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intense pain。 He did not boldly attack the criminal； but he turned away
from him in pity and sorrow。 And then his loving heart； so full of
feminine delicacy； had an irresistible longing for the blessed contact of
dear affections； they alone could keep it alive。 Even as a poor； frail
bird dies with the cold； when it can no longer lie close to its brethren；
and receive and communicate the sweet warmth of the maternal nest。 And
now this sensitive organization； this extremely susceptible nature；
receives blow after blow from sorrows and deceptions； one of which would
suffice to shake； if it did not conquer； the firmest and most resolute
character。 Hardy's best friend has infamously betrayed him。 His adored
mistress has abandoned him。
The house which he had founded for the benefit of his workmen； whom he
loved as brethren； is reduced to a heap of ashes。 What then happens？
All the springs of his soul are at once broken。 Too feeble to resist
such frightful attacks； too fatally deceived to seek refuge in other
affections； too much discouraged to think of laying the first stone of
any new edificethis poor heart； isolated from every salutary influence；
finds oblivion of the world and of itself in a kind of gloomy torpor。
And if some remaining instincts of life and affection； at long intervals；
endeavored to rouse themselves within him； and if； half…opening his
mind's eye； which he had kept closed against the present； the past； and
the future； Hardy looks around himwhat does he see？ Only these
sentences； so full of terrible despair：
〃Thou art nothing but dust and ashes。 Grief and tears art thy portion。
Believe not in any son of man。 There are no such things as friendship or
ties of kindred。 All human affections are false。 Die in the morning；
and thou wilt be forgotten before night。 Be humbledespise thyselfand
let others despise thee。 Think not； reason not； live notbut commit thy
fate to the hands of a superior； who will think and reason for thee。
Weep； suffer； think upon death。 Yes； death！ always deaththat should be
thy thought when thou thinkestbut it is better not to think at all。
Let a feeling of ceaseless woe prepare thy way to heaven。 It is only by
sorrow that we are welcome to the terrible God whom we adore！〃
Such were the consolations offered to this unfortunate man。 Affrighted；
he again closed his eyes； and fell back into his lethargy。 As for
leaving this gloomy retreat； he could not； or rather he did not desire to
do so。 He had lost the power of will； and then； it must be confessed； he
had finished by getting accustomed to this house； and liked it wellthey
paid him such discreet attentions； and yet left him so much alone with
his griefthere reigned all around such a death…like silence； which
harmonized closely with the silence of his heart； and that was now the
tomb of his last love； last friendship； last hope。 All energy was dead
within him！ Then began that slow； but inevitable transformation； so
judiciously foreseen by Rodin； who directed the whole of this
machination； even in its smallest details。 At first alarmed by the
dreadful maxims which surrounded him； M。 Hardy had at length accustomed
himself to read them over almost mechanically； just as the captive； in
his mournful hours of leisure； counts the nails in the door of his
prison； or the bars of the grated window。 This was already a great point
gained by the reverend fathers。
And soon his weakened mind was struck with the apparent correctness of
these false and melancholy aphorisms。
Thus he read： 〃Do not count upon the affection of any human creature〃
and he had himself been shamefully betrayed。
〃Man is born to sorrow and despair〃and he was himself despairing。
〃There is no rest save in the cessation of thought〃and the slumber of
his mind had brought some relief to his pain。
Peepholes； skillfully concealed by the hangings and in the wainscoting of
these apartments； enabled the reverend fathers at all times to see and
hear the boarders； and above all to observe their countenance and manner；
when they believed themselves to be alone。 Every exclamation of grief
which escaped Hardy in his gloomy solitude； was repeated to Father
d'Aigrigny by a mysterious listener。 The reverend father； following
scrupulously Rodin's instructions； had at first visited his boarder very
rarely。 We have said； that when Father d'Aigrigny wished it； he could
display an almost irresistible power of charming； and accordingly he
threw all his tact and skill into the interviews he had with Hardy； when
he came from time to time to inquire after his health。 Informed of
everything by his spies； and aided by his natural sagacity； he soon saw
all the use that might be made of the physical and moral prostration of
the boarder。 Certain beforehand that Hardy would not take the hint； he
spoke to him frequently of the gloom of the house； advising him
affectionately to leave it； if he felt oppressed by its monotony； or at
all events to seek beyond its walls for some pleasure and amusement。 To
speak of pleasure and amusement to this unfortunate man； was in his
present state to insure a refusal； and so it of course happened。 Father
d'Aigrigny did not at first try to gain the recluse's confidence； nor did
he speak to him of sorrow； but every time he came； he appeared to take
such a tender interest in him； and showed it by a few simple and well…
timed words。 By degrees； these interviews； at first so rare； became more
frequent and longer。 Endowed with a flow of honeyed； insinuating； and
persuasive eloquence； Father d'Aigrigny naturally took for his theme
those gloomy maxims； to which Hardy's attention was now so often
directed。
Supple； prudent； skillful； knowing that the hermit had hitherto professed
that generous natural religion which teaches the grateful adoration of
God； the love of humanity； the worship of what is just and good； and
which； disdaining dogmas； professes the same veneration for Marcus
Aurelius as for Confucius； for Plato as for Christ； for Moses as for
LycurgusFather d'Aigrigny did not at first attempt to convert him； but
began by incessantly reminding him of the abominable deceptions practised
upon him； and； instead of describing such treachery as an exception in
lifeinstead of trying to calm； encourage； and revive his drooping soul…
…instead of exhorting Hardy to seek oblivion and consolation in the
discharge of his duties toward humanity； towards his brethren； whom he
had previously loved and succored Father d'Aigrigny strove to inflame
the bleeding wounds of the unfortunate man； painted the human race in the
most atrocious blackness； and； by declaring all men treacherous；
ungrateful； wicked； succeeded in rendering his despair incurable。 Having
attained this object； the Jesuit took another step。 Knowing Hardy's
admirable goodness of heart； and profiting by the weakened state of his
mind； he spoke to him of the consolation to be derived by a man
overwhelmed with sorrow； from the belief that every one of his tears；
instead of being unfruitful； was in fact agreeable to God； and might aid
in the salvation of soulsthe belief； as the reverend father adro