CHAPTER XXVIII. GOOD NEWS.
By the alteration in the countenance of Father d'Aigrigny, his palecheek, and the feebleness of his walk, one might see that the terriblescene in the square of Notre-Dame, had violently reacted upon hishealth. Yet his face was radiant and triumphant, as he entered Rodin'schamber, exclaiming: "Excellent news!"
On these words, Rodin started. In spite of his weakness, he raised hishead, and his eyes shone with a curious, uneasy, piercing expression.With his lean hand, he beckoned Father d'Aigrigny to approach thebed, and said to him, in a broken voice, so weak that it was scarcelyaudible: "I am very ill--the cardinal has nearly finished me--but ifthis excellent news--relates to the Rennepont affair--of which I hearnothing--it might save me yet!"
"Be saved then!" cried Father d'Aigrigny, forgetting the recommendationsof Dr. Baleinier; "read, rejoice! What you foretold is beginning to berealized!"
So saying, he drew a paper from his pocket, and delivered it to Rodin,who seized it with an eager and trembling hand. Some minutes before,Rodin would have been really incapable of continuing his conversationwith the cardinal, even if prudence had allowed him to do so; nor couldhe have read a single line, so dim had his sight become. But, at thewords of Father d'Aigrigny, he felt such a renewal of hope and vigor,that, by a mighty effort of energy and will, he rose to a sittingposture, and, with clear head, and look of intelligent animation, heread rapidly the paper that Father d'Aigrigny had just delivered to him.
The cardinal, amazed at this sudden transfiguration, asked himself if hebeheld the same man, who, a few minutes before, had fallen back onhis bed, almost insensible. Hardly had Rodin finished reading, thanhe uttered a cry of stifled joy, saying, with an accent impossible todescribe: "ONE gone! it works--'tis well!" And, closing his eyes ina kind of ecstatic transport, a smile of proud triumph overspread hisface, and rendered him still more hideous, by discovering his yellow andgumless teeth. His emotion was so violent, that the paper fell from histrembling hand.
"He has fainted," cried Father d'Aigrigny, with uneasiness, as he leanedover Rodin. "It is my fault, I forgot that the doctor cautioned me notto talk to him of serious matters."
"No; do not reproach yourself," said Rodin, in a low voice, half-raisinghimself in the bed. "This unexpected joy may perhaps cure me. Yes--Iscarce know what I feel--but look at my cheeks--it seems to me, that,for the first time since I have been stretched on this bed of pain, theyare a little warm."
Rodin spoke the truth. A slight color appeared suddenly on his livid andicy cheeks; his voice though still very weak, became less tremulous, andhe exclaimed, in a tone of conviction that startled Father d'Aigrignyand the prelate, "This first success answers for the others. I read thefuture. Yes, yes; our cause will triumph. Every member of the execrableRennepont family will be crushed--and that soon you will see--"
Then, pausing, Rodin threw himself back on the pillow, exclaiming: "Oh!I am choked with joy. My voice fails me."
"But what is it?" asked the cardinal of Father d'Aigrigny.
The latter replied, in a tone of hypocritical sanctity: "One of theheirs of the Rennepont family, a poor fellow, worn out with excesses anddebauchery, died three days ago, at the close of some abominableorgies, in which he had braved the cholera with sacrilegious impiety.In consequence of the indisposition that kept me at home, and of anothercircumstance, I only received to-day the certificate of the death ofthis victim of intemperance and irreligion. I must proclaim it to thepraise of his reverence"--pointing to Rodin--"that he told me, the worstenemies of the descendants of that infamous renegade would be their ownbad passions, and that the might look to them as our allies against thewhole impious race. And so it has happened with Jacques Rennepont."
"You see," said Rodin, in so faint a voice that it was almostunintelligible, "the punishment begins already. One of the Rennepontsis dead--and believe me--this certificate," and he pointed to the paperthat Father d'Aigrigny held in his hand, "will one day be worth fortymillions to the Society of Jesus--and that--because--"
The lips alone finished the sentence. During some seconds, Rodin'svoice had become so faint, that it was at last quite imperceptible. Hislarynx, contracted by violent emotion, no longer emitted any sound.The Jesuit, far from being disconcerted by this incident, finished hisphrase, as it were, by expressive pantomime. Raising his head proudly hetapped his forehead with his forefinger, as if to express that it was tohis ability this first success was owing. But he soon fell back againon the bed, exhausted, breathless, sinking, with his cotton handkerchiefpressed once more to his parched lips. The good news, as Fatherd'Aigrigny called it, had not cured Rodin. For a moment only, he had hadthe courage to forget his pain. But the slight color on his cheek soondisappeared; his face became once more livid. His sufferings, suspendedfor a moment, were so much increased in violence, that he writhedbeneath the coverlet, and buried his face in the pillow, extending hisarms above his head, and holding them stiff as bars of iron. After thiscrisis, intense as it was rapid: during which Father d'Aigrigny and theprelate bent anxiously over him, Rodin, whose face was bathed in coldsweat, made a sign that he suffered less, and that he wished to drink ofa potion to which he pointed. Father d'Aigrigny fetched it for him,and while the cardinal held him up with marked disgust, the abbeadministered a few spoonfuls of the potion, which almost immediatelyproduced a soothing effect.
"Shall I call M. Rousselet?" said Father d'Aigrigny, when Rodin was oncemore laid down in bed.
Rodin shook his head; then, with a fresh effort, he raised his righthand, opened it, and pointed with his forefinger to a desk in a cornerof the room, to signify that, being no longer able to speak, he wishedto write.
"I understand your reverence," said Father d'Aigrigny; "but firstcalm yourself. Presently, if you require it. I will give you writingmaterials."
Two knocks at the outer door of the next room interrupted this scene.From motives of prudence, Father d'Aigrigny had begged Rousselet toremain in the first of the three rooms. He now went to open the door,and Rousselet handed him a voluminous packet, saying: "I beg pardonfor disturbing you, father, but I was told to let you have these papersinstantly."
"Thank you, M. Rousselet," said Father d'Aigrigny; "do you know at whathour Dr. Baleinier will return?"
"He will not be long, father, for he wishes to perform before night thepainful operation, that will have a decisive effect on the condition ofFather Rodin. I am preparing what is necessary for it," added Rousselet,as he pointed to a singular and formidable apparatus, which Fatherd'Aigrigny examined with a kind of terror.
"I do not know if the symptom is a serious one," said the Jesuit; "butthe reverend father has suddenly lost his voice."
"It is the third time this has happened within the last week," saidRousselet; "the operation of Dr. Baleiner will act both on the larynxand on the lungs."
"Is the operation a very painful one?" asked Father d'Aigrigny.
"There is, perhaps, none more cruel in surgery," answered the youngdoctor; "and Dr. Baleinier has partly concealed its nature from FatherRodin."
"Please to wait here for Dr. Baleinier, and send him to us as soon as hearrives," resumed Father d'Aigrigny: and, returning to the sick chamber,he sat down by the bedside, and said to Rodin, as he showed him theletter: "Here are different reports with regard to different membersof the Rennepont family, whom I have had looked after by others, myindisposition having kept me at home for the last few days. I do notknow, father, if the state of your health will permit you to hear--"
Rodin made a gesture, at once so supplicating and peremptory, thatFather d'Aigrigny felt there would be at least as much danger inrefusing as in granting his request; so, turning towards the cardinal,still inconsolable at not having discovered the Jesuit's secret, hesaid to him with respectful deference, pointing at the same time to theletter: "Have I the permission of your Eminence?"
The prelate bowed, and replied: "Your affairs are ours, my dear father.The Church must always rejoice in what rejoices your glorio
us Company."
Father d'Aigrigny unsealed the packet, and found in it different notesin different handwritings. When he had read the first, his countenancedarkened, and he said, in a grave tone: "A misfortune--a greatmisfortune."
Rodin turned his head abruptly, and looked at him with an air of uneasyquestioning.
"Florine is dead of the cholera," answered Father d'Aigrigny; "and whatis the worst," added he, crumpling the note between his hands, "beforedying, the miserable creature confessed to Mdlle. de Cardoville that shelong acted as a spy under the orders of your reverence."
No doubt the death of Florine, and the confession she had made, crossedsome of the plans of Rodin, for he uttered an inarticulate murmur, andhis countenance expressed great vexation.
Passing to another note, Father d'Aigrigny continued: "This relatesto Marshal Simon, and is not absolutely bad, but still far fromsatisfactory, as it announces some amelioration in his position. Weshall see if it merits belief, by information from another source."
Rodin made a sign of impatience, to hasten Father d'Aigrigny to read thenote, which he did as follows. "'For some days, the mind of the marshalhas appeared to be less sorrowful, anxious and agitated. He latelypassed two hours with his daughters, which had not been the case forsome time before. The harsh countenance of the soldier Dagobert isbecoming smoother--a sure sign of some amelioration in the condition ofthe marshal. Detected by their handwriting, the last anonymous letterswere returned by Dagobert to the postman, without having been opened bythe marshal. Some other method must be found to get them delivered.'"
Looking at Rodin, Father d'Aigrigny said to him: "Your reverence thinkswith me that this note is not very satisfactory?"
Rodin held down his head. One saw by the expression of his countenancehow much he suffered by not being able to speak. Twice he put his handto his throat, and looked at Father d'Aigrigny with anguish.
"Oh!" cried Father d'Aigrigny, angrily, when he had perused anothernote, "for one lucky chance, to-day brings some very black ones."
At these words turning hastily to Father d'Aigrigny, and extendinghis trembling hands, Rodin questioned him with look and gesture. Thecardinal, sharing his uneasiness, exclaimed: "What do you learn by thisnote, my dear father?"
"We thought the residence of M. Hardy in our house completely unknown,"replied Father d'Aigrigny, "but we now fear that Agricola Baudoinhas discovered the retreat of his old master, and that he has evencommunicated with him by letter, through a servant of the house. So,"added the reverend father, angrily, "during the three days that I havenot been able to visit the pavilion, one of my servants must have beenbought over. There is one of them, a man blind of one eye, whom Ihave always suspected--the wretch! But no: I will not yet believe thistreachery. The consequences would be too deplorable; for I know howmatters stand, and that such a correspondence might ruin everything.By awaking in M. Hardy memories with difficulty laid asleep, they mightdestroy in a single day all that has been done since he inhabits ourhouse. Luckily, this note contains only doubts and fears; my otherinformation will be more positive, and will not, I hope, confirm them."
"My dear father," said the cardinal, "do not despair. The Lord will notabandon the good cause!"
Father d'Aigrigny seemed very little consoled by this assurance. Heremained still and thoughtful, whilst Rodin writhed his head in aparoxysm of mute rage, as he reflected on this new check.
"Let us turn to the last note," said Father d'Aigrigny, after a momentof thoughtful silence. "I have so much confidence in the person whosends it, that I cannot doubt the correctness of the information itcontains. May it contradict the others!"
In order not to break the chain of facts contained in this last note,which was to have so startling an effect on the actors in this scene, weshall leave it to the reader's imagination to supply the exclamationsof surprise, hate, rage and fear of Father d'Aigrigny, and the terrificpantomime of Rodin, during the perusal of this formidable document,the result of the observations of a faithful and secret agent ofthe reverend fathers. Comparing this note with the other informationreceived, the results appeared more distressing to the reverend fathers.Thus Gabriel had long and frequent conferences with Adrienne, who beforewas unknown to him. Agricola Baudoin had opened a communication withFrancis Hardy, and the officers of justice were on the track of theauthors and instigators of the riot which had led to the burning of thefactory of Baron Tripeaud's rival. It seemed almost certain that Mdlle.de Cardoville had had an interview with Prince Djalma.
This combination of facts showed that, faithful to the threats shehad uttered to Rodin, when she had unmasked the double perfidy of thereverend father, Mdlle. de Cardoville was actively engaged in unitingthe scattered members of her family, to form a league against thosedangerous enemies, whose detestable projects, once unveiled and boldlyencountered, could hardly have a chance of success. The reader will nowunderstand the tremendous effect of this note on Father d'Aigrigny andRodin--on Rodin, stretched powerless on a bed of pain at the moment whenthe scaffolding, raised with so much labor, seemed to be tumbling aroundhim.