CHAPTER XVI.
THE ORDERS.
The principal houses correspond with that in Paris; they are also indirect communication with the General, who resides at Rome. Thecorrespondence of the Jesuits so active, various, and organized in sowonderful a manner, has for its object to supply the heads with all theinformation they can require. Every day, the General receives a host ofreports, which serve to check one another. In the central house, at Rome,are immense registers, in which are inscribed the names of all theJesuits, of their adherents, and of all the considerable persons, whetherfriends or enemies, with whom they have any connection. In theseregisters are reported, without alteration, hatred or passion the factsrelating to the life of each individual. It is the most giganticbiographical collection that has ever been formed. The frailties of awoman, the secret errors of a statesman, are chronicled in this book withthe same cold impartiality. Drawn up for the purpose of being useful,these biographies are necessarily exact. When the Jesuits wish toinfluence an individual, they have but to turn to this book, and theyknow immediately his life, his character, his parts, his faults, hisprojects, his family, his friends, his most sacred ties. Conceive, what asuperior facility of action this immense police-register, which includesthe whole world, must give to any one society! It is not lightly that Ispeak of these registers; I have my facts from a person who has seen thiscollection, and who is perfectly well acquainted with the Jesuits. Herethen, is matter to reflect on for all those families, who admit freelyinto their houses the members of a community that carries itsbiographical researches to such a point. (Libri, Member of the Institute.Letters on the Clergy.)
When he had conquered the involuntary emotion which the name orremembrance of General Simon had occasioned, Rodin's master said to thesecretary: "Do not yet open the letters from Leipsic, Charlestown, andBatavia; the information they contain will doubtless find its placepresently. It will save our going over the same ground twice."
The secretary looked inquiringly at his master.
The latter continued--"Have you finished the note relating to themedals?"
"Here it is," replied the secretary; "I was just finishing myinterpretation of the cipher."
"Read it to me, in the order of the facts. You can append to it the newscontained in those three letters."
"True," said Rodin; "in that way the letters will find their rightplace."
"I wish to see," rejoined the other, "whether this note is clear andfully explanatory; you did not forget that the person it is intended forought not to know all?"
"I bore it in mind, and drew up the paper accordingly."
"Read," said the master.
M. Rodin read as follows, slowly and deliberately:
"'A hundred and fifty years ago, a French Protestant family, foreseeingthe speedy--revocation of the edict of Nantes, went into voluntary exile,in order to avoid the just and rigorous decrees already issued againstthe members of the reformed church--those indomitable foes of our holyreligion.
"'Some members of this family sought refuge in Holland, and afterwards inthe Dutch colonies; others in Poland, others in Germany; some in England,and some in America.
"'It is supposed that only seven descendants remain of this family, whichunderwent strange vicissitudes since; its present representatives arefound in all ranks of society, from the sovereign to the mechanic.
"'These descendants, direct or indirect, are:
"'On the mother's side,
"'Rose and Blanche Simon--minors.
"'General Simon married, at Warsaw, a descendant of the said family.
"'Francois Hardy, manufacturer at Plessis, near Paris.
"'Prince Djalma, son of Kadja-sing, King of Mondi.
"'Kadja-sing, married, in 1802, a descendant of the said family, thensettled at Batavia, in the Island of Java, a Dutch colony.
"'On the father's side--Jacques Rennepont, surnamed Sleepinbuff,mechanic.
"'Adrienne de Cardoville, daughter of the Count of Rennepont, Duke ofCardoville.
"'Gabriel Rennepont, priest of the foreign missions.
"'All the members of this family possess, or should possess, a bronzemedal bearing the following inscriptions:
Victim of L. C. D. J. Pray for me! Paris February the 13th, 1682.
At Paris, Rue Saint Francois, No. 3, In a century and a half you will be. February the 13th, 1832. Pray For Me!
"'These words and dates show that all of them have a great interest to beat Paris on the 13th of February, 1832; and that, not by proxy, but inperson, whether they are minors, married or single.
"'But other persons have an immense interest that none of the descendantsof this family be at Paris on the 13th February, except GabrielRennepont, priest of the foreign missions.
"'At all hazards, therefore, Gabriel must be the only person present atthe appointment made with the descendants of this family, a century and ahalf ago.
"'To prevent the other six persons from reaching Paris on the said day,or to render their presence of no effect, much has been already done; butmuch remains to be done to ensure the success of this affair, which isconsidered as the most vital and most important of the age, on account ofits probable results.'"
"'Tis but too true," observed Rodin's master, interrupting him, andshaking his head pensively. "And, moreover, that the consequences ofsuccess are incalculable, and there is no forseeing what may followfailure. In a word, it almost involves a question of existence or nonexistence during several years. To succeed, therefore, 'all possiblemeans must be employed. Nothing must be shunned,' except, however, thatappearances must be skillfully maintained."
"I have written it," said Rodin, having added the words his master hadjust dictated, who then said,
"Continue."
Rodin read on:
"'To forward or secure the affair in question, it is necessary to givesome private and secret particulars respecting the seven persons whorepresent this family.
"'The truth of these particulars may be relied on. In case of need theymight be completed in the most minute degree for contradictoryinformation having been given, very lengthened evidence has beenobtained. The order in which the names of the persons stand will beobserved, and events that have happened up to the present time will onlybe mentioned.
"'NOTE, No. I.
"'Rose and Blanche Simon, twin sisters, about fifteen years of age; verypretty, so much alike, one might be taken for the other; mild and timiddisposition, but capable of enthusiasm. Brought up in Siberia by theirmother, a woman of strong mind and deistical sentiments, they are whollyignorant of our holy religion.
"'General Simon, separated from his wife before they were born, is notaware, even now, that he has two daughters.
"'It was hoped that their presence in Paris, on the 13th of February,would be prevented, by sending their mother to a place of exile, muchmore distant than the one first allotted her; but their mother dying, theGovernor of Siberia, who is wholly ours, supposing, by a deplorablemistake, that the measure only affected the wife of General Simonpersonally, unfortunately allowed the girls to return to France, underthe guidance of an old soldier.
"'This man is enterprising, faithful, and determined. He is noted down asdangerous.
"'The Simon girls are inoffensive. It is hoped, on fair grounds, thatthey are now detained in the neighborhood of Leipsic.'"
Rodin's master interrupted him, saying:
"Now, read the letter just received from Leipsic; it may complete theinformation."
Rodin read it, and exclaimed:
"Excellent news! The maidens and their guide had succeeded in escapingduring the night from the White Falcon Tavern, but all three wereovertaken and seized about a league from Mockern. They have beentransferred to Leipsic, where they are imprisoned as vagabonds; theirguide, the soldier, is accused and condemned of resisting theauthorities,
and using violence to a magistrate."
"It is almost certain, then, considering the tedious mode of proceedingin Germany (otherwise we would see to it), that the girls will not beable to be here on the 13th February," added Rodin's master. "Append thisto the note on the back."
The secretary obeyed, and endorsed "An abstract of Morok's letter."
"It is written," he then added.
"Go on," resumed his master.
Rodin continued reading.
"'NOTE, No. II.
"'Francois Hardy, manufacturer at Plessis, near Paris, forty years old; asteady, rich, intelligent, active, honest, well-informed man, idolized byhis workmen--thanks to numberless innovations to promote their welfare.Never attending to the duties of our holy religion. Noted down as a verydangerous man: but the hatred and envy he excites among othermanufacturers, especially in M. le Baron Tripeaud, his competitor, mayeasily be turned against him. If other means of action on his account,and against him, are necessary, the evidence may be consulted; it is veryvoluminous. This man has been marked and watched for a long time.
"'He has been so effectually misguided with respect to the medal, that heis completely deceived as to the interests it represents. He is, however,constantly watched, surrounded, and governed, without suspecting it; oneof his dearest friends deceives him, and through his means we know hissecret thoughts.
"'NOTE, No. III.
"'Prince Djalma; eighteen; energetic and generous, haughty, independentand wild; favorite of General Simon, who commanded the troops of hisfather, Kadja-sing, in the struggle maintained by the latter against theEnglish in India. Djalma is mentioned only by way of reminder, for hismother died young, while her parents were living. They resided atBatavia. On the death of the latter, neither Djalma nor the king, hisfather, claimed their little property. It is, therefore, certain thatthey are ignorant of the grave interests connected with the possession ofthe medal in question, which formed part of the property of Djalma'smother."
Rodin's master interrupted him.
"Now read the letter from Batavia, and complete the informationrespecting Djalma."
Rodin read, and then observed:
"Good news again. Joshua Van Dael, merchant at Batavia (he was educatedin our Pondicherry establishment), learns from his correspondent atCalcutta that the old Indian king was killed in the last battle with theEnglish. His son, Djalma, deprived of the paternal throne, isprovisionally detained as a prisoner of state in an Indian fortress."
"We are at the end of October," said Rodin's master. "If Prince Djalmawere to leave India now, he could scarcely reach Paris by the month ofFebruary."
"Van Dael," continued Rodin, "regrets that he has not been able to provehis zeal in this case. Supposing Prince Djalma set at liberty, or havingeffected his escape, it is certain he would come to Batavia to claim hisinheritance from his mother, since he has nothing else left him in theworld. In that case, you may rely on Van Dael's devotedness. In return,he solicits very precise information, by the next post, respecting thefortune of M. le Baron Tripeaud, banker and manufacturer, with whom hehas business transactions."
"Answer that point evasively. Van Dael as yet has only shown zeal;complete the information respecting Djalma from these new tidings."
Rodin wrote.
But in a few minutes his master said to him with a singular expression:
"Does not Van Dael mention General Simon in connection with Djalma'simprisonment and his father's death?"
"He does not allude to him," said the secretary, continuing his task.
Rodin's master was silent, and paced the room.
In a few moments Rodin said to him: "I have done it."
"Go on, then."
"'NOTE, No. IV.
"'Jacques Rennepont, surnamed "Sleepinbuff," i.e. Lie naked, workman inBaron Tripeaud's factory. This artisan is drunken, idle, noisy, andprodigal; he is not without sense, but idleness and debauch have ruinedhim. A clever agent, on whom we rely, has become acquainted with hismistress, Cephyse Soliveau, nicknamed the Bacchanal Queen. Through hermeans, the agent has formed such ties with him that he may even now beconsidered beyond the reach of the interests that ought to insure hispresence in Paris on the 13th of February.
"'NOTE, No. V.
"'Gabriel Rennepont, priest of foreign missions, distant relation of theabove, but he is alike ignorant of the existence of his relative and therelationship. An orphan foundling, he was adopted by Frances Baudoin, thewife of a soldier going by the name Dagobert.
"'Should this soldier, contrary to expectation, reach Paris, his wifewould be a powerful means of influencing him. She is an excellentcreature, ignorant and credulous, of exemplary piety, over whom we havelong had unlimited control. She prevailed on Gabriel to take orders,notwithstanding his repugnance.
"'Gabriel is five-and-twenty; disposition as angelic as his countenance;rare and solid virtues; unfortunately he was brought up with his adoptedbrother, Agricola, Dagobert's son. This Agricola is a poet andworkman--but an excellent workman; he is employed by M. Hardy; hasimbibed the most detestable doctrines; fond of his mother; honest,laborious, but without religious feeling. Marked as very dangerous. Thiscauses his intimacy with Gabriel to be feared.
"'The latter, notwithstanding his excellent qualities, sometimes causesuneasiness. We have even delayed confiding in him fully. A false stepmight make him, too, one of the most dangerous. Much precaution must beused then, especially till the 13th of February; since, we repeat it, onhim, on his presence in Paris at that time, depend immense hopes andequally important interests.
"'Among other precautions, we have consented to his taking part in theAmerican mission, for he unites with angelic sweetness of character acalm intrepidity and adventurous spirit which could only be satisfied byallowing him to engage in the perilous existence of the missionaries.Luckily, his superiors at Charlestown have received the strictest ordersnot to endanger, on any account, so precious a life. They are to send himto Paris, at least a month or two before February 13th."'
Rodin's master again interrupted him, and said: "Read the letter fromCharlestown, and see what it tells you in order to complete theinformation upon this point also."
When he had read the letter, Rodin went on: "Gabriel is expected everyday from the Rocky Mountains, whither he had absolutely insisted on goingalone upon a mission."
"What imprudence!"
"He has no doubt escaped all danger, as he himself announces his speedyreturn to Charlestown. As soon as he arrives, which cannot (they write)be later than the middle of this month, he will be shipped off forFrance."
"Add this to the note which concerns him," said Rodin's master.
"It is written," replied the secretary, a few moments later.
"Proceed, then," said his master. Rodin continued
"'NOTE, No. VI."'ADRIENNE RENNEPONT DE CARDOVILLE.
"'Distantly related (without knowing it) to Jacques Rennepont, aliasSleepinbuff, and Gabriel Rennepont, missionary priest. She will soon betwenty-one years of age, the most attractive person in theworld--extraordinary beauty, though red-haired--a mind remarkable for itsoriginality--immense fortune--all the animal instincts. The incredibleindependence of her character makes one tremble for the future fate ofthis young person. Happily, her appointed guardian, Baron Tripeaud (abaron of 1829 creation, formerly agent to the late Count of Rennepont,Duke of Cardoville), is quite in the interest, and almost in thedependence, of the young lady's aunt. We count, with reason, upon thisworthy and respectable relative, and on the Baron Tripeaud, to oppose andrepress the singular, unheard-of designs which this young person, asresolute as independent, does not fear to avow--and which, unfortunately,cannot be turned to account in the interest of the affair inquestion--for--"
Rodin was here interrupted by two discreet taps at the door. Thesecretary rose, went to see who knocked, remained a moment without, andthen returned with two letters in his hand, saying: "The princess hasprofited by the departure of a courier to--"
"Give me th
e letter!" cried his master, without leaving him time tofinish. "At length," he added, "I shall have news of my mother--"
He had scarcely read the first few lines of the letter, when he grewdeadly pale, and his features took an expression of painful astonishmentand poignant grief. "My mother!" he cried, "oh, heavens! my mother!"
"What misfortune has happened!" asked Rodin, with a look of alarm, as herose at the exclamation of his master.
"The symptoms of improvement were fallacious," replied the other,dejectedly; "she has now relapsed into a nearly hopeless state. And yetthe doctor thinks my presence might save her, for she calls for mewithout ceasing. She wishes to see me for the last time, that she may diein peace. Oh, that wish is sacred! Not to grant it would be matricide. IfI can but arrive in time! Travelling day and night, it will take nearlytwo days."
"Alas! what a misfortune!" said Rodin, wringing his hands, and raisinghis eyes to heaven.
His master rang the bell violently, and said to the old servant thatopened the door: "Just put what is indispensable into the portmanteau ofmy travelling-carriage. Let the porter take a cab, and go for post horsesinstantly. Within an hour, I must be on the road. Mother! mother!" criedhe, as the servant departed in haste. "Not to see her again--oh, it wouldbe frightful!" And sinking upon a chair, overwhelmed with sorrow, hecovered his face with his hands.
This great grief was sincere--he loved tenderly his mother that divinesentiment had accompanied him, unalterable and pure, through all thephases of a too often guilty life.
After a few minutes, Rodin ventured to say to his master, as he showedhim the second letter: "This, also, has just been brought from M.Duplessis. It is very important--very pressing--"
"See what it is, and answer it. I have no head for business."
"The letter is confidential," said Rodin, presenting it to his master. "Idare not open it, as you may see by the mark on the cover."
At sight of this mark, the countenance of Rodin's master assumed anindefinable expression of respect and fear. With a trembling hand hebroke the seal. The note contained only the following words: "Leave allbusiness, and without losing a minute, set out and come. M. Duplessiswill replace you. He has orders."
"Great God!" cried this man in despair. "Set out before I have seen mymother! It is frightful, impossible--it would perhaps kill her--yes, itwould be matricide!"
Whilst he uttered these words, his eyes rested on the huge globe, markedwith red crosses. A sudden revolution seemed to take place within him; heappeared to repent of the violence of his regrets; his face, though stillsad, became once more calm and grave. He handed the fatal letter to hissecretary, and said to him, whilst he stifled a sigh: "To be classedunder its proper number."
Rodin took the letter, wrote a number upon it, and placed it in aparticular box. After a moment's silence, his master resumed: "You willtake orders from M. Duplessis, and work with him. You will deliver to himthe note on the affair of the medals; he knows to whom to address it. Youwill write to Batavia, Leipsic, and Charlestown, in the sense agreed.Prevent, at any price, the daughters of General Simon from quittingLeipsic; hasten the arrival of Gabriel in Paris; and should Prince Djalmacome to Batavia, tell M. Joshua Van Dael, that we count on his zeal andobedience to keep him there."
And this man, who, while his dying mother called to him in vain, couldthus preserve his presence of mind, entered his own apartments; whilstRodin busied himself with the answers he had been ordered to write, andtranscribed them in cipher.
In about three quarters of an hour, the bells of the post-horses wereheard jingling without. The old servant again entered, after discreetlyknocking at the door, and said:
"The carriage is ready."
Rodin nodded, and the servant withdrew. The secretary, in his turn, wentto knock at the door of the inner room. His master appeared, still graveand cold, but fearfully pale, and holding a letter in his hand.
"This for my mother," said he to Rodin; "you will send a courier on theinstant."
"On the instant," replied the secretary.
"Let the three letters for Leipsic, Batavia and Charlestown, leave to-dayby the ordinary channel. They are of the last importance. You know it."
Those were his last words. Executing merciless orders with a mercilessobedience, he departed without even attempting to see his mother. Hissecretary accompanied him respectfully to his carriage.
"What road, sir?" asked the postilion, turning round on his saddle.
"The road to ITALY!" answered Rodin's master, with so deep a sigh that italmost resembled a sob.
As the horses started at full gallop, Rodin made a low bow; then hereturned to the large, cold, bare apartment. The attitude, countenance,and gait of this personage seemed to have undergone a sudden change. Heappeared to have increased in dimensions. He was no longer an automaton,moved by the mechanism of humble obedience. His features, till nowimpassible, his glance, hitherto subdued, became suddenly animated withan expression of diabolical craft; a sardonic smile curled his thin, palelips, and a look of grim satisfaction relaxed his cadaverous face.
In turn, he stopped before the huge globe. In turn, he contemplated it insilence, even as his master had done. Then, bending over it, andembracing it, as it were, in his arms, he gloated with his reptile-eye onit for some moments, drew his coarse finger along its polished surface,and tapped his flat, dirty nail on three of the places dotted with redcrosses. And, whilst he thus pointed to three towns, in very differentparts of the world, he named them aloud, with a sneer.
"Leipsic--Charlestown--Batavia."
"In each of these three places," he added, "distant as they are from oneanother, there exist persons who little think that here, in this obscurestreet, from the recesses of this chamber, wakeful eyes are uponthem--that all their movements are followed, all their actions known--andthat hence will issue new instructions, which deeply concern them, andwhich will be inexorably executed; for an interest is at stake, which mayhave a powerful influence on Europe--on the world. Luckily, we havefriends at Leipsic, Charlestown, and Batavia."
This funny, old, sordid, ill-dressed man, with his livid and death-likecountenance, thus crawling over the sphere before him, appeared stillmore awful than his master, when the latter, erect and haughty, hadimperiously laid his hand upon that globe, which he seemed desirous ofsubjecting by the strength of his pride and courage. The one resembledthe eagle, that hovers above his prey--the other the reptile, thatenvelops its victim in its inextricable folds.
After some minutes, Rodin approached his desk, rubbing his hands brisklytogether, and wrote the following epistle in a cipher unknown even to hismaster:
"Paris, 3/4 past 9 A.M.
"He is gone--but he hesitated!
"When he received the order, his dying mother had just summoned him toher. He might, they told him, save her by his presence; and he exclaimed:'Not to go to my mother would be matricide!'
"Still, he is gone--but he hesitated. I keep my eye upon him continually.These lines will reach Rome at the same time as himself.
"P.S.--Tell the Cardinal-Prince that he may rely on me, but I hope forhis active aid in return."
When he had folded and sealed this letter, Rodin put it into his pocket.The clock struck ten, M. Rodin's hour for breakfast. He arranged andlocked up his papers in a drawer, of which he carried away the key,brushed his old greasy hat with his sleeve, took a patched umbrella inhis hand, and went out. [1]
Whilst these two men, in the depths of their obscure retreat, were thusframing a plot, which was to involve the seven descendants of a raceformerly proscribed--a strange mysterious defender was planning how toprotect this family, which was also his own.
1 Having cited the excellent, courageous letters of M. Libri, and thecurious work edited by M. Paulin, it is our duty likewise to mention manybold and conscientious writings on the subject of the "Society of Jesus,"recently published by the elder Dupin, Michelet, Quinet, Genin, and theCount de Saint Priest--works of high and impartial intellects, in whicht
he fatal theories of the order are admirably exposed and condemned. Weesteem ourselves happy, if we can bring one stone towards the erection ofthe strong, and, we hope, durable embankment which these generous heartsand noble minds are raising against the encroachments of an impure andalways menacing flood.--E. S.
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