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that he might have betrayed himself during his delirium； when he heard
himself accused of dark intrigues with Rome； but； after some minutes of
reflection； his common sense suggested： 〃If this crafty Roman knew my
secret； he would take care not to tell me so。 He has only suspicions；
confirmed by my involuntary start just now。〃
Rodin wiped the cold sweat from his burning forehead。 The emotion of
this scene augmented his sufferings； and aggravated the danger of his
condition。 Worn out with fatigue； he could not remain long in a sitting
posture； and soon fell back upon the bed。
〃Per Bacco！〃 said the cardinal to himself； alarmed at the expression of
the Jesuit's face； 〃if he were to die before he had spoken； and so escape
the snare！〃
Then； leaning over the bed； the prelate asked： 〃What is the matter； my
very dear father？〃
〃I am weak； my lordI am in painI cannot express what I suffer。〃
〃Let us hope； my very dear father； that this crisis will have no fatal
results； but the contrary may happen； and it behooves the salvation of
your soul to make instantly the fullest confession。 Were it even to
exhaust your strength； what is this perishable body compared to eternal
life？〃
〃Of what confession do you speak； my lord？〃 said Rodin； in a feeble and
yet sarcastic tone。
〃What confession！〃 cried the amazed cardinal； 〃why； with regard to your
dangerous intrigues at Rome。〃
〃What intrigues？〃 asked Rodin。
〃The intrigues you revealed during your delirium；〃 replied the prelate；
with still more angry impatience。 〃Were not your avowals sufficiently
explicit？ Why； then； this culpable hesitation to complete them？〃
〃My avowalswere explicityou assure me？〃 said Rodin； pausing after
each word for want of breath； but without losing his energy and presence
of mind。
〃Yes； I repeat it；〃 resumed the cardinal； 〃with the exception of a few
chasms； they were most explicit。〃
〃Then why repeat them？〃 said Rodin； with the same sardonic smile on his
violet lips。
〃Why repeat them？〃 cried the angry prelate。 〃In order to gain pardon；
for if there is indulgence and mercy for the repentant sinner； there must
be condemnation and curses for the hardened criminal！〃
〃Oh； what torture！ I am dying by slow fire！〃 murmured Rodin。 〃Since I
have told all；〃 he resumed； 〃 I have nothing more to tell。 You know it
already。〃
〃I know alldoubtless； I know all；〃 replied the prelate； in a voice of
thunder； 〃but how have I learned it？ By confessions made in a state of
unconsciousness。 Do you think they will avail you anything？ No； the
moment is solemndeath is at hand； tremble to die with a sacrilegious
falsehood on your lips；〃 cried the prelate； shaking Rodin violently by
the arm； 〃dread the eternal flames； if you dare deny what you know to be
the truth。 Do you deny it？〃
〃I deny nothing；〃 murmured Rodin； with difficulty。 〃Only leave me
alone！〃
〃Then heaven inspires you；〃 said the cardinal； with a sigh of
satisfaction； and； thinking he had nearly attained his object； he
resumed； 〃Listen to the divine word； that will guide you； father。 You
deny nothing？〃
〃I wasdeliriousand cannot（oh！ how I suffer！）〃 added Rodin； by way
of parenthesis； 〃and cannot thereforedenythe nonsenseI may have
uttered！〃
〃But when this nonsense agrees with the truth；〃 cried the prelate；
furious at being again deceived in his expectation； 〃but when raving is
an involuntary； providential revelation〃
〃Cardinal Malipieriyour craft is no matchfor my agony；〃 answered
Rodin； in a failing voice。 〃The proofthat I have not told my secret
if I have a secretisthat you want to make me tell it！〃 In spite of
his pain and weakness； the Jesuit had courage to raise himself in the
bed； and look the cardinal full in the face； with a smile of bitter
irony。 After which he fell back on the pillow； and pressed his hands to
his chest； with a long sigh of anguish。
〃Damnation！ the infernal Jesuit has found me out！〃 said the cardinal to
himself； as he stamped his foot with rage。 〃He sees that he was
compromised by his first movement； he is now upon his guard； I shall get
nothing more from himunless indeed； profiting by the state of weakness
in which he is； I can； by entreaties； by threats； by terror〃
The prelate was unable to finish。 The door opened abruptly； and Father
d'Aigrigny entered the room； exclaiming with an explosion of joy：
〃Excellent news！〃
CHAPTER XXVIII。
GOOD NEWS。
By the alteration in the countenance of Father d'Aigrigny； his pale
cheek； and the feebleness of his walk； one might see that the terrible
scene in the square of Notre…Dame； had violently reacted upon his health。
Yet his face was radiant and triumphant； as he entered Rodin's chamber；
exclaiming： 〃Excellent news！〃
On these words； Rodin started。 In spite of his weakness； he raised his
head； and his eves shone with a curious； uneasy； piercing expression。
With his lean hand； he beckoned Father d'Aigrigny to approach the bed；
and said to him； in a broken voice； so weak that it was scarcely audible：
〃I am very illthe cardinal has nearly finished mebut if this
excellent newsrelates to the Rennepont affairof which I hear nothing
it might save me yet！〃
〃Be saved then！〃 cried Father d'Aigrigny； forgetting the recommendations
of Dr。 Baleinier； 〃read； rejoice！ What you foretold is beginning to be
realized！〃
So saying； he drew a paper from his pocket； and delivered it to Rodin；
who seized it with an eager and trembling hand。 Some minutes before；
Rodin would have been really incapable of continuing his conversation
with the cardinal； even if prudence had allowed him to do so； nor could
he have read a single line； so dim had his sight become。 But； at the
words of Father d'Aigrigny； he felt such a renewal of hope and vigor；
that； by a mighty effort of energy and will； he rose to a sitting
posture； and； with clear head； and look of intelligent animation； he read
rapidly the paper that Father d'Aigrigny had just delivered to him。
The cardinal； amazed at this sudden transfiguration； asked himself if he
beheld the same man； who； a few minutes before； had fallen back on his
bed； almost insensible。 Hardly had Rodin finished reading； than he
uttered a cry of stifled joy； saying； with an accent impossible to
describe： 〃ONE gone！ it works'tis well！〃 And； closing his eyes in a
kind of ecstatic transport； a smile of proud triumph overspread his face；
and rendered him still more hideous； by discovering his yellow and
gumless teeth。 His emotion was so violent； that the paper fell from his
trembling hand。
〃He has fainted；〃 cried Father d'Aigrigny； with uneasiness； as he leaned
over Rodin。 〃It is my fault； I forgot that the doctor cautioned me not
to talk to him of serious matters。〃
〃No； do not reproach yourself；〃 said Rodin； in a low voice； half…raising
himself in the bed。 〃This unexpected joy may perhaps cure me。 YesI
scarce know what I feelbut look at my cheeksit seems to me； that； for
the first time since I have been stretched on this bed of pain； they are
a little warm。〃
Rodin spoke the truth。 A slight color appeared suddenly on his livid and
icy cheeks； his voice though still very weak； became