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〃Yes； father； I have seen himand my dear brother Gabriel saw him and
spoke to himhow he speaks！ with a voice that comes from the heart！and
he had so revived and encouraged him； that M。 Hardy consented to return
amongst us。 Then I； wild with joy； ran to tell the good news to some of
my mates； who were waiting to hear the result of nay interview with M。
Hardy。 I brought them all with me to thank and bless him。 We were
within a hundred yards of the house belonging to the black…gowns〃
〃Ali； the black…gowns！〃 said Dagobert； with a gloomy air。 〃Then some
mischief will happen。 I know them。〃
〃You are not mistaken； father；〃 answered Agricola； with a sigh。 〃I was
running on with my comrades； when I saw a carriage coming towards us。
Some presentiment told me that they were taking away M。 Hardy。〃
〃By force！〃 said Dagobert； hastily。
〃No；〃 answered Agricola； bitterly； 〃nothe priests are too cunning for
that。 They know how to make you an accomplice in the evil they do you。
Shall I not always remember how they managed with my good mother？〃
〃Yes； the worthy woman！ there was a poor fly caught in the spider's web。
But this carriage； of which you speak？〃
〃On seeing it start from the house of the black…gowns；〃 replied Agricola；
〃my heart sank within me； and； by an impulse stronger than myself； I
rushed to the horses' heads； calling on my comrades to help me。 But the
postilion knocked me down and stunned me with a blow from his whip。 When
I recovered my senses； the carriage was already far away。〃
〃You were not hurt？〃 cried Dagobert； anxiously； as he examined his son
from top to toe。
〃No； father； a mere scratch。〃
〃What did you next； my boy？〃
〃I hastened to our good angel； Mdlle。 de Cardoville； and told her all。
‘You must follow M。 Hardy on the instant；' said she to me。 ‘Take my
carriage and post…horses。 Dupont will accompany you； follow M。 Hardy
from stage to stage； should you succeed in overtaking him your presence
and your prayers may perhaps conquer the fatal influence that these
priests have acquired over him。'〃
〃It was the best advice she could give you。 That excellent young lady is
always right。〃
〃An hour after； we were upon our way； for we learned by the returned
postilions； that M。 Hardy had taken the Orleans road。 We followed him as
far as Etampes。 There we heard that he had taken a cross…road； to reach
a solitary house in a valley about four leagues from the highway。 They
told us that this house called the Val…de…St。 Herem； belonged to certain
priests； and that； as the night was so dark； and the road so bad； we had
better sleep at the inn； and start early in the morning。 We followed
this advice； and set out at dawn。 In a quarter of an hour； we quitted
the high…road for a mountainous and desert track。 We saw nothing but
brown rocks； and a few birch trees。 As we advanced； the scene became
wilder and wilder。 We might have fancied ourselves a hundred leagues
from Paris。 At last we stopped in front of a large； old； black…looking
house with only a few small windows in it； and built at the foot of a
high； rocky mountain。 In my whole life I have never seen anything so
deserted and sad。 We got out of the carriage； and I rang the bell。 A
man opened the door。 ‘Did not the Abbe d'Aigrigny arrive here last night
with a gentleman？' said I to this man； with a confidential air。 ‘Inform
the gentleman directly； that I come on business of importance； and that I
must see him forthwith。'The man； believing me an accomplice； showed us
in immediately； a moment after； the Abbe d'Aigrigny opened the door； saw
me； and drew back； yet； in five minutes more； I was in presence of M。
Hardy。〃
〃Well！〃 said Dagobert； with interest。
Agricola shook his head sorrowfully； and replied： 〃I knew by the very
countenance of M。 Hardy； that all was over。 Addressing me in a mild but
firm voice； he said to me： ‘I understand； I can even excuse； the motives
that bring you hither。 But I am quite determined to live henceforth in
solitude and prayer。 I take this resolution freely and voluntarily；
because I would fain provide for the salvation of my soul。 Tell your
fellows that my arrangements will be such as to leave them a good
remembrance of me。'And as I was about to speak； M。 Hardy interrupted
me； saying： ‘It is useless； my friend。 My determination is unalterable。
Do not write to me； for your letters would remain unanswered。 Prayer
will henceforth be my only occupation。 Excuse me for leaving you； but I
am fatigued from my journey！'He spoke the truth for he was as pale as a
spectre； with a kind of wildness about the eyes； and so changed since the
day before； as to be hardly the same man。 His hand； when he offered it
on parting from me； was dry and burning。 The Abbe d'Aigrigny soon came
in。 ‘Father；' said M。 Hardy to him； ‘have the goodness to see M。 Baudoin
to the door。'So saying； he waved his hand to me in token of farewell；
and retired to the next chamber。 All was over； he is lost to us
forever。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Dagobert； 〃those black…gowns have enchanted him； like so many
others。〃
〃In despair；〃 resumed Agricola； 〃I returned hither with M。 Dupont。 This；
then； is what the priests have made of M。 Hardyof that generous man；
who supported nearly three hundred industrious workmen in order and
happiness； increasing their knowledge； improving their hearts； and
earning the benediction of that little people； of which he was the
providence。 Instead of all this； M。 Hardy is now forever reduced to a
gloomy and unavailing life of contemplation。〃
〃Oh； the black…gowns！〃 said Dagobert； shuddering； and unable to conceal a
vague sense of fear。 〃The longer I live； the more I am afraid of them。
You have seen what those people did to your poor mother； you see what
they have just done to M。 Hardy； you know their plots against my two poor
orphans； and against that generous young lady。 Oh； these people are very
powerful！ I would rather face a battalion of Russian grenadiers； than a
dozen of these cassocks。 But don't let's talk of it。 I have causes
enough beside for grief and fear。〃
Then seeing the astonished look of Agricola； the soldier； unable to
restrain his emotion； threw himself into the arms of his son； exclaiming
with a choking voice： 〃I can hold out no longer。 My heart is too full。
I must speak； and whom shall I trust if not you？〃
〃Father； you frighten me！〃 said Agricola； 〃What is the matter？〃
〃Why； you see； had it not been for you and the two poor girls； I should
have blown out my brains twenty times over rather than see what I see
and dread what I do。〃
〃What do you dread； father？〃
〃Since the last few days； I do not know what has come over the marshal
but he frightens me。〃
〃Yet in his last interviews with Mdlle。 de Cardoville 〃
〃Yes； he was a little better。 By her kind words； this generous young
lady poured balm into his wounds； the presence of the young Indian
cheered him； he appeared to shake off his cares； and his poor little
girls felt the benefit of the change。 But for some days； I know not what
demon has been loosed against his family。 It is enough to turn one's
head。 First of all； I am sure that th