Djalma; "thus speak all those who love +weakly, coldly; but those who love valiantly, never show these insulting +suspicions. For them, a word from the man they adore is a command; they +do not haggle and bargain, for the cruel pleasure of exciting the passion +of their lover to madness, and so ruling him more surely. No, what their +lover asks of them, were it to cost life and honor, they would grant it +without hesitation--because, with them, the will of the man they love is +above every other consideration, divine and human. But those crafty +women, whose pride it is to tame and conquer man--who take delight in +irritating his passion, and sometimes appear on the point of yielding to +it--are demons, who rejoice in the tears and torments of the wretch, that +loves them with the miserable weakness of a child. While we expire with +love at their feet, the perfidious creatures are calculating the effects +of their refusals, and seeing how far they can go, without quite driving +their victim to despair. Oh! how cold and cowardly are they, compared to +the valiant, true-hearted women, who say to the men of their choice: 'Let +me be thine to-day-and to-morrow, come shame, despair, and death--it +matters little! Be happy! my life is not worth one tear of thine!" + +Djalma's brow had darkened, as he listened. Having kept inviolable the +secret of the various incidents of his passion for Mdlle. de Cardoville, +he could not but see in these words a quite involuntary allusion to the +delays and refusals of Adrienne. And yet Djalma suffered a moment in his +pride, at the thought of considerations and duties, that a woman holds +dearer than her love. But this bitter and painful thought was soon +effaced from the oriental's mind, thanks to the beneficent influence of +the remembrance of Adrienne. His brow again cleared, and he answered the +half-caste, who was watching him attentively with a sidelong glance: "You +are deluded by grief. If you have no other reason to doubt her you love, +than these refusals and vague suspicions, be satisfied! You are perhaps +loved better than you can imagine." + +"Alas! would it were so, my lord!" replied the half-caste, dejectedly, as +if he had been deeply touched by the words of Djalma. "Yet I say to +myself: There is for this woman something stronger than her love-- +delicacy, dignity, honor, what you will--but she does not love me enough +to sacrifice for me this something!" + +"Friend, you are deceived," answered Djalma, mildly, though the words +affected him with a painful impression. "The greater the love of a +woman, the more it should be chaste and noble. It is love itself that +awakens this delicacy and these scruples. He rules, instead of being +ruled." + +"That is true," replied the half-caste, with bitter irony, "Love so rules +me, that this woman bids me love in her own fashion, and I have only to +submit." + +Pausing suddenly, Faringhea hid his face in his hands, and heaved a deep- +drawn sigh. His features expressed a mixture of hate, rage, and despair, +at once so terrible and so painful, that Djalma, more and more affected, +exclaimed, as he seized the other's hand: "Calm this fury, and listen to +the voice of friendship! It will disperse this evil influence. Speak to +me!" + +"No, no! it is too dreadful!" + +"Speak, I bid thee." + +"No! leave the wretch to his despair!" + +"Do you think me capable of that?" said Djalma, with a mixture of +mildness and dignity, which seemed to make an impression on the half- +caste. + +"Alas!" replied he, hesitating; "do you wish to hear more, my lord?" + +"I wish to hear all." + +"Well, then! I have not told you all--for, at the moment of making this +confession, shame and the fear of ridicule kept me back. You asked me +what reason I had to believe myself betrayed. I spoke to you of vague +suspicions, refusals, coldness. That is not all--this evening--" + +"Go on!" + +"This evening--she made an appointment--with a man that she prefers to +me." + +"Who told you so?" + +"A stranger who pitied my blindness." + +"And suppose the man deceived you--or deceives himself?" + +"He has offered me proofs of what he advances." + +"What proofs?" + +"He will enable me this evening to witness the interview. 'It may be,' +said he, 'that this appointment may have no guilt in it, notwithstanding +appearances to the contrary. Judge for yourself, have courage, and your +cruel indecision will be at an end.'" + +"And what did you answer?" + +"Nothing, my lord. My head wandered as it does now and I came to you for +advice." + +Then, making a gesture of despair, he proceeded with a savage laugh: +"Advice? It is from the blade of my kand-jiar that I should ask counsel! +It would answer: 'Blood! blood!'" + +Faringhea grasped convulsively the long dagger attached to his girdle. +There is a sort of contagion in certain forms of passion. At sight of +Faringhea's countenance, agitated by jealous fury, Djalma shuddered--for +he remembered the fit of insane rage, with which he had been possessed, +when the Princess de Saint-Dizier had defied Adrienne to contradict her, +as to the discovery of Agricola Baudoin in her bed-chamber. But then, +reassured by the lady's proud and noble bearing, Djalma had soon learned +to despise the horrible calumny, which Adrienne had not even thought +worthy of an answer. Still, two or three times, as the lightning will +flash suddenly across the clearest sky, the remembrance of that shameful +accusation had crossed the prince's mind, like a streak of fire, but had +almost instantly vanished, in the serenity and happiness of his ineffable +confidence in Adrienne's heart. These memories, however, whilst they +saddened the mind of Djalma, only made him more compassionate with regard +to Faringhea, than he might have been without this strange coincidence +between the position of the half-caste and his own. Knowing, by his own +experience, to what madness a blind fury may be carried, and wishing to +tame the half-caste by affectionate kindness, Djalma said to him in a +grave and mild tone: "I offered you my friendship. I will now act +towards you a friend." + +But Faringhea, seemingly a prey to a dull and mute frenzy, stood with +fixed and haggard eyes, as though he did not hear Djalma. + +The latter laid his hand on his shoulder, and resumed: "Faringhea, listen +to me!" + +"My lord," said the half-caste, starting abruptly, as from a dream, +"forgive me--but--" + +"In the anguish occasioned by these cruel suspicions, it is not of your +kandjiar that you must take counsel--but of your friend." + +"My lord--" + +"To this interview, which will prove the innocence or the treachery of +your beloved, you will do well to go." + +"Oh, yes!" said the half-caste, in a hollow voice, and with a bitter +smile: "I shall be there." + +"But you must not go alone." + +"What do you mean, my lord?" cried the half-caste. "Who will accompany +me?" + +"I will." + +"You, my lord?" + +"Yes--perhaps, to save you from a crime--for I know how blind and unjust +is the earliest outburst of rage." + +"But that transport gives us revenge!" cried the half-caste, with a cruel +smile. + +"Faringhea, this day is all my own. I shall not leave you," said the +prince, resolutely. "Either you shall not go to this interview, or I +will accompany you." + +The half-caste appeared conquered by this generous perseverance. He fell +at the feet of Djalma, pressed the prince's hand respectfully to his +forehead and to his lips, and said: "My lord, be generous to the end! +forgive me!" + +"For what should I forgive you?" + +"Before I spoke to you, I had the audacity to think of asking for what +you have just freely offered. Not knowing to what extent my fury might +carry me, I had thought of asking you this favor, which you would not +perhaps grant to an equal, but I did not dare to do it. I shrunk even +from the avowal of the treachery I have cause to fear, and I came only to +tell you of my misery--because to you alone in all the world I could tell +it." + +It is impossible to describe the almost candid simplicity, with which the +half-breed pronounced these words, and the soft tones, mingled with +tears, which had succeeded his savage fury. Deeply affected, Djalma +raised him from the ground, and said: "You were entitled to ask of me a +mark of friendship. I am happy in having forestalled you. Courage! be +of good cheer! I will accompany you to this interview, and if my hopes +do not deceive me, you will find you have been deluded by false +appearances." + +When the night was come, the half-breed and Djalma, wrapped in their +cloaks, got into a hackney-coach. Faringhea ordered the coachman to +drive to the house inhabited by Sainte-Colombe. + + + + +CHAPTER LXIV. + +AN EVENING AT SAINTE-COLOMBE'S. + +Leaving Djalma and Faringhea in the coach, on their way, a few words are +indispensable before continuing this scene. Ninny Moulin, ignorant of +the real object of the step he took at the instigation of Rodin, had, on +the evening before, according to orders received from the latter, offered +a considerable sum to Sainte-Colombe, to obtain from that creature +(still singularly rapacious) the use of her apartments for whole day. +Sainte-Colombe, having accepted this proposition, too advantageous to be +refused, had set out that morning with her servants, to whom she wished, +she said, in return for their good services, to give a day's pleasure in +the country. Master of the house, Rodin, in a black wig, blue +spectacles, and a cloak, and with his mouth and chin buried in a worsted +comforter--in a word, perfectly disguised--had gone that morning to take +a look at the apartments, and to give his instructions to the half-caste. +The latter, in two hours from the departure of the Jesuit, had, thanks to +his address and intelligence, completed the most important preparation +and returned in haste to Djalma, to play with detestable hypocrisy the +scene at which we have just been present. + +During the ride from the Rue de Clichy to the Rue de Richelieu, Faringhea +appeared plunged in a mournful reverie. Suddenly, he said to Djalma to a +quick tone: "My lord, if I am betrayed, I must have vengeance." + +"Contempt is a terrible revenge," answered Djalma. + +"No, no," replied the half-caste, with an accent of repressed rage. "It +is not enough. The nearer the moment approaches, the more I feel I must +have blood." + +"Listen to me--" + +"My lord, have pity on me! I was a coward to draw back from my revenge. +Let me leave you, my lord! I will go alone to this interview." + +So saying, Faringhea made a movement, as if he would spring from the +carriage. + +Djalma held him by the arm, and said: "Remain! I wilt not leave you. If +you are betrayed, you shall not shed blood. Contempt will avenge and +friendship will console you." + +"No, no, my lord; I am resolved. When I have killed--then I will kill +myself," cried the half-caste, with savage excitement. "This kandjiar +for the false ones!" added he, laying his hand on his dagger. "The +poison in the hilt for me." + +"Faringhea--" + +"If I resist you, my lord, forgive me! My destiny must be accomplished." + +Time pressed, and Djalma, despairing to calm the other's ferocious rage, +resolved to have recourse to a stratagem. + +After some minutes' silence, he said to Faringhea: "I will not leave you. +I will do all I can to save you from a crime. If I do not succeed, the +blood you shed be on your own head. This hand shall never again be +locked in yours." + +These words appeared to make a deep impression on Faringhea. He breathed +a long sigh, and, bowing his head upon his breast, remained silent and +full of thought. Djalma prepared, by the faint light of the lamps, +reflected in the interior of the coach, to throw himself suddenly on the +half-caste, and disarm him. But the latter, who saw at a glance the +intention of the prince, drew his kandjiar abruptly from his girdle, and +holding it still in its sheath, said to the prince in a half-solemn, +half-savage tone: "This dagger, in a strong hand, is terrible; and in +this phial is one of the most subtle poisons of our country." + +He touched a spring, and the knob at the top of the hilt rose like a lid, +discovering the mouth of a small crystal phial concealed in this +murderous weapon. + +"Two or three drops of this poison upon the lips," resumed the half- +caste, "and death comes slowly and peacefully, in a few hours, and +without pain. Only, for the first symptom, the nails turn blue. But he +who emptied this phial at a draught would fall dead, as if struck by +lightning." + +"Yes," replied Djalma; "I know that our country produces such mysterious +poisons. But why lay such stress on the murderous properties of this +weapon?" + +"To show you, my lord, that this kandjiar would ensure the success and +impunity of my vengeance. With the blade I could destroy, and by the +poison escape from human justice. Well, my lord! this kandjiar--take it- +-I give it up to you--I renounce my vengeance--rather than render myself +unworthy to clasp again your hand!" + +He presented the dagger to the prince, who, as pleased as surprised at +this unexpected determination, hastily secured the terrible weapon +beneath his own girdle; whilst the half-breed continued, in a voice of +emotion: "Deep this kandjiar, my lord--and when you have seen and heard +all that we go to hear and see--you shall either give me the dagger to +strike a wretch--or the poison, to die without striking. You shall +command; I will obey." + +Djalma was about to reply, when the coach stopped at the house inhabited +by Sainte-Colombe. The prince and the half-caste, well enveloped in +their mantles, entered a dark porch, and the door was closed after them. +Faringhea exchanged a few words with the porter, and the latter gave him +a key. The two Orientals soon arrived at Sainte-Colombe's apartments, +which had two doors opening upon the landing-place, besides a private +entrance from the courtyard. As he put the key into the lock, Faringhea +said to Djalma, in an agitated voice: "Pity my weakness, my lord--but, at +this terrible moment, I tremble and hesitate. It were perhaps better to +doubt--or to forget!" + +Then, as the prince was about to answer, the half-caste exclaimed: "No! +we must have no cowardice!" and, opening the door precipitately, he +entered, followed by Djalma. + +When the door was again closed, the prince and the half-caste found +themselves in a dark and narrow passage. "Your hand, my lord--let me +guide you--walk lightly," said Faringhea, in a low whisper. + +He extended his hand to the prince, who took hold of it, and they both +advanced silently through the darkness. After leading Djalma some +distance, and opening and closing several doors, the half-caste stopped +abruptly, and abandoning the hand which he had hitherto held, said to the +prince: "My lord, the decisive moment approaches; let us wait here for a +few seconds." + +A profound silence followed these words of the half-caste. The darkness +was so complete, that Djalma could distinguish nothing. In about a +minute, he heard Faringhea moving away from him; and then a door was +suddenly opened, and as abruptly closed and locked. This circumstance +made Djalma somewhat uneasy. By a mechanical movement, he laid his hand +upon his dagger, and advanced cautiously towards the side, where he +supposed the door to be. + +Suddenly, the half-caste's voice struck upon his ear, though it was +impossible to guess whence it came. "My lord," it said, "you told me, +you were my friend. I act as a friend. If I have employed stratagem to +bring you hither, it is because the blindness of your fatal passion would +otherwise have prevented your accompanying me. The Princess de Saint- +Dizier named to you Agricola Baudoin, the lover of Adrienne de +Cardoville. Listen--look--judge!" + +The voice ceased. It appeared to have issued from one corner of the +room. Djalma, still in darkness, perceived too late into what a snare he +had fallen, and trembled with rage--almost with alarm. + +"Faringhea!" he exclaimed; "where am I? where are you? Open the door on +your life! I would leave this place instantly." + +Extending his arms, the prince advanced hastily several steps, but he +only touched a tapestried wall; he followed it, hoping to find the door, +and he at length found it; but it was locked, and resisted all his +efforts. He continued his researches, and came to a fireplace with no +fire in it, and to a second door, equally fast. In a few moments, he had +thus made the circle of the room, and found himself again at the +fireplace. The anxiety of the prince increased more and more. He called +Faringhea, in a voice trembling with passion. There was no answer. +Profound silence reigned without, and complete darkness within. Ere +long, a perfumed vapor, of indescribable sweetness, but very subtle and +penetrating, spread itself insensibly through the little room in which +Djalma was. It might be, that the orifice of a tube, passing through one +of the doors of the room, introduced this balmy current. At the height +of angry and terrible thoughts, Djalma paid no attention to this odor-- +but soon the arteries of his temples began to beat violently, a burning +heat seemed to circulate rapidly through his veins, he felt a sensation +of pleasure, his resentment died gradually away, and a mild, ineffable +torpor crept over him, without his being fully conscious of the mental +transformation that was taking place. Yet, by a last effort of the +wavering will, Djalma advanced once more to try and open one of the +doors; he found it indeed, but at this place the vapor was so strong, +that its action redoubled, and, unable to move a step further, Djalma was +obliged to support himself by leaning against the wall.[43] + +Then a strange thing happened. A faint light spread itself gradually +through an adjoining apartment, and Djalma now perceived, for the first +time, the existence of a little round window, in the wall of the room in +which he was. On the side of the prince, this opening was protected by a +slight but strong railing, which hardly intercepted the view. On the +other side a thick piece of plate-glass was fixed at the distance of two +or three inches from the railing in question. The room, which Djalma saw +through this window, and through which the faint light was now gradually +spreading, was richly furnished. Between two windows, hung with crimson +silk curtains, stood a kind of wardrobe, with a looking-glass front; +opposite the fireplace in which glowed the burning coals, was a long, +wide divan, furnished with cushions. + +In another second a woman entered this apartment. Her face and figure +were invisible, being wrapped in a long, hooded mantle, of peculiar form, +and a dark color. The sight of this mantle made Djalma start. To the +pleasure he at first felt succeeded a feverish anxiety, like the growing +fumes of intoxication. There was that strange buzzing in his ears which +we experience when we plunge into deep waters. It was in a kind of +delirium that Djalma looked on at what was passing in the next room. The +woman who had just appeared entered with caution, almost with fear. +Drawing aside one of the window curtains, she glanced through the closed +blinds into the street. Then she returned slowly to the fireplace, where +she stood for a moment pensive, still carefully enveloped in her mantle. +Completely yielding to the influence of the vapor, which deprived him of +his presence of mind--forgetting Faringhea, and all the circumstances +that had accompanied his arrival at this house--Djalma concentrated all +the powers of his attention on the spectacle before him, at which he +seemed to be present as in a dream. + +Suddenly Djalma saw the woman leave the fireplace and advance towards the +looking-glass. Turning her face toward it, she allowed the mantle to +glide down to her feet. Djalma was thunderstruck. He saw the face of +Adrienne de Cardoville. Yes, Adrienne, as he had seen her the night +before, attired as during her interview with the Princess de Saint- +Dizier--the light green dress, the rose-colored ribbons, the white head +ornaments. A network of white beads concealed her back hair, and +harmonized admirably with the shining gold of her ringlets. Finally, as +far as the Hindoo could judge through the railing and the thick glass, +and in the faint light, it was the figure of Adrienne, with her marble +shoulders and swan-like neck, so proud and so graceful. In a word, he +could not, he did not doubt that it was Adrienne de Cardoville. Djalma +was bathed in a burning dew, his dizzy excitement increased, and, with +bloodshot eye and heaving bosom, he remained motionless, gazing almost +without the power of thought. The young lady, with her back still turned +towards Djalma, arranged her hair with graceful art, took off the network +which formed her head-dress, placed it on the chimney-piece, and began to +unfasten her gown; then, withdrawing from the looking-glass, she +disappeared for an instant from Djalma's view. + +"She is expecting Agricola Baudoin, her lover," said a voice, which +seemed to proceed from the wall of the dark room in which Djalma was. + +Notwithstanding his bewilderment, these terrible words, "She is expecting +Agricola Baudoin, her lover," passed like a stream of fire through the +brain and heart of the prince. A cloud of blood came over his eyes, he +uttered a hollow moan, which the thickness of the glass prevented from +being heard in the next room, and broke his nails in attempting to tear +down the iron railing before the window. + +Having reached this paroxysm of delirious rage, Djalma saw the uncertain +light grow still fainter, as if it had been discreetly obscured, and, +through the vapory shadow that hung before him, he perceived the young +lady returning, clad in a long white dressing-gown, and with her golden +curls floating over her naked arms and shoulders. She advanced +cautiously in the direction of a door which was hid from Djalma's view. +At this moment, one of the doors of the apartment in which the prince was +concealed was gently opened by an invisible hand. Djalma noticed it by +the click of the lock, and by the current of fresh air which streamed +upon his face, for he could see nothing. This door, left open for +Djalma, like that in the next room, to which the young lady had drawn +near, led to a sort of ante-chamber communicating with the stairs, which +some one now rapidly ascended, and, stopping short, knocked twice at the +outer door. + +"Here comes Agricola Baudoin. Look and listen!" said the same voice that +the prince had already heard. + +Mad, intoxicated, but with the fixed idea and reckless determination of a +madman or a drunkard, Djalma drew the dagger which Faringhea had left in +his possession, and stood in motionless expectation. Hardly were the two +knocks heard before the young lady quitted the apartment, from which +streamed a faint ray of light, ran to the door of the staircase, so that +some faint glimmer reached the place where Djalma stood watching, his +dagger in his hand. He saw the young lady pass across the ante-chamber, +and approach the door of the staircase, where she said in a whisper: "Who +is there?" + +"It is I--Agricola Baudoin," answered, from, without, a manly voice. + +What followed was rapid as lightning, and must be conceived rather than +described. Hardly had the young lady drawn the bolt of the door, hardly +had Agricola Baudoin stepped across the threshold, than Djalma, with the +bound of a tiger, stabbed as it were at once, so rapid were the strokes, +both the young lady, who fell dead on the floor, and Agricola, who sank, +dangerously wounded, by the side of the unfortunate victim. This scene +of murder, rapid as thought, took place in the midst of a half obscurity. +Suddenly the faint light from the chamber was completely extinguished, +and a second after, Djalma felt his arm seized in the darkness by an iron +grasp, and the voice of Faringhea whispered: "You are avenged. Come; we +can secure our retreat." Inert, stupefied at what he had done, Djalma +offered no resistance, and let himself be dragged by the half-caste into +the inner apartment, from which there was another way out. + +When Rodin had exclaimed, in his admiration of the generative power of +thought, that the word NECKLACE had been the germ of the infernal project +he then contemplated, it was, that chance had brought to his mind the +remembrance of the too famous affair of the diamond necklace, in which a +woman, thanks to her vague resemblance to Queen Marie Antoinette, being +dressed like that princess, and favored by the uncertainty of a twilight, +had played so skillfully the part of her unfortunate sovereign, as to +make the Cardinal Prince de Rohan, though familiar with the court, the +complete dupe of the illusion. Having once determined on his execrable +design, Rodin had sent Jacques Dumoulin to Sainte-Colombe, without +telling him the real object of his mission, to ask this experienced woman +to procure a fine young girl, tall, and with red hair. Once found, a +costume exactly resembling that worn by Adrienne, and of which the +Princess de Saint-Dizier gave the description to Rodin (though herself +ignorant of this new plot), was to complete the deception. The rest is +known, or may be guessed. The unfortunate girl, who acted as Adrienne's +double, believed she was only aiding in a jest. As for Agricola, he had +received a letter, in which he was invited to a meeting that might be of +the greatest importance to Mdlle. de Cardoville. + +[43] See the strange effect of hasheesh. To the effect of this is +attributed the kind of hallucination which seized on those unhappy +persons, whom the Prince of the Assassins (the Old Man of the Mountain) +used as the instruments of his vengeance. + + + + +CHAPTER LXV. + +THE NUPTIAL BED. + +The mild light of a circular lamp of oriental alabaster, suspended from +the ceiling by three silver chains, spreads a faint lustre through the +bed-chamber of Adrienne de Cardoville. + +The large ivory bedstead, inlaid with mother-of-pearl, is not at present +occupied, and almost disappears beneath snowy curtains of lace and +muslin, transparent and vapory as clouds. On the white marble +mantlepiece, from beneath which the fire throws ruddy beams on the ermine +carpet, is the usual basket filled with a bush of red camellias, in the +midst of their shining green leaves. A pleasant aromatic odor, rising +from a warm and perfumed bath in the next room, penetrates every corner +of the bed-chamber. All without is calm and silent. It is hardly eleven +o'clock. The ivory door, opposite to that which leads to the bath-room, +opens slowly. Djalma appears. Two hours have elapsed since he committed +a double murder, and believed that he had killed Adrienne in a fit of +jealous fury. + +The servants of Mdlle. de Cardoville, accustomed to Djalma's daily +visits, no longer announced his arrival, and admitted him without +difficulty, having received no orders to the contrary from their +mistress. He had never before entered the bed-chamber, but, knowing that +the apartment the lady occupied was on the first floor of the house, he +had easily found it. As he entered that virgin sanctuary, his +countenance was pretty calm, so well did he control his feelings, only a +slight paleness tarnished the brilliant amber of his complexion. He wore +that day a robe of purple cashmere, striped with silver--a color which +did not show the stains of blood upon it. Djalma closed the door after +him, and tore off his white turban, for it seemed to him as if a band of +hot iron encircled his brow. His dark hair streamed around his handsome +face. He crossed his arms upon his bosom, and looked slowly about him. +When his eyes rested on Adrienne's bed, he started suddenly, and his +cheek grew purple. Then he drew his hand across his brow, hung down his +head, and remained standing for some moments in a dream, motionless as a +statue. + +After a mournful silence of a few seconds' duration, Djalma fell upon his +knees, and raised his eyes to heaven. The Asiatic's countenance was +bathed in tears, and no longer expressed any violent passion. On his +features was no longer the stamp of hate, or despair, or the ferocious +joy of vengeance gratified. It was rather the expression of grief at +once simple and immense. For several minutes he was almost choked with +sobs, and tears ran freely down his cheeks. + +"Dead! dead!" he murmured, in a half-stifled voice. "She, who this +morning slept so peacefully in this chamber! And I have killed her. Now +that she is dead, what is her treachery to me? I should not have killed +her for that. She had betrayed me; she loved the man whom I slew--she +loved him! Alas! I could not hope to gain the preference," added he, +with a touching mixture of resignation and remorse; "I, poor, untaught +youth--how could I merit her love? It was my fault that she did not love +me; but, always generous, she concealed from me her indifference, that +she might not make me too unhappy--and for that I killed her. What was +her crime? Did she not meet me freely? Did she not open to me her +dwelling? Did she not allow me to pass whole days with her? No doubt +she tried to love me, and could not. I loved her with all the faculties +of my soul, but my love was not such as she required. For that, I should +not have killed her. But a fatal delusion seized me and, after it was +done, I woke as from a dream. Alas! it was not a dream: I have killed +her. And yet--until this evening--what happiness I owed to her--what +hope--what joy! She made my heart better, nobler, more generous. All +came from her," added the Indian, with a new burst of grief. "That +remained with me--no one could take from me that treasure of the past-- +that ought to have consoled me. But why think of it? I struck them +both--her and the man--without a struggle. It was a cowardly murder--the +ferocity of the tiger that tears its innocent prey!" + +Djalma buried his face in his hands. Then, drying his tears, he resumed, +"I know, clearly, that I mean to die also. But my death will not restore +her to life!" + +He rose from the ground, and drew from his girdle Faringhea's bloody +dagger; then, taking the little phial from the hilt, he threw the blood- +stained blade upon the ermine carpet, the immaculate whiteness of which +was thus slightly stained with red. + +"Yes," resumed Djalma, holding the phial with a convulsive grasp, "I know +well that I am about to die. It is right. Blood for blood; my life for +hers. How happens it that my steel did not turn aside? How could I kill +her?--but it is done--and my heart is full of remorse, and sorrow, an +inexpressible tenderness--and I have come here--to die! + +"Here, in this chamber," he continued, "the heaven of my burning +visions!" And then he added, with a heartrending accent, as he again +buried his face in his hands, "Dead! dead!" + +"Well! I too shall soon be dead," he resumed, in a firmer voice. "But, +no! I will die slowly, gradually. A few drops of the poison will +suffice; and, when I am quite certain of dying, my remorse will perhaps +be less terrible. Yesterday, she pressed my hand when we parted. Who +could have foretold me this?" The Indian raised the phial resolutely to +his lips. He drank a few drops of the liquor it contained, and replaced +it on a little ivory table close to Adrienne's bed. + +"This liquor is sharp and hot," said he. "Now I am certain to die. Oh! +that I may still have time to feast on the sight and perfume of this +chamber--to lay my dying head on the couch where she has reposed." + +Djalma fell on his knees beside the bed, and leaned against it his +burning brow. At this moment, the ivory door, which communicated with +the bath-room, rolled gently on its hinges, and Adrienne entered. The +young lady had just sent away her woman, who had assisted to undress her. +She wore a long muslin wrapper of lustrous whiteness. Her golden hair, +neatly arranged in little plaits, formed two bands, which gave to her +sweet face an extremely juvenile air. Her snowy complexion was slightly +tinged with rose-color, from the warmth of the perfumed bath, which she +used for a few seconds every evening. When she opened the ivory door, +and placed her little naked foot, in its white satin slipper, upon the +ermine carpet, Adrienne was dazzlingly beautiful. Happiness sparkled in +her eyes, and adorned her brow. All the difficulties relative to her +union with Djalma had now been removed. In two days she would be his. +The sight of the nuptial chamber oppressed her with a vague and ineffable +languor. The ivory door had been opened so gently, the lady's first +steps were so soft upon the fur carpet, that Djalma, still leaning +against the bed, had heard nothing. But suddenly a cry of surprise and +alarm struck upon his ear. He turned round abruptly. Adrienne stood +before him. + +With an impulse of modesty, Adrienne closed her nightdress over her +bosom, and hastily drew back, still more afflicted than angry at what she +considered a guilty attempt on the part of Djalma. Cruelly hurt and +offended, she was about to reproach him with his conduct, when she +perceived the dagger, which he had thrown down upon the ermine carpet. +At sight of this weapon, and the expression of fear and stupor which +petrified the features of Djalma, who remained kneeling, motionless, with +his body thrown back, hands stretched out, his eyes fixed and wildly +staring Adrienne, no longer dreading an amorous surprise, was seized with +an indescribable terror, and, instead of flying from the prince, advanced +several steps towards him, and said, in an agitated voice, whilst she +pointed to the kandjiar, "My friend, why are you here? what ails you? +why this dagger?" + +Djalma made no answer. At first, the presence of Adrienne seemed to him +a vision, which he attributed to the excitement of his brain, already (it +might be) under the influence of the poison. But when the soft voice +sounded in his ears--when his heart bounded with the species of electric +shock, which he always felt when he met the gaze of that woman so +ardently beloved--when he had contemplated for an instant that adorable +face, so fresh and fair, in spite of its expression of deep uneasiness-- +Djalma understood that he was not the sport of a dream, but that Mdlle. +de Cardoville was really before his eyes. + +Then, as he began fully to grasp the thought that Adrienne was not dead, +though he could not at all explain the prodigy of her resurrection, the +Hindoo's countenance was transfigured, the pale gold of his complexion +became warm and red, his eyes (tarnished by tears of remorse) shone with +new radiance, and his features, so lately contracted with terror and +despair, expressed all the phases of the most ecstatic joy. Advancing, +still on his knees, towards Adrienne, he lifted up to her his trembling +hands, and, too deeply affected to pronounce a word, he gazed on her with +so much amazement, love, adoration, gratitude, that the young lady, +fascinated by those inexplicable looks, remained mute also, motionless +also, and felt, by the precipitate beating of her heart, and by the +shudder which ran through her frame, that there was here some dreadful +mystery to be unfolded. + +At last, Djalma, clasping his hands together, exclaimed with an accent +impossible to describe, "Thou art not dead!" + +"Dead!" repeated the young lady, in amazement. + +"It was not thou, really not thou, whom I killed? God is kind and just!" + +And as he pronounced these words with intense joy, the unfortunate youth +forgot the victim whom he had sacrificed in error. + +More and more alarmed, and again glancing at the dagger en which she now +perceived marks of blood--a terrible evidence, in confirmation of the +words of Djalma--Mdlle. de Cardoville exclaimed, "You have killed some +one, Djalma! Oh! what does he say? It is dreadful!" + +"You are alive--I see you--you are here," said Djalma, in a voice +trembling with rapture. "You are here--beautiful! pure! for it was not +you! Oh, no! had it been you, the steel would have turned back upon +myself." + +"You have killed some one?" cried the young lady, beside her with this +unforeseen revelation, and clasping her hands in horror. "Why? whom did +you kill?" + +"I do not know. A woman that was like you--a man that I thought your +lover--it was an illusion, a frightful dream--you are alive--you are +here!" + +And the oriental wept for joy. + +"A dream? but no, it is not a dream. There is blood upon that dagger!" +cried the young lady, as she pointed wildly to the kandjiar. "I tell you +there is blood upon it!" + +"Yes. I threw it down just now, when I took the poison from it, thinking +that I had killed you." + +"The poison!" exclaimed Adrienne, and her teeth chattered convulsively. +"What poison?" + +"I thought I had killed you, and I came here to die." + +"To die? Oh! wherefore? who is to die?" cried the young lady, almost in +delirium. + +"I," replied Djalma, with inexpressible tenderness, "I thought I had +killed you--and I took poison." + +"You!" exclaimed Adrienne, becoming pale as death. "You!" + +"Yes." + +"Oh! it is not true!" said the young lady, shaking her head. + +"Look!" said the Asiatic. Mechanically, he turned towards the bed-- +towards the little ivory table, on which sparkled the crystal phial. + +With a sudden movement, swifter than thought, swifter, it may be, than +the will, Adrienne rushed to the table, seized the phial, and applied it +eagerly to her lips. + +Djalma had hitherto remained on his knees; but he now uttered a terrible +cry, made one spring to the drinker's side, and dragged away the phial, +which seemed almost glued to her mouth. + +"No matter! I have swallowed as much as you," said Adrienne, with an air +of gloomy triumph. + +For an instant, there followed an awful silence. Adrienne and Djalma +gazed upon each other, mute, motionless, horror-struck. The young lady +was the first to break this mournful silence, and said in a tone which +she tried to make calm and steady, "Well! what is there extraordinary in +this? You have killed, and death most expiate your crime. It is just. +I will not survive you. That also is natural enough. Why look at me +thus? This poison has a sharp taste--does it act quickly! Tell me, my +Djalma!" + +The prince did not answer. Shuddering through all his frame, he looked +down upon his hands. Faringhea had told the truth; a slight violet tint +appeared already beneath the nails. Death was approaching, slowly, +almost insensibly, but not the less certain. Overwhelmed with despair at +the thought that Adrienne, too, was about to die, Djalma felt his courage +fail him. He uttered a long groan, and hid his face in his hands. His +knees shook under him, and he felt down upon the bed, near which he was +standing. + +"Already?" cried the young lady in horror, as she threw herself on her +knees at Djalma's feet. "Death already? Do you hide your face from me?" + +In her fright, she pulled his hands from before his face. That face was +bathed in tears. + +"No, not yet," murmured he, through his sobs. "The poison is slow." + +"Really!" cried Adrienne, with ineffable joy. Then, kissing the hands of +Djalma, she added tenderly, "If the poison is slow, why do you weep?" + +"For you! for you!" said the Indian, in a heart-rending tone. + +"Think not of me," replied Adrienne, resolutely. "You have killed, and +we must expiate the crime. I know not what has taken place; but I swear +by our love that you did not do evil for evil's sake. There is some +horrible mystery in all this." + +"On a pretence which I felt bound to believe," replied Djalma, speaking +quickly, and panting for breath, "Faringhea led me to a certain house. +Once there, he told me that you had betrayed me. I did not believe him, +but I know not what strange dizziness seized upon me--and then, through a +half-obscurity, I saw you--" + +"Me!" + +"No--not you--but a woman resembling you, dressed like you, so that I +believed the illusion--and then there came a man--and you flew to meet +him--and I--mad with rage--stabbed her, stabbed him, saw them fall--and +so came here to die. And now I find you only to cause your death. Oh, +misery! misery! that you should die through me!" + +And Djalma, this man of formidable energy, began again to weep with the +weakness of a child. At sight of this deep, touching, passionate +despair, Adrienne, with that admirable courage which women alone possess +in love, thought only of consoling Djalma. By an effort of superhuman +passion, as the prince revealed to her this infernal plot, the lady's +countenance became so splendid with an expression of love and happiness, +that the East Indian looked at her in amazement, fearing for an instant +that he must have lost his reason. + +"No more tears, my adored!" cried the young lady, exultingly. "No more +tears--but only smiles of joy and love! Our cruel enemies shall not +triumph!" + +"What do you say?" + +"They wished to make us miserable. We pity them. Our felicity shall be +the envy of the world!" + +"Adrienne--bethink you--" + +"Oh! I have all my senses about me. Listen to me, my adored! I now +understand it all. Falling into a snare, which these wretches spread for +you, you have committed murder. Now, in this country, murder leads to +infamy, or the scaffold--and to-morrow--to-night, perhaps--you would be +thrown into prison. But our enemies have said: 'A man like Prince Djalma +does not wait for infamy--he kills himself. A woman like Adrienne de +Cardoville does not survive the disgrace or death of her lover--she +prefers to die.'" + +"Therefore a frightful death awaits them both," said the black-robed men; +"and that immense inheritance, which we covet--'" + +"And for you--so young, so beautiful so innocent--death is frightful, and +these monsters triumph!" cried Djalma. "They have spoken the truth!" + +"They have lied!" answered Adrienne. "Our death shall be celestial. +This poison is slow--and I adore you, my Djalma!" + +She spoke those words in a low voice, trembling with passionate love, +and, leaning upon Djalma's knees, approached so near, that he felt her +warm breath upon his cheek. As he felt that breath, and saw the humid +flame that darted from the large, swimming eyes of Adrienne, whose half- +opened lips were becoming of a still deeper and brighter hue, the Indian +started--his young blood boiled in his veins--he forgot everything--his +despair, and the approach of death, which as yet (as with Adrienne), only +showed itself in a kind of feverish ardor. His face, like the young +girl's, became once more splendidly beautiful. + +"Oh, my lover! my husband! how beautiful you are!" said Adrienne, with +idolatry. "Those eyes--that brow--those lips--how I love them!--How many +times has the remembrance of your grace and beauty, coupled with your +love, unsettled my reason, and shaken my resolves--even to this moment, +when I am wholly yours!--Yes, heaven wills that we should be united. +Only this morning, I gave to the apostolic man, that was to bless our +union, in thy name and mine, a royal gift--a gift, that will bring joy +and peace to the heart of many an unfortunate creature. Then what have +we to regret, my beloved? Our immortal souls will pass away in a kiss, +and ascend, full of love, to that God who is all love!" + +"Adrienne!" + +"Djalma!" + +The light, transparent curtains fell like a cloud over that nuptial and +funereal couch. Yes, funereal; for, two hours after, Adrienne and Djalma +breathed their last sigh in a voluptuous agony. + + + + +CHAPTER LXVI. + +A DUEL TO THE DEATH. + +Adrienne and Djalma died on the 30th of May. The following scene took +place on the 31st, the eve of the day appointed for the last convocation +of the heirs of Marius de Rennepont. The reader will no doubt remember +the room occupied by M. Hardy, in the "house of retreat," in the Rue de +Vaugirard--a gloomy and retired apartment, opening on a dreary little +garden, planted with yew-trees, and surrounded by high walls. To reach +this chamber, it was necessary to cross two vast rooms, the doors of +which, once shut, intercepted all noise and communication from without. +Bearing this in mind, we may go on with our narrative. For the last +three or four days, Father d'Aigrigny occupied this apartment. He had +not chosen it, but had been induced to accept it, under most plausible +pretexts, given him at the instigation of Rodin. It was about noon. +Seated in an arm-chair, by the window opening on the little garden, +Father d'Aigrigny held in his hand a newspaper, in which he read as +follows, under the head of "Paris:" + +"Eleven p.m.--A most horrible and tragical event has just excited the +greatest consternation in the quarter of the Rue de Richelieu. A double +murder has been committed, on the person of a young man and woman. The +girl was killed on the spot, by the stroke of a dagger; hopes are +entertained of saving the life of the young man. The crime is attributed +to jealousy. The officers of justice are investigating the matter. We +shall give full particulars tomorrow." + +When he had read these lines, Father d'Aigrigny threw down the paper and +remained in deep thought. + +"It is incredible," said he, with bitter envy, in allusion to Rodin. "He +has attained his end. Hardly one of his anticipations has been defeated. +This family is annihilated, by the mere play of the passions, good and +evil that he has known how to set in motion. He said it would be so. +Oh! I must confess," added Father d'Aigrigny, with a jealous and hateful +smile, "that Rodin is a man of rare dissimulation, patience, energy, +obstinacy and intelligence. Who would have told a few months ago, when +he wrote under my orders, a discreet and humble socius, that he had +already conceived the most audacious ambition, and dared to lift his eyes +to the Holy See itself? that, thanks to intrigues and corruption, pursued +with wondrous ability, these views were not so unreasonable? Nay, that +this infernal ambition would soon be realized, were it not that the +secret proceedings of this dangerous man have long been as secretly +watched?--Ah!" sneered Father d'Aigrigny, with a smile of irony and +triumph, "you wish to be a second Sixtus V., do you? And, not content +with this audacious pretension, you mean, if successful, to absorb our +Company in the Papacy, even as the Sultan has absorbed the Janissaries. +Ah! You would make us your stepping-stone to power! And you have thought +to humiliate and crush me with your insolent disdain! But patience, +patience: the day of retribution approaches. I alone am the depository +of our General's will. Father Caboccini himself does not know that. The +fate of Rodin is in my hands. Oh! it will not be what he expects. In +this Rennepont affair (which, I must needs confess, he has managed +admirably), he thinks to outwit us all, and to work only for himself. +But to-morrow--" + +Father d'Aigrigny was suddenly disturbed in these agreeable reflections. +He heard the door of the next room open, and, as he turned round to see +who was coming, the door of the apartment in which he was turned upon its +hinges. Father d'Aigrigny started with surprise, and became almost +purple. Marshal Simon stood before him. And, behind the marshal, in the +shadow of the door, Father d'Aigrigny perceived the cadaverous face of +Rodin. The latter cast on him one glance of diabolical delight, and +instantly disappeared. The door was again closed, and Father d'Aigrigny +and Marshal Simon were left alone together. The father of Rose and +Blanche was hardly recognizable. His gray hair had become completely +white. His pale, thin face had not been shaved for some days. His +hollow eyes were bloodshot and restless, and had in them something wild +and haggard. He was wrapped in a large cloak, and his black cravat was +tied loosely about his neck. In withdrawing from the apartment, Rodin +had (as if by inadvertence) double-locked the door on the outside. When +he was alone with the Jesuit, the marshal threw back his cloak from his +shoulders, and Father d'Aigrigny could see two naked swords, stuck +through a silk handkerchief which served him as a belt. + +Father d'Aigrigny understood it all. He remembered how, a few days +before, Rodin had obstinately pressed him to say what he would do if the +marshal were to strike him in the face. There could be no doubt that he, +who thought to have held the fate of Rodin in his hands, had been brought +by the latter into a fearful peril; for he knew that, the two outer rooms +being closed, there was no possibility of making himself heard, and that +the high walls of the garden only bordered upon some vacant lots. The +first thought which occurred to him, one by no means destitute of +probability, was that Rodin, either by his agents at Rome, or by his own +incredible penetration, had learned that his fate depended on Father +d'Aigrigny, and hoped therefore to get rid of him, by delivering him over +to the inexorable vengeance of the father of Rose and Blanche. Without +speaking a word, the marshal unbound the handkerchief from his waist, +laid the two swords upon the table, and, folding his arms upon his +breast, advanced slowly towards Father d'Aigrigny. Thus these two men, +who through life had pursued each other with implacable hatred, at length +met face to face--they, who had fought in hostile armies, and measured +swords in single combat, and one of whom now came to seek vengeance for +the death of his children. As the marshal approached, Father d'Aigrigny +rose from his seat. He wore that day a black cassock, which rendered +still more visible the pale hue, which had now succeeded to the sudden +flush on his cheek. For a few seconds, the two men stood face to face +without speaking. The marshal was terrific in his paternal despair. His +calmness, inexorable as fate, was more impressive than the most furious +burst of anger. + +"My children are dead," said he at last, in a slow and hollow tone. "I +come to kill you." + +"Sir," cried Father d'Aigrigny, "listen to me. Do not believe--" + +"I must kill you," resumed the marshal, interrupting the Jesuit; "your +hate followed my wife into exile, where she perished. You and your +accomplices sent my children to certain death. For twenty years you have +been my evil genius. I must have your life, and I will have it." + +"My life belongs, first, to God," answered Father d'Aigrigny, piously, +"and then to who likes to take it." + +"We will fight to the death in this room," said the marshal; "and, as I +have to avenge my wife and children, I am tranquil as to the result." + +"Sir," answered Father d'Aigrigny, coldly, "you forget that my profession +forbids me to fight. Once I accepted your challenge--but my position is +changed since then." + +"Ah!" said the marshal, with a bitter smile; "you refuse to fight because +you are a priest?" + +"Yes, sir--because I am a priest." + +"So that, because he is a priest, a wretch like you may commit any crime, +any baseness, under shelter of his black gown?" + +"I do not understand a word of your accusations. In any case, the law is +open," said Father d'Aigrigny, biting his pale lips, for he felt deeply +the insult offered by the marshal; "if you have anything to complain of, +appeal to that law, before which all are equal." + +Marshal Simon shrugged his shoulders in angry disdain. "Your crimes +escape the law--and, could it even reach you, that would not satisfy my +vengeance, after all the evil you have done me, after all you have taken +from me," said the marshal; and, at the memory of his children, his voice +slightly trembled; but he soon proceeded, with terrible calmness: "You +must feel that I now only live for vengeance. And I must have such +revenge as is worth the seeking--I must have your coward's heart +palpitating on the point of my sword. Our last duel was play; this will +be earnest--oh! you shall see." + +The marshal walked up to the table, where he had laid the two swords. +Father d'Aigrigny needed all his resolution to restrain himself. The +implacable hate which he had always felt for Marshal Simon, added to +these insults, filled him with savage ardor. Yet he answered, in a tone +that was still calm: "For the last time, sir, I repeat to you, that my +profession forbids me to fight." + +"Then you refuse?" said the marshal, turning abruptly towards him. + +"I refuse." + +"Positively?" + +"Positively. Nothing on earth should force me to it." + +"Nothing." + +"No, sir; nothing." + +"We shall see," said the marshal, as his hand fell with its full force on +the cheek of Father d'Aigrigny. + +The Jesuit uttered a cry of fury; all his blood rushed to his face, so +roughly handled; the courage of the man (for he was brave), his ancient +military ardor, carried him away; his eyes sparkled, and, with teeth +firmly set, and clenched fists, he advanced towards the marshal, +exclaiming: "The swords! the swords!" + +But suddenly, remembering the appearance of Rodin, and the interest which +the latter had in bringing about this encounter, he determined to avoid +the diabolical snare laid by his former socius, and so gathered +sufficient resolution to restrain his terrible resentment. + +To his passing fury succeeded a calm, full of contrition; and, wishing to +play his part out to the end, he knelt down, and bowing his head and +beating his bosom, repeated: "Forgive me, Lord, for yielding to a +movement of rage! and, above all, forgive him who has injured me!" + +In spite of his apparent resignation, the Jesuit's voice was neatly +agitated. He seemed to feel a hot iron upon his cheek, for never before +in his life, whether as a soldier or a priest, had he suffered such an +insult. He had thrown himself upon his knees, partly from religious +mummery, and partly to avoid the gaze of the marshal, fearing that, were +he to meet his eye, he should not be able to answer for himself, but give +way to his impetuous feelings. On seeing the Jesuit kneel down, and on +hearing his hypocritical invocation, the marshal, whose sword was in his +hand, shook with indignation. + +"Stand up, scoundrel!" he said, "stand up, wretch!" And he spurned the +Jesuit with his boot. + +At this new insult, Father d'Aigrigny leaped up, as if he had been moved +by steel springs. It was too much; he could bear no more. Blinded with +rage, he rushed to the able, caught up the other sword, and exclaimed, +grinding his teeth together: "Ah! you will have blood. Well then! it +shall be yours--if possible!" + +And the Jesuit, still in all the vigor of manhood, his face purple, his +large gray eyes sparkling with hate, fell upon his guard with the ease +and skill of a finished swordsman. + +"At last!" cried the marshal, as their blades were about to cross. + +But once more reflection came to damp the fire of the Jesuit. He +remembered how this hazardous duel would gratify the wishes of Rodin, +whose fate was in his hands, and whom he hated perhaps even more than the +marshal. Therefore, in spite of the fury which possessed him, in spite +of his secret hope to conquer in this combat, so strong and healthy did +he feel himself, and so fatal had been the effects of grief on the +constitution of Marshal Simon, he succeeded in mastering his rage, and, +to the amazement of the marshal, dropped the point of his sword, +exclaiming: "I am a minister of the Lord, and must not shed blood. +Forgive ne, heaven! and, oh! forgive my brother also." + +Then placing the blade beneath his heel, he drew the hilt suddenly +towards him, and broke the weapon into two pieces. The duel was no +longer possible. Father d'Aigrigny had put it out of his own power to +yield to a new burst of violence, of which he saw the imminent danger. +Marshal Simon remained for an instant mute and motionless with surprise +and indignation, for he also saw that the duel was now impossible. But, +suddenly, imitating the Jesuit, the marshal placed his blade also under +his heel, broke it in half, and picking up the pointed end, about +eighteen inches in length tore off his black silk cravat, rolled it round +the broken part so as to form a handle, and said to Father d'Aigrigny: +"Then we will fight with daggers." + +Struck with this mixture of coolness and ferocity, the Jesuit exclaimed: +"Is this then a demon of hell?" + +"No; it is a father, whose children have been murdered," said the +marshal, in a hollow voice, whilst he fitted the blade to his hand, and a +tear stood in the eye, that instantly after became fierce and ardent. + +The Jesuit saw that tear. There was in this mixture of vindictive rage +and paternal grief something so awful, and yet so sacred, that for the +first time in his life Father d'Aigrigny felt fear--cowardly, ignoble +fear--fear for his own safety. While a combat with swords was in +question, in which skill, agility, and experience are such powerful +auxiliaries to courage, his only difficulty had been to repress the ardor +of his hate--but when he thought of the combat proposed, body to body, +face to face, heart to heart, he trembled, grew pale, and exclaimed: "A +butchery with knives?--never!" + +His countenance and the accent betrayed his alarm, so that the marshal +himself was struck with it, and fearing to lose his revenge, he cried: +"After all, he is a coward! The wretch had only the courage or the +vanity of a fencer. This pitiful renegade--this traitor to his country-- +whom I have cuffed, kicked--yes, kicked, most noble marquis!--shame of +your ancient house--disgrace to the rank of gentleman, old or new--ah! it +is not hypocrisy, it is not calculation, as I at first thought--it is +fear! You need the noise of war, and the eyes of spectators to give you +courage--" + +"Sir--have a care!" said Father d'Aigrigny, stammering through his +clenched teeth, for rage and hate now made him forget his fear-- + +"Must I then spit on you, to make the little blood you have left rise to +your face?" cried the exasperated marshal. + +"Oh! this is too much! too much!" said the Jesuit, seizing the pointed +piece of the blade that lay at his feet. + +"It is not enough!" said the marshal, panting for breath. "There, +Judas!" and he spat in his face. + +"If you will not fight now," added the marshal, "I will beat you like a +dog, base child-murderer!" + +On receiving the uttermost insult which can be offered to an already +insulted man, Father d'Aigrigny lost all his presence of mind, forgot his +interests, his resolutions, his fears, forgot even Rodin--felt only the +frenzied ardor of revenge--and, recovering his courage, rejoiced in the +prospect of a close struggle, in which his superior strength promised +success over the enfeebled frame of the marshal for, in this kind of +brutal and savage combat, physical strength offers an immense advantage. +In an instant, Father d'Aigrigny had rolled his handkerchief round the +broken blade, and rushed upon Marshal Simon, who received the shock with +intrepidity. For the short time that this unequal struggle lasted-- +unequal, for the marshal had since some days been a prey to a devouring +fever, which had undermined his strength--the two combatants, mute in +their fury, uttered not a word or a cry. Had any one been present at +this horrible scene, it would have been impossible for him to tell how +they dealt their blows. He would have seen two heads--frightful, livid, +convulsed--rising, falling, now here, now there--arms, now stiff as bars +of iron, and now twisting like serpents--and, in the midst of the +undulation of the blue coat of the marshal and the black cassock of the +Jesuit, from time to time the sudden gleam of the steel. He would have +heard only a dull stamping, and now and then a deep breath. In about two +minutes at most, the two adversaries fell, and rolled one over the other. +One of them--it was Father d'Aigrigny--contrived to disengage himself +with a violent effort, and to rise upon his knees. His arms fell +powerless by his side; and then the dying voice of the marshal murmured: +"My children! Dagobert!" + +"I have killed him," said Father d'Aigrigny, in a weak voice; "but I +feel--that I am wounded--to death." + +Leaning with one hand on the ground, the Jesuit pressed the other to his +bosom. His black cassock was pierced through and through, but the +blades, which had served for the combat, being triangular and very sharp, +the blood instead of issuing from the wounds, was flowing inwards. + +"Oh! I die--I choke," said Father d'Aigrigny, whose features were already +changing with the approach of death. + +At this moment, the key turned twice in the door, Rodin appeared on the +threshold, and, thrusting in his head, he said in a humble and discreet +voice: "May I come in?" + +At this dreadful irony, Father d'Aigrigny strove to rise, and rush upon +Rodin; but he fell back exhausted; the blood was choking him. + +"Monster of hell!" he muttered, casting on Rodin a terrible glance of +rage and agony. "Thou art the cause of my death." + +"I always told you, my dear father, that your old military habits would +be fatal to you," answered Rodin with a frightful smile. "Only a few +days ago, I gave you warning, and advised you take a blow patiently from +this old swordsman--who seems to have done with that work forever, which +is well--for the Scripture says: 'All they that take the sword shall +perish with the sword.' And then this Marshal Simon might have had some +claim on his daughter's inheritance. And, between ourselves, my dear +father, what was I to do? It was necessary to sacrifice you for the +common interest; the rather, that I well knew what you had in pickle for +me to-morrow. But I am not so easily caught napping." + +"Before I die," said Father d'Aigrigny, in a failing voice, "I will +unmask you." + +"Oh, no, you will not," said Rodin, shaking his head with a knowing air; +"I alone, if you please, will receive your last confession." + +"Oh! this is horrible," moaned Father d'Aigrigny, whose eyes were +closing. "May God have mercy on me, if it is not too late!--Alas! at +this awful moment, I feel that I have been a great sinner--" + +"And, above all, a great fool," said Rodin, shrugging his shoulders, and +watching with cold disdain the dying moments of his accomplice. + +Father d'Aigrigny had now but a few minutes more to live. Rodin +perceived it, and said: "It is time to call for help." And the Jesuit +ran, with an air of alarm and consternation, into the courtyard of the +house. + +Others came at his cries; but, as he had promised, Rodin had only quitted +Father d'Aigrigny as the latter had breathed his last sigh. + +That evening, alone in his chamber, by the glimmer of a little lamp, +Rodin sat plunged in a sort of ecstatic contemplation, before the print +representing Sixtus V. The great house-clock struck twelve. At the last +stroke, Rodin drew himself up in all the savage majesty of his infernal +triumph, and exclaimed: "This is the first of June. There are no more +Renneponts!--Methinks, I hear the hour from the clock of St. Peter's at +Rome striking!" + + + + +CHAPTER LXVII. + +A MESSAGE. + +While Rodin sat plunged in ambitious reverie, contemplating the portrait +of Sixtus V., good little Father Caboccini, whose warm embraces had so +much irritated the first mentioned personage, went secretly to Faringhea, +to deliver to him a fragment of an ivory crucifix, and said to him with +his usual air of jovial good-nature: "His Excellency Cardinal Malipieri, +on my departure from Rome, charged me to give you this only on the 31st +of May." + +The half-caste, who was seldom affected by anything, started abruptly, +almost with an expression of pain. His face darkened, and bending upon +the little father a piercing look, he said to him: "You were to add +something." + +"True," replied Father Caboccini; "the words I was to add are these: +'There is many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip.'" + +"It is well," said the other. Heaving a deep sigh, he joined the +fragment of the ivory crucifix to a piece already in his possession; it +fitted exactly. + +Father Caboccini looked at him with curiosity, for the cardinal had only +told him to deliver the ivory fragment to Faringhea, and to repeat the +above words. Being somewhat mystified with all this, the reverend father +said to the half-caste: "What are you going to do with that crucifix?" + +"Nothing," said Faringhea, still absorbed in painful thought. + +"Nothing?" resumed the reverend father, in astonishment. "What, then, +was the use of bringing it so far?" + +Without satisfying his curiosity, Faringhea replied: "At what hour to- +morrow does Father Rodin go to the Rue Saint Francois?" + +"Very early." + +"Before leaving home, he will go to say prayers in the chapel?" + +"Yes, according to the habit of our reverend fathers." + +"You sleep near him?" + +"Being his socius, I occupy the room next to his." + +"It is possible," said Faringhea, after a moment's silence, "that the +reverend father, full of the great interests which occupy his mind, might +forget to go to the chapel. In that case, pray remind him of this pious +duty." + +"I shall not fail." + +"Pray do not fail," repeated Faringhea, anxiously. + +"Be satisfied," said the good little father; "I see that you take great +interest in his salvation." + +"Great interest." + +"It is very praiseworthy in you. Continue as you have begun, and you may +one day belong, completely to our Company," said Father Caboccini, +affectionately. + +"I am as yet but a poor auxiliary member," said Faringhea, humbly; "but +no one is more devoted to the Society, body and soul. Bowanee is nothing +to it." + +"Bowanee! who is that, my good friend?" + +"Bowanee makes corpses which rot in the ground. The Society makes +corpses which walk about." + +"Ah, yes! Perinde ac cadaver--they were the last words of our great +saint, Ignatius de Loyola. But who is this Bowanee?" + +"Bowanee is to the Society what a child is to a man," replied the +Asiatic, with growing excitement. "Glory to the Company--glory! Were my +father its enemy, I would kill my father. The man whose genius inspires +me most with admiration, respect, and terror--were he its enemy, I would +kill, in spite of all," said the half-caste, with an effort. Then, after +a moment's silence, he looked full in Caboccini's face, and added: "I say +this, that you may report my words to Cardinal Malipieri, and beg him to +mention them to--" + +Faringhea stopped short. "To whom should the cardinal mention your +words?" asked Caboccini. + +"He knows," replied the half-caste, abruptly. "Good night!" + +"Good-night, my friend! I can only approve of your excellent sentiments +with regard to our Company. Alas! it is in want of energetic defenders, +for there are said to be traitors in its bosom." + +"For those," said Faringhea, "we must have no pity." + +"Certainly," said the good little father; "we understand one another." + +"Perhaps," said the half-caste. "Do not, at all events, forget to remind +Father Rodin to go to chapel to-morrow morning." + +"I will take care of that," said Father Caboccini. + +The two men parted. On his return to the house, Caboccini learned that a +courier, only arrived that night from Rome, had brought despatches to +Rodin. + + + + +CHAPTER LXVIII. + +THE FIRST OF JUNE. + +The chapel belonging to the house of the reverend fathers in the Rue de +Vaugirard, was gay and elegant. Large panes of stained glass admitted a +mysterious light; the altar shone with gold and silver; and at the +entrance of this little church, in an obscure corner beneath the organ- +loft, was a font for holy water in sculptured marble. It was close to +this font, in a dark nook where he could hardly be seen, that Faringhea +knelt down, early on the 1st of June, as soon indeed as the chapel doors +were opened. The half-caste was exceedingly sad. From time to time he +started and sighed, as if agitated by a violent internal struggle. This +wild, untamable being, possessed with the monomania of evil and +destruction, felt, as may be imagined, a profound admiration for Rodin, +who exercised over him a kind of magnetic fascination. The half-caste, +almost a wild beast in human form, saw something supernatural in the +infernal genius of Rodin. And the latter, too sagacious not to have +discovered the savage devotion of this wretch, had made, as we have seen, +good use of him, is bringing about the tragical termination of the loves +of Adrienne and Djalma. But what excited to an incredible degree the +admiration of Faringhea, was what he knew of the Society of Jesus. This +immense, occult power, which undermined the world by its subterraneous +ramifications, and reached its ends by diabolical means, had inspired the +half-caste with a wild enthusiasm. And if anything in the world +surpassed his fanatical admiration for Rodin, it was his blind devotion +to the Company of Ignatius de Loyola, which, as he said, could make +corpses that walk about. Hid in the shadow of the organ-loft, Faringhea +was reflecting deeply on these things, when footsteps were heard, and +Rodin entered the chapel, accompanied by his socius, the little one-eyed +father. + +Whether from absence of mind, or that the shadow of the orange-loft +completely concealed the half-caste, Rodin dipped his fingers into the +font without perceiving Faringhea, who stood motionless as a statue, +though a cold sweat streamed from his brow. The prayer of Rodin was, as +may be supposed, short; he was in haste to get to the Rue Saint-Francois. +After kneeling down with Father Caboccini for a few seconds, he rose, +bowed respectfully to the altar, and returned towards the door, followed +by his socius. At the moment Rodin approached the font he perceived the +tall figure of the half-caste standing out from the midst of the dark +shadow; advancing a little, Faringhea bowed respectfully to Rodin, who +said to him, in a low voice; "Come to me at two o'clock." + +So saying, Rodin stretched forth his hand to dip it into the holy water; +but Faringhea spared him the trouble, by offering him the sprinkling- +brush, which generally stood in the font. + +Pressing between his dirty fingers the damp hairs of the brush, which the +half-caste held by the handle, Rodin wetted his thumb and forefinger, +and, according to custom, traced the sign of the cross upon his forehead. +Then, opening the door of the chapel, he went out, after again repeating +to Faringhea: "Come to me at two o'clock." + +Thinking he would also make use of the sprinkling-brush, which, +Faringhea, still motionless, held with a trembling hand, Father Caboccini +stretched out his fingers to reach it, when the half-breed, as if +determined to confine his favors to Rodin, hastily withdrew the +instrument. Deceived in his expectation, Father Caboccini lost no time +in following Rodin, whom he was not to leave that day for a single +moment, and, getting into a hackney-coach with him, set out for the Rue +Saint-Francois. It is impossible to describe the look which the half- +breed fixed upon Rodin as the latter quitted the chapel. Left alone in +the sacred edifice, Faringhea sank upon the stones, half kneeling, half +crouching, with his face buried in his hands. As the coach drew near the +quarter of the Marais, in which was situated the house of Marius de +Rennepont, a feverish agitation, and the devouring impatience of triumph, +were visible on the countenance of Rodin. Two or three times he opened +his pocketbook, and read and arranged the different certificates of death +of the various members of the Rennepont family; and from time to time he +thrust his head anxiously from the coach-window, as if he had wished to +hasten the slow progress of the vehicle. + +The good little father, his socius, did not take his eye off Rodin, and +his look had a strange and crafty expression. At last the coach entered +the Rue Saint-Francois, and stopped before the iron-studded door of the +old house, which had been closed for a century and a half. Rodin sprang +from the coach with the agility of a young man, and knocked violently at +the door, whilst Father Caboccini, less light of foot, descended more +prudently to the ground. No answer was returned to the loud knocking of +Rodin. Trembling with anxiety, he knocked again. This time, as he +listened attentively, he heard slow steps approaching. They stopped at +some distance from the door, which was not yet opened. + +"It is keeping one upon red-hot coals," said Rodin, for he felt as if +there was a burning fire in his chest. He again shook the door +violently, and began to gnaw his nails according to his custom. + +Suddenly the door opened, and Samuel, the Jew guardian, appeared beneath +the porch. The countenance of the old man expressed bitter grief. Upon +his venerable cheeks were the traces of recent tears, which he strove to +dry with his trembling hands, as he opened the door to Rodin. + +"Who are you, gentlemen?" said Samuel. + +"I am the bearer of a power of attorney from the Abbe Gabriel, the only +living representative of the Rennepont family," answered Rodin, hastily. +"This gentleman is my secretary," added he, pointing to Father Caboccini, +who bowed. + +After looking attentively at Rodin, Samuel resumed: "I recognize you, +sir. Please to follow me." And the old guardian advanced towards the +house in the garden, making a sign to the two reverend fathers to follow. + +"That confounded old man kept me so long at the door," said Rodin to his +socius, "that I think I have caught a cold in consequence. My lips and +throat are dried up, like parchment baked at the fire." + +"Will you not take something, my dear, good father? Suppose you were to +ask this man for a glass of water," cried the little one-eyed priest, +with tender solicitude. + +"No, no," answered Rodin; "it is nothing. I am devoured by impatience. +That is all." + +Pale and desolate, Bathsheba, the wife of Samuel, was standing at the +door of the apartment she occupied with her husband, in the building next +the street. As the Jew passed before her, he said, in Hebrew: "The +curtains of the Hall of Mourning?" + +"Are closed." + +"And the iron casket?" + +"Is prepared," answered Bathsheba, also in Hebrew. + +After pronouncing these words, completely unintelligible to Rodin and +Caboccini, Samuel and Bathsheba exchanged a bitter smile, notwithstanding +the despair impressed on their countenances. + +Ascending the steps, followed by the two reverend fathers, Samuel entered +the vestibule of the house, in which a lamp was burning. Endowed with an +excellent local memory, Rodin was about to take the direction of the Red +Saloon, in which had been held the first convocation of the heirs, when +Samuel stopped him, and said: "It is not that way." + +Then, taking the lamp, he advanced towards a dark staircase, for the +windows of the house had not been un-bricked. + +"But," said Rodin, "the last time, we met in a saloon on the ground +floor." + +To-day, we must go higher," answered Samuel, as he began slowly to ascend +the stairs. + +"Where to? higher!" said Rodin, following him. + +"To the Hall of Mourning," replied the Jew, and he continued to ascend. + +"What is the Hall of Mourning?" resumed Rodin, in some surprise. + +"A place of tears and death," answered the Israelite; and he kept on +ascending through the darkness, for the little lamp threw but a faint +light around. + +"But," said Rodin, more and more astonished, and stopping short on the +stairs, "why go to this place?" + +"The money is there," answered Samuel, and he went on, + +"Oh? if the money is there, that alters the case," replied Rodin; and he +made haste to regain the few steps he had lost by stopping. + +Samuel continued to ascend, and, at a turn of the staircase, the two +Jesuits could see by the pale light of the little lamp, the profile of +the old Israelite, in the space left between the iron balustrade and the +wall, as he climbed on with difficulty above them. Rodin was struck with +the expression of Samuel's countenance. His black eyes, generally so +calm, sparkled with ardor. His features, usually impressed with a +mixture of sorrow, intelligence, and goodness, seemed to grow harsh and +stern, and his thin lips wore a strange smile. + +"It is not so very high," whispered Rodin to Caboccini. "and yet my legs +ache, and I am quite out of breath. There is a strange throbbing too in +my temples." + +In fact, Rodin breathed hard, and with difficulty. To this confidential +communication, good little Father Caboccini, in general so full of tender +care for his colleague, made no answer. He seemed to be in deep thought. + +"Will we soon be there?" said Rodin, impatiently, to Samuel. + +"We are there," replied the Israelite. + +"And a good thing too," said Rodin. + +"Very good," said the Jew. + +Stopping in the midst of a corridor, he pointed with the hand in which he +held the lamp to a large door from which streamed a faint light. In +spite of his growing surprise. Rodin entered resolutely, followed by +Father Caboccini and Samuel. The apartment in which these three +personage, now found themselves was very large. The daylight only +entered from a belvedere in the roof, the four sides of which had been +covered with leaden plates, each of which was pierced with seven holes, +forming a cross, thus: + * + * * * + * + * + * + +Now, the light being only admitted through these holes, the obscurity +would have been complete, had it not been for a lamp, which burned on a +large massive slab of black marble, fixed against one of the walls. One +would have taken it for a funeral chamber, for it was all hung with black +curtains, fringed with white. There was no furniture, save the slab of +black marble we have already mentioned. On this slab was an iron casket, +of the manufacture of the seventeenth century, admirably adorned with +open work, like lace made of metal. + +Addressing Rodin, who was wiping his forehead with his dirty +handkerchief, and looking round him with surprise, but not fear, Samuel +said to him: "The will of the testator, however strange it may appear, is +sacred with me, and must be accomplished in all things." + +"Certainly," said Rodin; "but what are we to do here?" + +"You will know presently, sir. You are the representative of the only +remaining heir of the Rennepont family, the Abbe Gabriel de Rennepont?" + +"Yes, sir, and here are my papers," replied Rodin. + +"To save time," resumed Samuel, "I will, previous to the arrival of the +magistrate, go through the inventory of the securities contained in this +casket, which I withdrew yesterday from the custody of the Bank of +France." + +"The securities are there?" cried Rodin, advancing eagerly towards the +casket. + +"Yes, sir," replied Samuel, "as by the list. Your secretary will call +them over, and I will produce each in turn. They can then be replaced in +the casket, which I will deliver up to you in presence of the +magistrate." + +"All this seems perfectly correct," said Rodin. + +Samuel delivered the list to Father Caboccini, and approaching the +casket, touched a spring, which was not seen by Rodin. The heavy lid +flew open, and, while Father Caboccini read the names of the different +securities, Samuel showed them to Rodin, who returned them to the old +Jew, after a careful examination. This verification did not last long, +for this immense fortune was all comprised, as we already know, in eight +government securities, five hundred thousand francs in bank-note, thirty- +five thousand francs in gold, and two hundred and fifty francs in silver- +-making in all an amount of two hundred and twelve millions, one hundred +and seventy-five thousand francs. When Rodin had counted the last of the +five hundred bank-notes, of a thousand francs each, he said, as he +returned them to Samuel: "It is quite right. Two hundred and twelve +millions, one hundred and seventy-five thousand francs!" + +He was no doubt almost choked with joy, for he breathed with difficulty, +his eyes closed, and he was obliged to lean upon Father Caboccini's arm, +as he said to him in an altered voice: "It is singular. I thought myself +proof against all such emotions; but what I feel is extraordinary." + +The natural paleness of the Jesuit increased so much, and he seemed so +much agitated with convulsive movements, that Father Caboccini exclaimed: +"My dear father, collect yourself; do not let success overcome you thus." + +Whilst the little one-eyed man was, attending to Rodin, Samuel carefully +replaced the securities in the iron casket. Thanks to his unconquerable +energy, and to the joy he felt at seeing himself so near the term of his +labors, Rodin mastered this attack of weakness, and drawing himself up, +calm and proud, he said to Caboccini: "It is nothing. I did not survive +the cholera to die of joy on the first of June." + +And, though still frightfully pale, the countenance of the Jesuit shone +with audacious confidence. But now, when Rodin appeared to be quite +recovered, Father Caboccini seemed suddenly transformed. Though short, +fat, and one-eyed, his features assumed on the instant so firm, harsh, +and commanding an expression, that Rodin recoiled a step as he looked at +him. Then Father Caboccini, drawing a paper from his pocket, kissed it +respectfully, glanced sternly at Rodin, and read as follows, in a severe +and menacing tone: + +"'On receipt of the present rescript, the Reverend Father Rodin will +deliver up all his powers to the Reverend Father Caboccini, who is alone +commissioned, with the Reverend Father d'Aigrigny, to receive the +inheritance of the Rennepont family, if, in His eternal justice, the Lord +should restore this property, of which our Company has been wronged. + +"'Moreover, on receipt of the present rescript, the Reverend Father +Rodin, in charge of a person to be named by the Reverend Father +Caboccini, shall be conveyed to our house in the Town of Laval, to be +kept in strict seclusion in his cell until further orders.'" + +Then Father Caboccini handed the rescript to Rodin, that the latter might +read the signature of the General of the Company. Samuel, greatly +interested by this scene, drew a few steps nearer, leaving the casket +half-open. Suddenly, Rodin burst into a loud laugh--a laugh of joy, +contempt and triumph, impossible to describe. Father Caboccini +looked at him with angry astonishment; when Rodin, growing still more +imperious and haughty, and with an air of more sovereign disdain than +ever, pushed aside the paper with the back of his dirty hand and said: +"What is the date of that scribble?" + +"The eleventh of May," answered Father Caboccini in amazement. + +"Here is a brief, that I received last night from Rome, under date of the +eighteenth. It informs me that I am appointed GENERAL OF THE ORDER. +Read!" + +Father Caboccini took the paper, read it, and remained thunderstruck. +Then, returning it humbly to Rodin, he respectfully bent his knee before +him. Thus seemed the ambitious views of Rodin accomplished. In spite of +the hatred and suspicion of that party, of which Cardinal Malipieri was +the representative and the chief, Rodin, by address and craft, audacity +and persuasion, and in consequence of the high esteem in which his +partisans at Rome held his rare capacity, had succeeded in deposing his +General, and in procuring his own elevation to that eminent post. Now, +according to his calculation, aided by the millions he was about to +possess, it would be but one step from that post to the pontifical +throne. A mute witness of this scene, Samuel smiled also with an air of +triumph, as he closed the casket by means of the spring known only to +himself. That metallic sound recalled Rodin from the heights of his mad +ambition to the realities of life, and he said to Samuel in a sharp +voice: "You have heard? These millions must be delivered to me alone." + +He extended his hands eagerly and impatiently towards the casket, as if +he would have taken possession of it, before the arrival of the +magistrate. Then Samuel in his turn seemed transfigured, and, folding +his arms upon his breast, and drawing up his aged form to its full +height, he assumed a threatening and imposing air. His eyes flashed with +indignation, and he said in a solemn tone: "This fortune--at first the +humble remains of the inheritance of the most noble of men, whom the +plots of the sons of Loyola drove to suicide--this fortune, which has +since become royal in amount, thanks to the sacred probity of three +generations of faithful servants--this fortune shall never be the reward +of falsehood, hypocrisy and murder. No! the eternal justice of heaven +will not allow it." + +"On murder? what do you mean, sir?" asked Rodin, boldly. + +Samuel made no answer. He stamped his foot, and extended his arm slowly +towards the extremity of the apartment. Then Rodin and Father Caboccini +beheld an awful spectacle. The draperies on the wall were drawn aside, +as if by an invisible hand. Round a funeral vault, faintly illumined-by +the bluish light of a silver lamp, six dead bodies were ranged upon black +biers, dressed in long black robes. They were: Jacques Rennepont-- +Francois Hardy--Rose and Blanche Simon--Adrienne and Djalma. They +appeared to be asleep. Their eyelids were closed, their hands crossed +over their breasts. Father Caboccini, trembling in every limb, made the +sign of the cross, and retreating to the opposite wall, buried his face +in his hands. Rodin on the contrary, with agitated countenance, staring +eyes, and hair standing on end, yielding to an invincible attraction, +advanced towards those inanimate forms. One would have said that these +last of the Renneponts had only just expired. They seemed to be in the +first hour of the eternal sleep.[44] + +"Behold those whom thou host slain!" cried Samuel, in a voice broken with +sobs. "Yea! your detestable plots caused their death--and, as they fell +one by one, it was my pious care to obtain possession of their poor +remains, that they may all repose in the same sepulchre. Oh!--cursed-- +cursed--cursed--be thou who has killed them! But their spoils shall +escape thy murderous hands." + +Rodin, still drawn forward in spite of himself, had approached the +funeral couch of Djalma. Surmounting his first alarm, the Jesuit, to +assure himself that he was not the sport of frightful dream, ventured to +touch the hands of the Asiatic--and found that they were damp and pliant, +though cold as ice. + +The Jesuit drew back in horror. For some seconds, he trembled +convulsively. But, his first amazement over, reflection returned, and, +with reflection came that invincible energy, that infernal obstinacy of +character, that gave him so much power. Steadying himself on his legs, +drawing his hand across his brow, raising his head, moistening his lips +two or three times before he spoke--for his throat and mouth grew ever +drier and hotter, without his being able to explain the cause--he +succeeded in giving to his features an imperious and ironical expression, +and, turning towards Samuel, who wept in silence, he said to him, in a +hoarse, guttural voice: "I need not show you the certificates of their +death. There they are in person." And he pointed with his bony hand to +the six dead bodies. + +At these words of his General, Father Caboccini again made the sign of +the cross, as if he had seen a fiend. + +"Oh, my God!" cried Samuel; "Thou hast quite abandoned this man. With +what a calm look he contemplates his victims!" + +"Come, sir!" said Rodin, with a horrid smile; "this is a natural waxwork +exhibition, that is all. My calmness proves my innocence--and we had +best come at once to business. I have an appointment at two o'clock. So +let us carry down this casket." + +He advanced towards the marble slab. Seized with indignation and horror, +Samuel threw himself before him, and, pressing with all his might on a +knob in the lid of the casket--a knob which yielded to the pressure--he +exclaimed: "Since your infernal soul is incapable of remorse, it may +perhaps be shaken by disappointed avarice." + +"What does he say?" cried Rodin. "What is he doing?" + +"Look!" said Samuel, in his turn assuming an air of savage triumph. "I +told you, that the spoils of your victims should escape your murderous +hands." + +Hardly had he uttered these words, before through the open-work of the +iron casket rose a light cloud of smoke, and an odor as of burnt paper +spread itself through the room. Rodin understood it instantly. "Fire!" +he exclaimed, as he rushed forward to seize the casket. It had been made +fast to the heavy marble slab. + +"Yes, fire," said Samuel. "In a few minutes, of that immense treasure +there will remain nothing but ashes. And better so, than that it should +belong to you or yours. This treasure is not mine, and it only remains +for me to destroy it--since Gabriel de Rennepont will be faithful to the +oath he has taken." + +"Help! water! water!" cried Rodin, as he covered the casket with his +body, trying in vain to extinguish the flames, which, fanned by the +current of air, now issued from the thousand apertures in the lid; but +soon the intensity of the fire diminished, a few threads of bluish smoke +alone mounted upwards--and then, all was extinct. + +The work was done! Breathless and faint, Rodin leaned against the marble +slab. For the first time in his life, he wept; large tears of rage +rolled down his cadaverous cheeks. But suddenly, dreadful pains, at +first dull, but gradually augmenting in intensity, seized on him with so +much fury, though he employed all his energy to struggle against them, +that he fell on his knees, and, pressing his two hands to his chest, +murmured with an attempt to smile: "It is nothing. Do not be alarmed. A +few spasms--that is all. The treasure is destroyed--but I remain General +of the Order. Oh! I suffer. What a furnace!" he added, writhing in +agony. "Since I entered this cursed house, I know not what ails me. If +--I had not lived on roots--water--bread--which I go myself to buy--I +should think--I was poisoned--for I triumph--and Cardinal Malipieri has +long arms. Yes--I still triumph--for I will not die--this time no more +than the other--I will not die!" + +Then, as he stretched out his arms convulsively, he continued: "It is +fire that devours my entrails. No doubt, they have tried to poison me. +But when? but how?" + +After another pause, Rodin again cried out, in a stifled voice: "Help! +help me, you that stand looking on--like, spectres!--Help me, I say!" + +Horror-struck at this dreadful agony, Samuel and Father Caboccini were +unable to stir. + +"Help!" repeated Rodin, in a tone of strangulation, "This poison is +horrible.--But how--" Then, with a terrific cry of rage, as if a sudden +idea had struck him, he exclaimed: "Ha! Faringhea--this morning--the holy +water--he knows such subtle poisons. Yes--it is he--he had an interview +with Malipieri. The demon!--Oh! it was well played. The Borgias are +still the same. Oh! it is all over. I die. They will regret me, the +fools!--Oh! hell! hell! The Church knows not its loss--but I burn-- +help!" + +They came to his assistance. Quick steps were heard upon the stairs, and +Dr. Baleinier, followed by the Princess de Saint-Dizier, appeared at the +entrance of the Hall of Mourning. The princess had learned vaguely that +morning the death of Father d'Aigrigny, and had come to question Rodin +upon the subject. When this woman, entering the room, suddenly saw the +frightful spectacle that offered itself to her view--when she saw Rodin +writhing in horrible agony, and, further on, by the light of the +sepulchral lamp, those six corpses--and, amongst them, her own niece, and +the two orphans whom she had sent to meet their death--she stood +petrified with horror, and her reason was unable to withstand the shock. +She looked slowly round her, and then raised her arms on high, and burst +into a wild fit of laughter. She had gone mad. Whilst Dr. Baleinier +supported the head of Rodin, who expired in his arms, Faringhea appeared +at the door; remaining in the shade, he cast a ferocious glance at the +corpse of the Jesuit. "He would have made himself the chief of the +Company of Jesus, to destroy it," said he; "with me, the Company of Jesus +stands in the place of Bowanee. I have obeyed the cardinal!" + +[44] Should this appear incredible, we would remind the reader of the +marvellous discoveries in the art of embalming--particularly Dr. +Gannal's. + + + + +EPILOGUE. + +CHAPTER I. + +FOUR YEARS AFTER. + +Four years had elapsed, since the events we have just related, when +Gabriel de Rennepont wrote the following letter to Abbe Joseph +Charpentier, curate of the Parish of Saint-Aubin, a hamlet of Sologne: + +"Springwater Farm, +"June 2d, 1836. + +"Intending to write to you yesterday, my bear Joseph, I seated myself at +the little old black table, that you will remember well. My window +looks, you know, upon the farmyard, and I can see all that takes place +there. These are grave preliminaries, my friend, but I am coming to the +point. I had just taken my seat at the table, when, looking from the +window, this is what I saw. You, my dear Joseph, who can draw so well, +should have been there to have sketched the charming scene. The sun was +sinking, the sky serene, the air warm and balmy with the breath of the +hawthorn, which, flowering by the side of a little rivulet, forms the +edge which borders the yard. Under the large pear-tree, close to the +wall of the barn, sat upon the stone bench my adopted father, Dagobert, +that brave and honest soldier whom you love so much. He appeared +thoughtful, his white head was bowed on his bosom; with absent mind, he +patted old Spoil-sport, whose intelligent face was resting on his +master's knees. By his side was his wife, my dear adopted mother, +occupied with her sewing; and near them, on a stool, sat Angela, the wife +of Agricola, nursing her last-born child, while the gentle Magdalen, with +the eldest boy in her lap, was occupied in teaching him the letters of +the alphabet. Agricola had just returned from the fields, and was +beginning to unyoke his cattle, when, struck, like me, no doubt, with +this picture, he stood gazing on it for a moment, with his hand still +leaning on the yoke, beneath which bent submissive the broad foreheads of +his two large black oxen. I cannot express to you, my friend, the +enchanting repose of this picture, lighted by the last rays of the sun, +here and there broken by the thick foliage. What various and touching +types! The venerable face of the soldier--the good, loving countenance +of my adopted mother--the fresh beauty of Angela, smiling on her little +child--the soft melancholy of the hunchback, now and then pressing her +lips to the fair, laughing cheek of Agricola's eldest son--and then +Agricola himself, in his manly beauty, which seems to reflect so well the +valor and honesty of his heart! Oh, my Friend! in contemplating this +assemblage of good, devoted, noble, and loving beings, so dear to each +other, living retired in a little farm of our poor Sologne, my heart rose +towards heaven with a feeling of ineffable gratitude. This peace of the +family circle--this clear evening, with the perfume of the woods and wild +flowers wafted on the breeze--this deep silence, only broken by the +murmur of the neighboring rill--all affected me with one of these passing +fits of vague and sweet emotion, which one feels but cannot express. You +well know it, my friend, who, in your solitary walks, in the midst of +your immense plains of flowering heath, surrounded by forests of fir +trees, often feel your eyes grow moist, without being able to explain the +cause of that sweet melancholy, which I, too, have often felt, during +those glorious nights passed in the profound solitudes of America. + +"But, alas! a painful incident disturbed the serenity of the picture. +Suddenly I heard Dagobert's wife say to him: 'My dear--you are weeping!' + +"At these words, Agricola, Angela, and Magdalen gathered round the +soldier. Anxiety was visible upon every face. Then, as he raised his +head abruptly, one could see two large tears trickle down his cheek to +his white moustache. 'It is nothing, my children,' said he, in a voice +of emotion 'it is nothing. Only, to-day is the first of June--and this +day four years--' He could not complete the sentence; and, as he raised +his hands to his eyes, to brush away the tears, we saw that he held +between his fingers a little bronze chain, with a medal suspended to it. +That is his dearest relic. Four years ago, almost dying with despair at +the loss of the two angels, of whom I have so often spoken to you, my +friend, he took from the neck of Marshal Simon, brought home dead from a +fatal duel, this chain and medal which his children had so long worn. I +went down instantly, as you may suppose, to endeavor to soothe the +painful remembrances of this excellent man; gradually, he grew calmer, +and the evening was passed in a pious and quiet sadness. + +"You cannot imagine, my friend, when I returned to my chamber, what cruel +thoughts came to my mind, as I recalled those past events, from which I +generally turn away with fear and horror. Then I saw once more the +victims of those terrible and mysterious plots, the awful depths of which +have never been penetrated thanks to the death of Father d'A. and Father +R., and the incurable madness of Madame de St.-D., the three authors or +accomplices of the dreadful deeds. The calamities occasioned by them are +irreparable; for those who were thus sacrificed to a criminal ambition, +would have been the pride of humanity by the good they would have done. +Ah, my friend! if you had known those noble hearts; if you had known the +projects of splendid charity, formed by that young lady, whose heart was +so generous, whose mind so elevated, whose soul so great! On the eve of +her death, as a kind of prelude to her magnificent designs, after a +conversation, the subject of which I must keep secret, even from you, she +put into my hands a considerable sum, saying, with her usual grace and +goodness: "I have been threatened with ruin, and it might perhaps come. +What I now confide to you will at least be safe--safe--for those who +suffer. Give much--give freely--make as many happy hearts as you can. +My happiness shall have a royal inauguration!!" I do not know whether I +ever told you, my friend, that, after those fatal events, seeing Dagobert +and his wife reduced to misery, poor "Mother Bunch" hardly able to earn a +wretched subsistence, Agricola soon to become a father, and myself +deprived of my curacy, and suspended by my bishop, for having given +religious consolations to a Protestant, and offered up prayers at the +tomb of an unfortunate suicide--I considered myself justified in +employing a small portion of the sum intrusted to me by Mdlle. de +Cardoville in the purchase of this farm in Dagobert's name. + +"Yes, my friend, such is the origin of my fortune. The farmer to whom +these few acres formerly belonged, gave us the rudiments of our +agricultural education, and common sense, and the study of a few good +practical books, completed it. From an excellent workman, Agricola has +become an equally excellent husbandman; I have tried to imitate him, and +have put my hand also to the plough there is no derogation in it, for the +labor which provides food for man is thrice hallowed, and it is truly to +serve and glorify God, to cultivate and enrich the earth He has created. +Dagobert, when his first grief was a little appeased, seemed to gather +new vigor from this healthy life of the fields; and, during his exile in +Siberia, he had already learned to till the ground. Finally, my dear +adopted mother and sister, and Agricola's good wife, have divided between +them the household cares; and God has blessed this little colony of +people, who, alas! have been sorely tried by misfortune, and who now only +ask of toil and solitude, a quite, laborious, innocent life, and oblivion +of great sorrows. Sometimes, in our winter evenings, you have been able +to appreciate the delicate and charming mind of the gentle "Mother +Bunch," the rare poetical imagination of Agricola, the tenderness of his +mother, the good sense of his father, the exquisite natural grace of +Angela. Tell me, my friend, was it possible to unite more elements of +domestic happiness? What long evenings have we passed round the fire of +crackling wood, reading, or commenting on a few immortal works, which +always warm the heart, and enlarge the soul! What sweet talk have we +had, prolonged far into the night! And then Agricola's pastorals, and +the timid literary confidences of Magdalen! And the fresh, clear voice +of Angela, joined to the deep manly tones of Agricola, in songs of simple +melody! And the old stories of Dagobert, so energetic and picturesque in +their warlike spirit! And the adorable gayety of the children, in their +sports with good old Spoil-sport, who rather lends himself to their play +than takes part in it--for the faithful, intelligent creature seems +always to be looking for somebody, as Dagobert says--and he is right. +Yes, the dog also regrets those two angels, of whom he was the devoted +guardian! + +"Do not think, my friend, that our happiness makes us forgetful. No, no; +not a day passes without our repeating, with pious and tender respect, +those names so dear to our heart. And these painful memories, hovering +forever about us, give to our calm and happy existence that shade of mild +seriousness which struck you so much. No doubt, my friend, this kind of +life, bounded by the family circle, and not extending beyond, for the +happiness or improvement of our brethren, may be set down as selfish; +but, alas! we have not the means--and though the poor man always finds a +place at our frugal table, and shelter beneath our roof, we must renounce +all great projects of fraternal action. The little revenue of our farm +just suffices to supply our wants. Alas! when I think over it, +notwithstanding a momentary regret, I cannot blame my resolution to keep +faithfully my sacred oath, and to renounce that great inheritance, which, +alas! had become immense by the death of my kindred. Yes, I believe I +performed a duty, when I begged the guardian of that treasure to reduce +it to ashes, rather than let it fall into the hands of people, who would +have made an execrable use of it, or to perjure myself by disputing a +donation which I had granted freely, voluntarily, sincerely. And yet, +when I picture to myself the realization of the magnificent views of--my +ancestor--an admirable Utopia, only possible with immense resources--and +which Mdlle. de Cardoville hoped to carry into execution, with the aid of +M. Francois Hardy, of Prince Djalma, of Marshal Simon and his daughters, +and of myself--when I think of the dazzling focus of living forces, which +such an association would have been, and of the immense influence it +might have had on the happiness of the whole human race--my indignation +and horror, as an honest man and a Christian, are excited against that +abominable Company, whose black plots nipped in their bud all those great +hopes, which promised so much for futurity. What remains now of all +these splendid projects? Seven tombs. For my grave also is dug in that +mausoleum, which Samuel has erected on the site of the house in the Rue +Neuve-Saint-Francois, and of which he remains the keeper--faithful to the +end! + +"I had written thus far, my friend, when I received your letter. So, +after having forbidden you to see me, your bishop now orders that you +shall cease to correspond with me. Your touching, painful regrets have +deeply moved me, my friend. Often have we talked together of +ecclesiastical discipline, and of the absolute power of the bishops over, +us, the poor working clergy, left to their mercy without remedy. It is +painful, but it is the law of the church, my friend, and you have sworn +to observe it. Submit as I have submitted. Every engagement is binding +upon the man of honor! My poor, dear Joseph! would that you had the +compensations which remained to me, after the rupture of ties that I so +much value. But I know too well what you must feel--I cannot go on I +find it impossible to continue this letter, I might be bitter against +those whose orders we are bound to respect. Since it must be so, this +letter shall be my last. Farewell, my friend! farewell forever. My +heart is almost broken. + +"GABRIEL DE RENNEPONT." + + + + +CHAPTER 11. + +THE REDEMPTION. + +Day was about to dawn. A rosy light, almost imperceptible, began to +glimmer in the east; but the stars still shone, sparkling with radiance, +upon the azure of the zenith. The birds awoke beneath the fresh foliage +of the great woods; and, with isolated warblings, sang the prelude of +their morning-concert. A light mist rose from the high grass, bathed in +nocturnal dew, while the calm and limpid waters of a vast lake reflected +the whitening dawn in their deep, blue mirror. Everything promised one +of those warm and joyous days, that belong to the opening of summer. + +Half-way up the slope of a hill, facing the east, a tuft of old, moss- +grown willows, whose rugged bark disappeared beneath the climbing +branches of wild honeysuckle and harebells, formed a natural harbor; and +on their gnarled and enormous roots, covered with thick moss, were seated +a man and a woman, whose white hair, deep wrinkles, and bending figures, +announced extreme old age. And yet this woman had only lately been young +and beautiful, with long black hair overshadowing her pale forehead. And +yet this man had, a short time ago, been still in the vigor of his age. +From the spot where this man and woman were reposing, could be seen the +valley, the lake, the woods, and, soaring above the woods, the blue +summit of a high mountain, from behind which the sun was about to rise. +This picture, half veiled by the pale transparency of the morning +twilight, was pleasing, melancholy, and solemn. + +"Oh, my sister!" said the old man to the woman, who was reposing with him +beneath the rustic arbor formed by the tuft of willow-trees; "oh, my +sister! how many times during the centuries in which the hand of the Lord +carried us onward, and, separated from each other, we traversed the world +from pole to pole--how many times we have witnessed this awakening of +nature with a sentiment of incurable grief!--Alas! it was but another day +of wandering--another useless day added to our life, since it brought +death no nearer!" + +"But now what happiness, oh, my brother! since the Lord has had mercy on +us, and, with us, as with all other creatures, every returning day is a +step nearer to the grave. Glory to Him! yes, glory!" + +"Glory to Him, my sister! for since yesterday, when we again met, I feel +that indescribable languor which announces the approach of death." + +"Like you, my brother, I feel my strength, already shaken, passing away +in a sweet exhaustion. Doubtless, the term of our life approaches. The +wrath of the Lord is satisfied." + +"Alas, my sister! doubtless also, the last of my doomed race, will, at +the same time, complete our redemption by his death; for the will of +heaven is manifest, that I can only be pardoned, when the last of my +family shall have disappeared from the face of the earth. To him, +holiest amongst the holiest--was reserved the favor of accomplishing this +end he who has done so much for the salvation of his brethren!" + +"Oh, yes, my brother! he who has suffered so much, and without +complaining, drunk to the dregs the bitter cup of woe--he, the minister +of the Lord, who has been his Master's image upon earth--he was fitted +for the last instrument of this redemption!" + +"Yes, for I feel, my sister, that, at this hour, the last of my race, +touching victim of slow persecution, is on the point of resigning his +angelic soul to God. Thus, even to the end, have I been fatal to my +doomed family. Lord, if Thy mercy is great, Thy anger is great +likewise!" + +"Courage and hope, my brother! Think how after the expiration cometh +pardon, and pardon is followed by a blessing. The Lord punished, in you +and your posterity, the artisan rendered wicked by misfortune and +injustice. He said to you: 'Go on! without truce or rest--and your labor +shall be vain--and every evening, throwing yourself on the hard ground, +you shall be no nearer to the end of your eternal course!'--And so, for +centuries, men without pity have said to the artisan: 'Work! work! work! +without truce or rest--and your labor shall be fruitful for all others, +but fruitless for yourself--and every evening, throwing yourself on the +hard ground, you shall be no nearer to happiness and repose; and your +wages shall only suffice to keep you alive in pain, privation, and +poverty!'" + +"Alas! alas! will it be always thus?" + +"No, no, my brother! and instead of weeping over your lost race, rejoice +for them--since their death was needed for your redemption, and in +redeeming you, heaven will redeem the artisan, cursed and feared by +those--who have laid on him the iron yoke. Yes, my brother! the time +draweth nigh--heaven's mercy will not stop with us alone. Yes, I tell +you; in us will be rescued both the WOMAN and the SLAVE of these modern +ages. The trial has been hard, brother; it has lasted throughout +eighteen centuries; but it will last no longer. Look, my brother! see +that rosy light, there in the east, gradually spreading over the +firmament! Thus will rise the sun of the new emancipation--peaceful, +holy, great, salutary, fruitful, filling the world with light and +vivifying heat, like the day-star that will soon appear in heaven!" + +"Yes, yes, my sister! I feel it. Your words are prophetic. We shall +close our heavy eyes just as we see the aurora of the day of deliverance +--a fair, a splendid day, like that which is about to dawn. Henceforth I +will only shed tears of pride and glory for those of my race, who have +died the martyrs of humanity, sacrificed by humanity's eternal enemies-- +for the true ancestors of the sacrilegious wretches, who blaspheme the +name of Jesus by giving it to their Company, were the false Scribes and +Pharisees, whom the Saviour cursed!--Yes! glory to the descendants of my +family, who have been the last martyrs offered up by the accomplices of +all slavery and all despotism, the pitiless enemies of those who wish to +think, and not to suffer in silence--of those that would feign enjoy, as +children of heaven, the gifts which the Creator has bestowed upon all the +human family. Yes, the day approaches--the end of the reign of our +modern Pharisees--the false priests, who lend their sacrilegious aid to +the merciless selfishness of the strong against the weak, by daring to +maintain in the face of the exhaustless treasures of the creation, that +God has made man for tears, and sorrow, and suffering--the false priests, +who are the agents of all oppression, and would bow to the earth, in +brutish and hopeless humiliation, the brow of every creature. No, no! +let man lift his head proudly! God made him to be noble and intelligent +free and happy." + +"Oh, my brother! your words also are prophetic. Yes, yes! the dawn of +that bright day approaches, even as the dawn of the natural day which, by +the mercy of God, will be our last on earth." + +"The last, my sister; for a strange weakness creeps over me, all matter +seems dissolving in me, and my soul aspires to mount to heaven." + +"Mine eyes are growing dim, brother; I can scarcely see that light in the +east, which lately appeared so red." + +"Sister! it is through a confused vapor that I now see the valley--the +lake--the woods. My strength fails me." + +"Blessed be God, brother! the moment of eternal rest is at hand." + +"Yes, it comes, my sister! the sweetness of the everlasting sleep takes +possession of my senses." + +"Oh, happiness! I am dying--" + +"These eyes are closing, sister!" + +"We are then forgiven!" + +"Forgiven!" + +"Oh, my brother! may this Divine redemption extend to all those who +suffer upon the earth!" + +"Die in peace, my sister! The great day has dawned--the sun is rising-- +behold!" + +"Blessed be God!" + +"Blessed be God!" + +And at the moment when those two voices ceased forever, the sun rose +radiant and dazzling, and deluged the valley with its beams. + +To M. C--P--. + +To you, my friend, I dedicated this book. To inscribe it with your name, +was to assume an engagement that, in the absence of talent, it should be +at least conscientious, sincere, and of a salutary influence, however +limited. My object is attained. Some select hearts, like yours, my +friend, have put into practice the legitimate association of labor, +capital, and intelligence, and have already granted to their workmen a +proportionate share in the profits of their industry. Others have laid +the foundations of Common Dwelling-houses, and one of the chief +capitalists of Hamburg has favored me with his views respecting an +establishment of this kind, on the most gigantic scale. + +As for the dispersion of the members of the Company of Jesus, I have +taken less part in it than other enemies of the detestable doctrines of +Loyola, whose influence and authority were far greater than mine. + +Adieu, my friend. I could have wished this work more worthy of you; but +you are indulgent, and will at least give me credit for the intentions +which dictated it. + +Believe me, +Yours truly, + +EUGENE SUE. + +Paris, 25th August, 1845. + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of The Wandering Jew, v11 +by Eugene Sue + diff --git a/old/es11v11.zip b/old/es11v11.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..575dd0f --- /dev/null +++ b/old/es11v11.zip |