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〃Yes； and then you will find that the result I have obtained is
considerable； and〃
Rodin paused； and； pressing his hand to his forehead； said to himself：
〃It is strange！〃
〃What is the matter？〃 said the princess； with interest。
〃Nothing； madame；〃 answered Rodin； with a shiver； 〃it is doubtless the
wine I drank； I am not accustomed to it。 I feel a slight headache； but
it will pass。〃
〃Your eyes are very bloodshot； my good father； said the princess。
〃I have looked too closely into my web；〃 answered the Jesuit； with a
sinister smile； 〃and I must look again； to make Father d'Aigrigny； who
pretends to be blind； catch a glimpse of my other flies。 The two
daughters of Marshal Simon； for instance； growing sadder and more
dejected every day； at the icy barrier raised between them and their
father； and the latter thinking himself one day dishonored if he does
this； another if he does that； so that the hero of the Empire has become
weaker and more irresolute than a child。 What more remains of this
impious family？ Jacques Rennepont？ Ask Morok； to what a state of
debasement intemperance has reduced him； and towards what an abyss he is
rushing！There is my occurrence…sheet； you see to what are reduced all
the members of this family； who； six weeks ago； had each elements of
strength and union！ Behold these Renneponts； who； by the will of their
heretical ancestor； were to unite their forces to combat and crush our
Society！There was good reason to fear them； but what did I say？ That I
would act upon their passions。 What have I done？ I have acted upon
their passions。 At this hour they are vainly struggling in my webthey
are minethey are mine〃
As he was speaking； Rodin's countenance and voice had undergone a
singular alteration； his complexion； generally so cadaverous； had become
flushed； but unequally； and in patches； then； strange phenomenon！ his
eyes grew both more brilliant and more sunken； and his voice sharper and
louder。 The change in the countenance of Rodin； of which he did not
appear to be conscious； was so remarkable； that the other actors in this
scene looked at him with a sort of terror。
Deceived as to the cause of this impression； Rodin exclaimed with
indignation； in a voice interrupted by deep gaspings for breath： 〃It is
pity for this impious race； that I read upon your faces？ Pity for the
young girl； who never enters a church； and erects pagan altars in her
habitation？ Pity for Hardy； the sentimental blasphemer； the
philanthropic atheist； who had no chapel in his factory； and dared to
blend the names of Socrates； Marcus； Aurelius； and Plato； with our
Savior's？ Pity for the Indian worshipper of Brahma？ Pity for the two
sisters； who have never even been baptized？ Pity for that brute； Jacques
Rennepont？ Pity for the stupid imperial soldier； who has Napoleon for
his god； and the bulletins of the Grand Army for his gospel？ Pity for
this family of renegades； whose ancestor； a relapsed heretic； not content
with robbing us of our property； excites from his tomb； at the end of a
century and a half； his cursed race to lift their heads against us？
What！ to defend ourselves from these vipers； we shall not have the right
to crush them in their own venom？I tell you； that it is to serve
heaven； and to give a salutary example to the world； to devote； by
unchaining their own passions； this impious family to grief and despair
and death！〃
As he spoke thus； Rodin was dreadful in his ferocity； the fire of his
eyes became still more brilliant； his lips were dry and burning； a cold
sweat bathed his temples； which could be seen throbbing； an icy shudder
ran through his frame。 Attributing these symptoms to fatigue from
writing through a portion of the night； and wishing to avoid fainting； he
went to the sideboard； filled another glass with wine； which he drank off
at a draught； and returned as the cardinal said to him： 〃If your course
with regard to this family needed justification； my good father； your
last word would have victoriously justified it。 Not only are you right；
according to your own casuists； but there is nothing in your proceedings
contrary to human laws。 As for the divine law； it is pleasing to the
Lord to destroy impiety with its own weapons。
Conquered； as well as the others； by Rodin's diabolical assurance； and
brought back to a kind of fearful admiration； Father d'Aigrigny said to
him： 〃I confess I was wrong in doubting the judgment of your reverence。
Deceived by the appearance of the means employed； I could not judge of
their connection； and above all； of their results。 I now see； that；
thanks to you； success is no longer doubtful。〃
〃This is an exaggeration；〃 replied Rodin； with feverish impatience； 〃all
these passions are at work； but the moment is critical。 As the alchemist
bends over the crucible； which may give him either treasures or sudden
deathI alone at this moment〃
Rodin did not finish the sentence。 He pressed both his hands to his
forehead； with a stifled cry of pain。
〃What is the matter？〃 said Father d'Aigrigny。 〃For some moments you have
been growing fearfully pale。〃
〃I do not know 'what is the matter；〃 said Rodin； in an altered voice； 〃my
headache increasesI am seized with a sort of giddiness。〃
〃Sit down；〃 said the princess； with interest。
〃Take something；〃 said the bishop。
〃It will be nothing；〃 said Rodin； with an effort； 〃I am no milksop； thank
heaven！I had little sleep last night； it is fatiguenothing more。 I
was saying； that I alone could now direct this affair： but I cannot
execute the plan myself。 I must keep out of the way； and watch in the
shade： I must hold the threads； which I alone can manage；〃 added Rodin；
in a faint voice。
〃My good father；〃 said the cardinal uneasily； 〃I assure you that you are
very unwell。 Your paleness is becoming livid。〃
〃It is possible；〃 answered Rodin； courageously； 〃but I am not to be so
soon conquered。 To return to our affairthis is the time； in which your
qualities； Father d'Aigrigny； will turn to good account。 I have never
denied them； and they may now be of the greatest use。 You have the power
of charminggraceeloquenceyou must〃
Rodin paused again。 A cold sweat poured from his forehead。 He felt his
legs give way under him； notwithstanding his obstinate energy。
〃I confess； I am not well；〃 he said； 〃yet； this morning； I was as well as
ever。 I shiver。 I am icy cold。〃
〃Draw near the fireit is a sudden indisposition；〃 said the bishop；
offering his arm with heroic devotion； 〃it will not be anything of
consequence。〃
〃If you were to take something warm； a cup of tea；〃 said the princess；
〃Dr。 Baleinier will be here directlyhe will reassure us as to this
indisposition。〃
〃It is really inexplicable；〃 said the prelate。
At these words of the cardinal； Rodin； who had advanced with difficulty
towards the fire； turned his eyes upon the prelate； and looked at him
fixedly in a strange manner； for about a second； then； strong in his
unconquerable energy； notwithstanding the change in his features； which
were now visibly disfigured； Rodin said； in a broken voice； which he
tried to make firm： 〃The fire has warmed me； it