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in the salvation of soulsthe belief； as the reverend father adroitly
added； that by faith alone can sorrow be made useful to humanity； and
acceptable to Divinity。
Whatever impiety； whatever atrocious Machiavelism there was in these
detestable maxims； which make of a loving…kind Deity a being delighted
with the tears of his creatures； was thus skillfully concealed from
Hardy's eyes； whose generous instincts were still alive。 Soon did this
loving and tender soul； whom unworthy priests were driving to a sort of
moral suicide； find a mournful charm in the fiction； that his sorrows
would at least be profitable to other men。 It was at first only a
fiction； but the enfeebled mind which takes pleasure in such a fable；
finishes by receiving it as a reality； and by degrees will submit to the
consequences。 Such was Hardy's moral and physical state； when； by means
of a servant who had been bought over； he received from Agricola Baudoin
a letter requesting an interview。 Alone； the workman could not have
broken the band of the Jesuit's pleadings； but he was accompanied by
Gabriel； whose eloquence and reasonings were of a most convincing nature
to a spirit like Hardy's。
It is unnecessary to point out to the reader； with what dignified reserve
Gabriel had confined himself to the most generous means of rescuing Hardy
from the deadly influence of the reverend fathers。 It was repugnant to
the great soul of the young missionary； to stoop to a revelation of the
odious plots of these priests。 He would only have taken this extreme
course； had his powerful and sympathetic words have failed to have any
effect on Hardy's blindness。 About a quarter of an hour had elapsed
since Gabriel's departure； when the servant appointed to wait on this
boarder of the reverend fathers entered and delivered to him a letter。
〃From whom is this？〃 asked Hardy。
〃From a boarder in the house； sir；〃 answered the servant bowing。
This man had a crafty hypocritical face； he wore his hair combed over his
forehead； spoke in a low voice； and always cast clown his eyes。 Waiting
the answer； he joined his hands； and began to twiddle his thumbs。 Hardy
opened the letter； and read as follows：
〃SIR；I have only just heard； by mere chance； that you also inhabit this
respectable house： a long illness； and the retirement in which I live；
will explain my ignorance of your being so near。 Though we have only met
once； sir； the circumstance which led to that meeting was of so serious a
nature； that I cannot think you have forgotten it。
Hardy stopped； and tasked his memory for an explanation； and not finding
anything to put him on the right track； he continued to read：
〃This circumstance excited in me a feeling of such deep and respectful
sympathy for you； sir； that I cannot resist my anxious desire to wait
upon you； particularly as I learn； that you intend leaving this house to…
daya piece of information I have just derived from the excellent and
worthy Abbe Gabriel； one of the men I most love； esteem； and reverence。
May I venture to hope； sir； that just at the moment of quitting our
common retreat to return to the world； you will deign to receive
favorably the request； however intrusive； of a poor old man； whose life
will henceforth be passed in solitude； and who cannot therefore have any
prospect of meeting you； in that vortex of society which he has abandoned
forever。 Waiting the honor of your answer； I beg you to accept； sir； the
assurance of the sentiments of high esteem with which I remain； sir； with
the deepest respect；
〃Your very humble and most obedient servant；
〃RODIN。〃
After reading this letter and the signature of the writer； Hardy remained
for some time in deep thought； without being able to recollect the name
of Rodin； or to what serious circumstances he alluded。
After a silence of some duration； he said to the servant 〃M。 Rodin gave
you this letter？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃And who is M。 Rodin？〃
〃A good old gentleman； who is just recovering from a long illness； that
almost carried him off。 Lately； he has been getting better； but he is
still so weak and melancholy； that it makes one sad to see him。 It is a
great pity； for there is not a better and more worthy gentleman in the
houseunless it be you； sir；〃 added the servant； bowing with an air of
flattering respect。
〃M。 Rodin；〃 said Hardy； thoughtfully。 〃It is singular； that I should not
remember the name nor any circumstance connected with it。〃
〃If you will give me your answer； sir；〃 resumed the servant； 〃I will take
it to M。 Rodin。 He is now with Father d'Aigrigny； to whom he is bidding
farewell。〃
〃Farewell？〃
〃Yes； sir； the post…horses have just come。〃
〃Post…horses for whom？〃 asked Hardy。
〃For Father d'Aigrigny； sir。〃
〃He is going on a journey then！〃 said Hardy； with some surprise。
〃Oh！ he will not； I think be long absent；〃 said the servant； with a
confidential air； 〃for the reverend father takes no one with him； and but
very light luggage。 No doubt； the reverend father will come to say
farewell to you； sir； before he starts。 But what answer shall I give M。
Rodin？〃
The letter； just received； was couched in such polite termsit spoke of
Gabriel with so much respectthat Hardy； urged moreover by a natural
curiosity； and seeing no motive to refuse this interview before quitting
the house； said to the servant： 〃Please tell M。 Rodin； that if he will
give himself the trouble to come to me； I shall be glad to see him。〃
〃I will let him know immediately； sir；〃 answered the servant； bowing as
he left the room。
When alone； Hardy； while wondering who this M。 Rodin could be； began to
make some slight preparations for his departure。 For nothing in the
world would he have passed another night in this house； and； in order to
keep up his courage； he recalled every instant the mild； evangelical
language of Gabriel； just as the superstitious recite certain litanies；
with a view of escaping from temptation。
The servant soon returned； and said： 〃M。 Rodin is here； sir。〃
〃Beg him to walk in。〃
Rodin entered； clad in his long black dressing…gown； and with his old
silk cap in his hand。 The servant then withdrew。 The day was just
closing。 Hardy rose to meet Rodin； whose features he did not at first
distinguish。 But as the reverend father approached the window； Hardy
looked narrowly at him for an instant； and then uttered an exclamation；
wrung from him by surprise and painful remembrance。 But； recovering
himself from this first movement； Hardy said to the Jesuit； in an
agitated voice： 〃You here； sir？ Oh； you are right！ It was indeed a very
serious circumstance that first brought us together。〃
〃Oh； my dear sir！〃 said Rodin； in a kindly and unctuous tone； 〃I was sure
you would not have forgotten me。〃
CHAPTER XLIII。
PRAYER。
It will doubtless be remembered that Rodin had gone （although a stranger
to Hardy） to visit him at his factory； and inform him of De Blessac's
shameful treacherya dreadful blow； which had only preceded by a few
moments a second no less horrible misfortune； for it was in the presence
of Rodin that Hardy had learned the unexpected departure of the woma