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Rodin spoke the truth。 A slight color appeared suddenly on his livid and
icy cheeks； his voice though still very weak； became less tremulous； and
he exclaimed； in a tone of conviction that startled Father d'Aigrigny and
the prelate； 〃This first success answers for the others。 I read the
future。 Yes； yes； our cause will triumph。 Every member of the execrable
Rennepont family will be crushedand that soon you will see〃
Then； pausing； Rodin threw himself back on the pillow； exclaiming： 〃Oh！ I
am choked with joy。 My voice fails me。〃
〃But what is it？〃 asked the cardinal of Father d'Aigrigny。
The latter replied； in a tone of hypocritical sanctity： 〃One of the heirs
of the Rennepont family； a poor fellow； worn out with excesses and
debauchery； died three days ago； at the close of some abominable orgies；
in which he had braved the cholera with sacrilegious impiety。 In
consequence of the indisposition that kept me at home； and of another
circumstance； I only received to…day the certificate of the death of this
victim of intemperance and irreligion。 I must proclaim it to the praise
of his reverence〃pointing to Rodin〃that he told me； the worst enemies
of the descendants of that infamous renegade would be their own bad
passions； and that the might look to them as our allies against the whole
impious race。 And so it has happened with Jacques Rennepont。〃
〃You see；〃 said Rodin； in so faint a voice that it was almost
unintelligible； 〃the punishment begins already。 One of the Renneponts is
deadand believe methis certificate；〃 and he pointed to the paper that
Father d'Aigrigny held in his hand； 〃will one day be worth forty millions
to the Society of Jesusand thatbecause〃
The lips alone finished the sentence。 During some seconds； Rodin's voice
had become so faint； that it was at last quite imperceptible。 His
larynx； contracted by violent emotion； no longer emitted any sound。 The
Jesuit； far from being disconcerted by this incident； finished his
phrase； as it were； by expressive pantomime。 Raising his head proudly he
tapped his forehead with his forefinger； as if to express that it was to
his ability this first success was owing。 But he soon fell back again on
the bed； exhausted； breathless； sinking； with his cotton handkerchief
pressed once more to his parched lips。 The good news； as Father
d'Aigrigny called it； had not cured Rodin。 For a moment only； he had had
the courage to forget his pain。 But the slight color on his cheek soon
disappeared； his face became once more livid。 His sufferings； suspended
for a moment； were so much increased in violence； that he writhed beneath
the coverlet； and buried his face in the pillow； extending his arms above
his head； and holding them stiff as bars of iron。 After this crisis；
intense as it was rapid： during which Father d'Aigrigny and the prelate
bent anxiously over him； Rodin； whose face was bathed in cold sweat； made
a sign that he suffered less； and that he wished to drink of a potion to
which he pointed。 Father d'Aigrigny fetched it for him； and while the
cardinal held him up with marked disgust； the abbe administered a few
spoonfuls of the potion； which almost immediately produced a soothing
effect。
〃Shall I call M。 Rousselet？〃 said Father d'Aigrigny； when Rodin was once
more laid down in bed。
Rodin shook his head； then； with a fresh effort； he raised his right
hand； opened it； and pointed with his forefinger to a desk in a corner of
the room； to signify that； being no longer able to speak； he wished to
write。
〃I understand your reverence；〃 said Father d'Aigrigny； 〃but first calm
yourself。 Presently； if you require it。 I will give you writing…
materials。〃
Two knocks at the outer door of the next room interrupted this scene。
From motives of prudence； Father d'Aigrigny had begged Rousselet to
remain in the first of the three rooms。 He now went to open the door；
and Rousselet handed him a voluminous packet； saying： 〃I beg pardon for
disturbing you； father； but I was told to let you have these papers
instantly。〃
〃Thank you； M。 Rousselet；〃 said Father d'Aigrigny； 〃do you know at what
hour Dr。 Baleinier will return？〃
〃He will not be long； father； for he wishes to perform before night the
painful operation； that will have a decisive effect on the condition of
Father Rodin。 I am preparing what is necessary for it；〃 added Rousselet；
as he pointed to a singular and formidable apparatus； which Father
d'Aigrigny examined with a kind of terror。
〃I do not know if the symptom is a serious one；〃 said the Jesuit； 〃but
the reverend father has suddenly lost his voice。〃
〃It is the third time this has happened within the last week；〃 said
Rousselet； 〃the operation of Dr。 Baleiner will act both on the larynx and
on the lungs。〃
〃Is the operation a very painful one？〃 asked Father d'Aigrigny。
〃There is； perhaps； none more cruel in surgery；〃 answered the young
doctor； 〃and Dr。 Baleinier has partly concealed its nature from Father
Rodin。〃
〃Please to wait here for Dr。 Baleinier； and send him to us as soon as he
arrives；〃 resumed Father d'Aigrigny： and； returning to the sick chamber；
he sat down by the bedside； and said to Rodin； as he showed him the
letter： 〃Here are different reports with regard to different members of
the Rennepont family； whom I have had looked after by others； my
indisposition having kept me at home for the last few days。 I do not
know； father； if the state of your health will permit you to hear〃
Rodin made a gesture； at once so supplicating and peremptory； that Father
d'Aigrigny felt there would be at least as much danger in refusing as in
granting his request； so； turning towards the cardinal； still
inconsolable at not having discovered the Jesuit's secret； he said to him
with respectful deference； pointing at the same time to the letter： 〃Have
I the permission of your Eminence？〃
The prelate bowed； and replied： 〃Your affairs are ours； my dear father。
The Church must always rejoice in what rejoices your glorious Company。〃
Father d'Aigrigny unsealed the packet； and found in it different notes in
different handwritings。 When he had read the first； his countenance
darkened； and he said； in a grave tone： 〃A misfortunea great
misfortune。〃
Rodin turned his head abruptly； and looked at him with an air of uneasy
questioning。
〃Florine is dead of the cholera；〃 answered Father d'Aigrigny； 〃and what
is the worst；〃 added he； crumpling the note between his hands； 〃before
dying； the miserable creature confessed to Mdlle。 de Cardoville that she
long acted as a spy under the orders of your reverence。〃
No doubt the death of Florine； and the confession she had made； crossed
some of the plans of Rodin； for he uttered an inarticulate murmur； and
his countenance expressed great vexation。
Passing to another note； Father d'Aigrigny continued： 〃This relates to
Marshal Simon； and is not absolutely bad； but still far from
satisfactory； as it announces some amelioration in his position。 We
shall see if it merits belief； by information from another source。〃 ‘
Rodin made a sign of impatience； to hasten Father d'Aigrigny to read the
note； which he did as foll