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of the Jesuit was bathed in sweat； his naked and bony feet left their
moist print upon the stones。
〃What are you doing？ It is death！〃 cried Father d'Aigrigny； rushing
towards Rodin； to force him to lie down again。
But the latter； extending one of his skeleton arms； as hard as iron；
pushed aside Father d'Aigrigny with inconceivable vigor； considering the
state of exhaustion in which he had so long been。
〃He has the strength of a man in a fit of epilepsy；〃 said Father
d'Aigrigny； recovering his balance。
With a steady step Rodin advanced to the desk on which Dr。 Baleinier
daily wrote his prescriptions。 Seating himself before it； the Jesuit
took pen and paper； and began to write in a firm hand。 His calm； slow；
and sure movements had in them something of the deliberateness remarked
in somnambulists。 Mute and motionless； hardly knowing whether they
dreamed or not； the cardinal and Father d'Aigrigny remained staring at
the incredible coolness of Rodin； who； half…naked； continued to write
with perfect tranquillity。
〃But； father；〃 said the Abbe d'Aigrigny； advancing towards him； 〃this is
madness！〃
Rodin shrugged his shoulders； stopped him with a gesture and made him a
sign to read what he had just written。
The reverend father expected to see the ravings of a diseased brain； but
he took the note； whilst Rodin commenced another。
〃My lord；〃 exclaimed Father d'Aigrigny； 〃read this！〃
The cardinal read the paper； and returning it to the reverend father with
equal amazement； added： 〃It is full of reason； ability； and resources。
We shall thus be able to neutralize the dangerous combination of Abbe
Gabriel and Mdlle。 de Cardoville； who appear to be the most formidable
leaders of the coalition。〃
〃It is really miraculous；〃 said Father d'Aigrigny。
〃Oh； my dear father！〃 whispered the cardinal； shaking his head； 〃what a
pity that we are the only witnesses of this scene！ What an excellent
MIRACLE we could have made of it！ In one sense； it is another Raising of
Lazarus！〃
〃What an idea； my lord！〃 answered Father d'Aigrigny； in a low voice。 〃It
is perfectand we must not give it up〃
This innocent little plot was interrupted by Rodin； who； turning his
head； made a sign to Father d'Aigrigny to approach； and delivered to him
another sheet； with this note attached： 〃To be executed within an hour。〃
Having rapidly perused the paper； Father d'Aigrigny exclaimed： 〃Right！ I
had not thought of that。 Instead of being fatal； the correspondence
between Agricola and M。 Hardy may thus have the best results。 Really；〃
added the reverend father in a low voice to the prelate； while Rodin
continued to write； 〃I am quite confounded。 I readI seeand yet I can
hardly believe my eyes。 Just before； exhausted and dyingand now with
his mind as clear and penetrating as ever。 Can this be one of the
phenomena of somnambulism； in which the mind alone governs and sustains
the body？〃
Suddenly the door opened； and Dr。 Baleinier entered the room。 At sight
of Rodin； seated half…naked at the desk； with his feet upon the cold
stones； the doctor exclaimed； in a tone of reproach and alarm： 〃But； my
lordbut； fatherit is murder to let the unhappy man do this！If he is
delirious from fever； he must have the strait…waistcoat； and be tied down
in bed。〃
So saying。 Dr。 Baleinier hastily approached Rodin； and took him by the
arm。 Instead of finding the skin dry and chilly； as he expected； he
found it flexible； almost damp。 Struck with surprise； the doctor sought
to feel the pulse of the left hand； which Rodin resigned； to him； whilst
he continued working with the right。
〃What a prodigy！〃 cried the doctor； as he counted Rodin's pulse； 〃for a
week past； and even this morning； the pulse has been abrupt；
intermittent； almost insensible； and now it is firm； regularI am really
puzzledwhat then has happened？ I can hardly believe what I see；〃 added
the doctor； turning towards Father d'Aigrigny and the cardinal。
〃The reverend father； who had first lost his voice； was next seized with
such furious and violent despair caused by the receipt of bad news；〃
answered Father d'Aigrigny； 〃that we feared a moment for his life； while
now； on the contrary； the reverend father has gained sufficient strength
to go to his desk； and write for some minutes； with a clearness of
argument and expression； which has confounded both the cardinal and
myself。〃
〃There is no longer any doubt of it；〃 cried the doctor。 〃The violent
despair has caused a degree of emotion； which will admirably prepare the
reactive crisis； that I am now almost certain of producing by the
operation。〃
〃You persist in the operation？〃 whispered Father d'Aigrigny； whilst Rodin
continued to write。
〃I might have hesitated this morning； but； disposed as he now is for it；
I must profit by the moment of excitement； which will be followed by
greater depression。〃
〃Then； without the operation〃 said the cardinal。
〃This fortunate and unexpected crisis will soon be over； and the reaction
may kill him； my lord。〃
〃Have you informed him of the serious nature of the operation？〃
〃Pretty nearly； my lord。〃
〃But it is time to bring him to the point。〃
〃That is what I will do； my lord；〃 said Dr。 Baleinier； and approaching
Rodin； who continued to write； he thus addressed him； in a firm voice：
〃My reverend father； do you wish to be up and well in a week？〃
Rodin nodded； full of confidence； as much as to say： 〃I am up already。〃
〃Do not deceive yourself；〃 replied the doctor。 〃This crisis is
excellent； but it will not last； and if we would profit by it； we must
proceed with the operation of which I have spoken to youor； I tell you
plainly； I answer for nothing after such a shock。〃
Rodin was the more struck with these words； as； half an hour ago； he had
experienced the short duration of the improvement occasioned by Father
d'Aigrigny's good news； and as already he felt increased oppression on
the chest。
Dr。 Baleinier； wishing to decide him； added： 〃In a word； father； will you
live or die？〃
Rodin wrote rapidly this answer； which he gave to the doctor： 〃To live； I
would let you cut me limb from limb。 I am ready for anything。〃 And he
made a movement to rise。
〃I must tell you； reverend father； so as not to take you by surprise；〃
added Dr。 Baleinier； 〃that this operation is cruelly painful。〃
Rodin shrugged his shoulders and wrote with a firm hand： 〃Leave me my
head； you may take all the rest。〃
The doctor read these words aloud； and the cardinal and Father d'Aigrigny
looked at each other in admiration of this dauntless courage。
〃Reverend father；〃 said Dr。 Baleinier； 〃you must lie down。〃
Rodin wrote： 〃Get everything ready。 I have still some orders to write。
Let me know when it is time。〃
Then folding up a paper； which he had sealed with a wafer； Rodin gave
these words to Father d'Aigrigny： 〃Send this note instantly to the agent
who addressed the anonymous letters to Marshal Simon。〃
〃Instantly； reverend father；〃 replied the abbe； 〃I will employ a sure
messenger。〃
〃Reverend father；〃 said Baleinier to Rodin； 〃since you must write； lie
down in bed； and write there； during our little preparation