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〃Courage； my dear father！ offer these sufferings to the Lord！〃 said Dr。
Baleinier； in a sanctified tone。 〃I told you the operation would he very
painful； but then it is salutary in proportion。 Come； you that have
shown such decisive resolution； do not fail at the last movement！〃
Rodin had closed his eyes； conquered by the first agony of pain。 He now
opened them； and looked at the doctor as if ashamed of such weakness。
And yet on the sides of his chest were four large； bleeding woundsso
violent had been the first singe。 As he again extended himself on the
bed of torture； Rodin made a sign that he wished to write。 The doctor
gave him the pen； and he wrote as follows； by way of memorandum； 〃It is
better not to lose any time。 Inform Baron Tripeaud of the warrant issued
against Leonard； so that he may be on his guard。〃
Having written this note； the Jesuit gave it to Dr。 Baleinier； to hand it
to Father d'Aigrigny； who was as much amazed as the doctor and the
cardinal； at such extraordinary presence of mind in the midst of such
horrible pain。 Rodin； with his eyes fixed on the reverend father； seemed
to wait with impatience for him to leave the room to execute his orders。
Guessing the thought of Rodin； the doctor whispered Father d'Aigrigny；
who went out。
〃Come； reverend father；〃 said the doctor； 〃we must begin again。 This
time do not move。〃
Rodin did not answer； but clasped his hands over his head； closed his
eyes； and presented his chest。 It was a strange； lugubrious； almost
fantastic spectacle。 The three priests； in their long black gowns；
leaned over this body； which almost resembled a corpse； and blowing
through their tubes into the chest of the patient； seemed as if pumping
up his blood by some magic charm。 A sickening odor of burnt flesh began
to spread through the silent chamber； and each assistant heard a slight
crackling beneath the smoking trivet； it was the skin of Rodin giving way
to the action of fire； and splitting open in four different parts of his
chest。 The sweat poured from his livid face； which it made to shine； a
few locks of his gray hair stood up stiff and moist from his temples。
Sometimes the spasms were so violent； that the veins swelled on his
stiffened arms； and were stretched like cords ready to break。
Enduring this frightful torture with as much intrepid resignation as the
savage whose glory consists in despising pain； Rodin gathered his
strength and courage from the hopewe had almost said the certaintyof
life。 Such was the make of this dauntless character； such the energy of
this powerful mind； that； in the midst of indescribable torments； his one
fixed idea never left him。 During the rare intervals of sufferingfor
pain is equal even at this degree of intensityRodin still thought of
the Rennepont inheritance； and calculated his chances； and combined his
measures； feeling that he had not a minute to lose。 Dr。 Baleinier
watched him with extreme attention； waiting for the effects of the
reaction of pain upon the patient； who seemed already to breathe with
less difficulty。
Suddenly Rodin placed his hand on his forehead； as if struck with some
new idea； and turning his head towards Dr。 Baleinier； made a sign to him
to suspend the operation。
〃I must tell you； reverend father；〃 answered the doctor。 〃that it is not
half finished； and； if we leave off； the renewal will be more painful〃
Rodin made a sign that he did not care； and that he wanted to write。
〃Gentlemen； stop a moment；〃 said Dr。 Baleinier； 〃keep down your moxas；
but do not blow the fire。〃
So the fire was to burn slowly； instead of fiercely； but still upon the
skin of the patient。 In spite of this pain； less intense； but still
sharp and keen； Rodin； stretched upon his back； began to write； holding
the paper above his head。 On the first sheet he traced some alphabetic
signs； part of a cipher known to himself alone。 In the midst of the
torture； a luminous idea had crossed his mind； fearful of forgetting it
amidst his sufferings； he now took note of it。 On another paper he wrote
the following； which was instantly delivered to Father d'Aigrigny： 〃Send
B。 immediately to Faringhea； for the report of the last few days with
regard to Djalma； and let B。 bring it hither on the instant。〃 Father
d'Aigrigny went out to execute this new order。 The cardinal approached a
little nearer to the scene of the operation； for； in spite of the bad
odor of the room； he took delight in seeing the Jesuit half roasted；
having long cherished against him the rancor of an Italian and a priest。
〃Come； reverend father；〃 said the doctor to Rodin； 〃continue to be
admirably courageous； and your chest will free itself。 You have still a
bitter moment to go throughand then I have good hope。〃
The patient resumed his former position。 The moment Father d'Aigrigny
returned； Rodin questioned him with a look； to which the reverend father
replied by a nod。 At a sign from the doctor； the four assistants began
to blow through the tubes with all their might。 This increase of torture
was so horrible； that； in spite of his self…control； Rodin gnashed his
teeth； started convulsively； and so expanded his palpitating chest； that；
after a violent spasm； there rose from his throat and lungs a scream of
terrific painbut it was free； loud； sonorous。
〃The chest is free！〃 cried the doctor； in triumph。 〃The lungs have play…
…the voice returnshe is saved！Blow； gentlemen； blow； and； reverend
father； cry out as much as you please： I shall be delighted to hear you；
for it will give you relief。 Courage！ I answer for the result。 It is a
wonderful cure。 I will publish it by sound of trumpet。〃
〃Allow me； doctor；〃 whispered Father d'Aigrigny； as he approached Dr。
Baleinier； 〃the cardinal can witness； that I claimed beforehand the
publication of this affairas a miraculous fact。〃
〃Let it be miraculous then；〃 answered Dr。 Baleinier； disappointedfor he
set some value on his own work。
On hearing he was saved； Rodin though his sufferings were perhaps worse
than ever； for the fire had now pierced the scarf…skin； assumed almost an
infernal beauty。 Through the painful contraction of his features shone
the pride of savage triumph； the monster felt that he was becoming once
more strong and powerful； and he seemed conscious the evils that his
fatal resurrection was to cause。 And so； of still writhing beneath the
flames； he pronounced these words； the first that struggled from his
chest： 〃I told you I should live！〃
〃You told us true；〃 cried the doctor； feeling his pulse； 〃the circulation
is now full and regular； the lungs are free。 The reaction is complete。
You are saved。〃
At this moment； the last shreds of cotton had burnt out。 The trivets
were withdrawn； and on the skeleton trunk of Rodin were seen four large
round blisters。 The skin still smoked； and the raw flesh was visible
beneath。 In one of his sudden movements； a lamp had been misplaced； and
one of these burns was larger than the other； presenting as it were to
the eye a double circle。 Rodin looked down upon his wounds。 After some
seconds of silent contemplation； a strange smile curled his lips。
Witho