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This personage was Ange Modeste Rousselet； chief pupil of Dr。 Baleinier；
the countenance of the young practitioner was mild； humble； and reserved；
his hair； very short in front； flowed down upon his neck behind。 He made
a slight start in surprise on perceiving the cardinal； and bowed twice
very low； without raising his eyes。
〃Before anything else；〃 said the prelate； with his marked Italian accent；
still holding to his nose his bottle of camphor； 〃have any choleraic
symptoms returned？〃
〃No； my lord； the pernicious fever； which succeeded the attack of
cholera； still continues。〃
〃Very good。 But will not the reverend father be reasonable？ What was
the noise that I just heard？〃
〃His reverence wished absolutely to get up and dress himself； but his
weakness is so great； that he could not have taken two steps from the
bed。 He is devoured by impatience； and we fear that this agitation will
cause a mortal relapse。〃
〃Has Dr。 Baleinier been here this morning？〃
〃He has just left； my lord。〃
〃What does he think of the patient？〃
〃He finds him in the most alarming state； my lord。 The night was so bad；
that he was extremely uneasy this morning。 Father Rodin is at one of
those critical junctures； when a few hours may decide the life or death
of the patient。 Dr。 Baleinier is now gone to fetch what is necessary for
a very painful operation； which he is about to perform on the reverend
father。〃
〃Has Father d'Aigrigny been told of this？〃
〃Father d'Aigrigny is himself very unwell； as your eminence knows； he has
not been able to leave his bed for the last three days。〃
〃I inquired about him as I came up；〃 answered the prelate； 〃and I shall
see him directly。 But； to return to Father Rodin； have you sent for his
confessor； since he is in a desperate state； and about to undergo a
serious operation？〃
〃Dr。 Baleinier spoke a word to him about it； as well as about the last
sacraments； but Father Rodin exclaimed； with great irritation； that they
did not leave him a moment's peace； that he had as much care as any one
for his salvation； and that〃
〃Per Bacco！ I am not thinking of him；〃 cried the cardinal； interrupting
Ange Modeste Rousselet with his pagan oath； and raising his sharp voice
to a still higher key； 〃I am not thinking of him； but of the interests of
the Company。 It is indispensable that the reverend father should receive
the sacraments with the most splendid solemnity； and that his end should
not only be Christian； but exemplary。 All the people in the house； and
even strangers； should be invited to the spectacle； so that his edifying
death may produce an excellent sensation。〃
〃That is what Fathers Grison and Brunet have already endeavored to
persuade his reverence； my lord； but your Eminence knows with what
impatience Father Rodin received this advice； and Dr。 Baleinier did not
venture to persist； for fear of advancing a fatal crisis。〃
〃Well； I will venture to do it； for in these times of revolutionary
impiety； a solemnly Christian death would produce a very salutary effect
on the public。 It would indeed be proper to make the necessary
preparations to embalm the reverend father： he might then lie in state
for some days； with lighted tapers； according to Romish custom。 My
secretary would furnish the design for the bier； it would be very
splendid and imposing； from his position in the Order； Father Rodin is
entitled to have everything in the most sumptuous style。 He must have at
least six hundred tapers； and a dozen funeral lamps； burning spirits of
wine； to hang just over the body； and light it from above： the effect
would be excellent。 We must also distribute little tracts to the people；
concerning the pious and ascetic life of his reverence〃
Here a sudden noise； like that of some piece of metal thrown angrily on
the floor； was heard from the next room； in which was the sick man； and
interrupted the prelate in his description。
〃I hope Father Rodin has not heard you talk of embalming him； my lord；〃
said Rousselet； in a whisper： 〃his bed touches the partition； and almost
everything is audible through it。〃
〃If Father Rodin has heard me；〃 answered the cardinal； sinking his voice；
and retiring to the other end of the room； 〃this circumstance will enable
me to enter at once on the business； but； in any case； I persist in
believing that the embalming and the lying in state are required to make
a good effect upon the public。 The people are already frightened at the
cholera； and such funeral pomp would have no small influence on the
imagination。〃
〃I would venture to observe to your Eminence； that here the laws are
opposed to such exhibitions。〃
〃The lawsalready the laws！〃 said the cardinal； angrily； 〃has not Rome
also her laws？ And is not every priest a subject of Rome？ Is it not
time〃
But； not choosing； doubtless； to begin a more explicit conversation with
the young doctor； the prelate resumed； 〃We will talk of this hereafter。
But； tell me； since my last visit； has the reverend father had any fresh
attacks of delirium？〃
〃Yes； my lord； here is the note； as your Eminence commanded。〃 So saying
Rousselet delivered a paper to the prelate。 We will inform the reader
that this part of the conversation between Rousselet and the cardinal was
carried on at a distance from the partition； so that Rodin could hear
nothing of it； whilst that which related to the embalming had been
perfectly audible to him。
The cardinal； having received the note from Rousselet； perused it with an
expression of lively curiosity。 When he had finished； he crumpled it in
his hand； and said； without attempting to dissemble his vexation； 〃Always
nothing but incoherent expression。 Not two words together； from which
you can draw any reasonable conclusion。 One would really think this man
had the power to control himself even in his delirium； and to rave about
insignificant matters only。〃
Then； addressing Rousselet； 〃You are sure that you have reported
everything that escaped from him during his delirium？〃
〃With the exception of the same phrases； that he repeated over and over
again； your Eminence may be assured that I have not omitted a single
word； however unmeaning。〃
〃Show me into Father Rodin's room；〃 said the prelate； after a moment's
silence。
〃But； my lord；〃 answered the young doctor； with some hesitation； 〃the fit
has only left him about an hour； and the reverend father is still very
weak。〃
〃The more the reason；〃 replied the prelate； somewhat indiscreetly。
Then； recollecting himself； he added； 〃He will the better appreciate the
consolations I have to offer。 Should he be asleep； awake him； and
announce my visit。〃
〃I have only orders to receive from your Eminence；〃 said Rousselet；
bowing； and entering the next room。
Left alone； the cardinal said to himself； with a pensive air； 〃I always
come back to that。 When he was suddenly attacked by the cholera； Father
Rodin believed himself poisoned by order of the Holy See。 He must then
have been plotting something very formidable against Rome； to entertain
so abominable a fear。 Can our suspicions be well founded？ Is he acting
secretly and powerfully on the Sac