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seconds of silent contemplation； a strange smile curled his lips。
Without changing his position； he glanced at Father d'Aigrigny with an
expression impossible to describe； and said to him； as he slowly counted
the wounds touching them with his flat and dirty nail： 〃Father
d'Aigrigny； what an omen！Look here！ one Renneponttwo Renneponts
three Rennepontsfour Rennepontswhere is then the fifth！Ah！ here
this wound will count for two。 They are twins。〃＇41＇ And he emitted a
little dry； bitter laugh。 Father d'Aigrigny； the cardinal； and Dr。
Baleinier； alone understood the sense of these mysterious and fatal
words； which Rodin soon completed by a terrible allusion； as he
exclaimed； with prophetic voice； and almost inspired air： 〃Yes； I say it。
The impious race will be reduced to ashes； like the fragments of this
poor flesh。 I say it； and it will be so。 I said I would liveand I do
live！〃
＇41＇ Jacques Rennepont being dead； and Gabriel out of the field； in
consequence of his donation； there remained only five persons of the
familyRose and Blanche； Djalma； Adrienne； and Hardy。
CHAPTER XXXI。
VICE AND VIRTUE。
Two days have elapsed since Rodin was miraculously restored to life。 The
reader will not have forgotten the house in the Rue Clovis； where the
reverend father had an apartment； and where also was the lodging of
Philemon； inhabited by Rose…Pompon。 It is about three o'clock in the
afternoon。 A bright ray of light； penetrating through a round hole in
the door Mother Arsene's subterraneous shop； forms a striking contrast
with the darkness of this cavern。 The ray streams full upon a melancholy
object。 In the midst of fagots and faded vegetables； and close to a
great heap of charcoal； stands a wretched bed； beneath the sheet； which
covers it； can be traced the stiff and angular proportions of a corpse。
It is the body of Mother Arsene herself； who died two days before； of the
cholera。 The burials have been so numerous； that there has been no time
to remove her remains。 The Rue Clovis is almost deserted。 A mournful
silence reigns without； often broken by the sharp whistling of the north
wind。 Between the squalls； one hears a sort of pattering。 It is the
noise of the large rats； running to and fro across the heap of charcoal。
Suddenly； another sound is heard； and these unclean animals fly to hide
themselves in their holes。 Some one is trying to force open the door；
which communicates between the shop and the passage。 It offers but
little resistance； and； in a few seconds； the worn…out lock gives way；
and a woman enters。 For a short time she stands motionless in the
obscurity of the damp and icy cave。 After a minute's hesitation； the
woman advances and the ray of light illumines the features of the
Bacchanal Queen。 Slowly； she approached the funeral couch。 Since the
death of Jacques； the alteration in the countenance of Cephyse had gone
on increasing。 Fearfully pale； with her fine black hair in disorder； her
legs and feet naked； she was barely covered with an old patched petticoat
and a very ragged handkerchief。
When she came near the bed； she cast a glance of almost savage assurance
at the shroud。 Suddenly she drew back； with a low cry of involuntary
terror。 The sheet moved with a rapid undulation； extending from the feet
to the head of the corpse。 But soon the sight of a rat； flying along the
side of the worm…eaten bedstead； explained the movement of the shroud。
Recovering from her fright； Cephyse began to look for several things； and
collected them in haste； as though she dreaded being surprised in the
miserable shop。 First； she seized a basket； and filled it with charcoal；
then； looking from side to side； she discovered in a corner an earthen
pot； which she took with a burst of ominous joy。
〃It is not all； it is not all；〃 said Cephyse； as she continued to search
with an unquiet air。
At last she perceived near the stove a little tin box； containing flint；
steel and matches。 She placed these articles on the top of the basket；
and took it in one hand； and the earthen pot in the other。 As she passed
near the corpse of the poor charcoal…dealer； Cephyse said； with a strange
smile： 〃I rob you； poor Mother Arsene； but my theft will not do me much
good。〃
Cephyse left the shop； reclosed the door as well as she could； went up
the passage； and crossed the little court…yard which separated the front
of the building from that part in which Rodin had lodged。 With the
exception of the windows of Philemon's apartment； where Rose…Pompon had
so often sat perched like a bird； warbling Beranger； the other windows of
the house were open。 There had been deaths on the first and second
floors； and； like many others； they were waiting for the cart piled up
with coffins。
The Bacchanal Queen gained the stairs； which led to the chambers formerly
occupied by Rodin。 Arrived at the landing…place she ascended another
ruinous staircase； steep as a ladder； and with nothing but an old rope
for a rail。 She at length reached the half…rotten door of a garret；
situated in the roof。 The house was in such a state of dilapidation；
that； in many places the roof gave admission to the rain； and allowed it
to penetrate into this cell； which was not above ten feet square； and
lighted by an attic window。 All the furniture consisted of an old straw
mattress； laid upon the ground； with the straw peeping out from a rent in
its ticking； a small earthenware pitcher； with the spout broken； and
containing a little water； stood by the side of this couch。 Dressed in
rags； Mother Bunch was seated on the side of the mattress； with her
elbows on her knees； and her face concealed in her thin； white hands。
When Cephyse entered the room； the adopted sister of Agricola raised her
head； her pale； mild face seemed thinner than ever； hollow with
suffering； grief； misery； her eyes； red with weeping； were fixed on her
sister with an expression of mournful tenderness。
〃I have what we want； sister；〃 said Cephyse； in a low； deep voice； 〃in
this basket there is wherewith to finish our misery。〃
Then； showing to Mother Bunch the articles she had just placed on the
floor； she added： 〃For the first time in my life； I have been a thief。
It made me ashamed and frightened； I was never intended for that or
worse。 It is a pity。〃 added she； with a sardonic smile。
After a moment's silence； the hunchback said to her sister； in a heart…
rending tone： 〃Cephysemy dear Cephyseare you quite determined to
die？〃
〃How should I hesitate？〃 answered Cephyse； in a firm voice。 〃Come；
sister； let us once more make our reckoning。 If even I could forget my
shame； and Jacques' contempt in his last moments； what would remain to
me？ Two courses only： first； to be honest； and work for my living。 But
you know that； in spite of the best will in the world； work will often
fail； as it has failed for the last few days； and； even when I got it； I
would have to live on four to five francs a week。 Live？ that is to say；
die by inches。 I know that already； and I prefer dying at once。 The
other course would be to live a life of infamyand that I will not do。
Frankly； sister； between