purchased, where the congregation of the Holy Ghost should be located and
endowed.  The Minister of Marine supplied the funds for this purpose, and
its management was placed at the disposal of the Society, which then
reigned over France.  From that period it has held quiet possession of
the place, which at once became a sort of house of entertainment, where
Jesuitism sheltered, and provided for, the numerous novitiates that
flocked from all parts of the country, to receive instructions from
Father Ronsin.  Matters were in this state when the Revolution of July
broke out, which threatened to deprive the Society of this establishment.
But it will hardly be believed; this was not done.  It is true that they
suppressed their practice, but they left them in possession of the house
in the Rue des Postes; and to this very day, the 31st of January, 1832,
the members of the Sacred Heart are housed at the expense of government,
during the whole of which time the Normal School has been without a
shelter--and on its reorganization, thrust into a dirty hole, in a narrow
corner of the College of Louis the Great."

The above appeared in the Constitutionnel, respecting the house in the
Rue des Posses.  We are certainly ignorant as to the nature of the
transactions, since that period, that have taken place between the
reverend fathers and the government; but we read further, in a recently
published article that appeared in a journal, in reference to the Society
of Jesus, that the house in the Rue des Postes, still forms a part of
their landed property.  We will here give some portions of the article in
question.

"The following is a list of the property belonging to this branch of
Jesuits:
                                                       Fr.
House in the Rue de Postes, worth about .  .  .  .  500,000
One in the Rue de Sevres, estimated at  .  .  .  .  300,000
Farm, two leagues from Paris .  .   .   .  .  .  .  150,000
House and church at Bourges  .  .   .   .  .  .  .  100,000
Notre Dame de Liesse, donation in 1843 .  .  .  .    60,000
Saint Acheul, House for Novitiates  .  .  .  .  .   400,000
Nantes, a house . .  .  .   .   .   .  .  .  .  .   100,000
Quimper, ditto .  .  .  .   .   .   .  .  .  .  .    40,000
Laval, house and church .   .   .   .  .  .  .  .   150,000
Rennes, a house   .  .  .   .   .   .  .  .  .  .    20,000
Vannes, ditto .   .  .  .   .   .   .  .  .  .  .    20,000
Metz, ditto . .   .  .  .   .   .   .  .  .  .  .    40,000
Strasbourg .  .   .  .  .   .   .   .  .  .  .  .    60,000
Rouen, ditto  .   .  .  .   .   .   .  .  .  .  .    15,000

By this it appears that these various items amount to little less than
two millions.  Teaching, moreover, is another important source of revenue
to the Jesuits.  The college at Broyclette alone brings in 200,000
francs.  The two provinces in France (for the general of the Jesuits at
Rome has divided France into two provinces, Lyons and Paris) possess,
besides a large sum in ready money, Austrian bonds of more than 260,000
francs.  Their Propagation of Faith furnishes annually some 50,000
francs; and the harvest which the priests collect by their sermons
amounts to 150,000 francs.  The alms given for charity may be estimated
at the same figure, producing together a revenue of 540,000 francs.  Now,
to this revenue may be added the produce of the sale of the Society's
works, and the profit obtained by hawking pictures.  Each plate costs,
design and engraving included, about 600 francs, off which are struck
about 10,000 copies, at 40 francs per thousand, and there is a further
expense of 250 francs to their publisher; and they obtain a net profit of
210 francs on every thousand.  This, indeed, is working to advantage.
And it can easily be imagined with what rapidity all these are sold.  The
fathers themselves are the travellers for the Society, and it would be
difficult to find more zealous or persevering ones.  They are always well
received, and do not know what it is to meet with a refusal.  They always
take care that the publisher should he one of their own body.  The first
person whom they selected for this occupation was one of their members,
possessing some money; but they were obliged, notwithstanding, to make
certain advances to enable him to defray the expenses of its first
establishment.  But, when they became fully convinced of the success of
their undertaking, they suddenly called in these advances, which the
publisher was not in a condition to pay.  They were perfectly aware of
this, and superseded him by a wealthy successor, with whom they could
make a better bargain; and thus, without remorse, they ruined the man, by
thrusting him from an appointment of which they had morally guaranteed
the continuance."

[12] Louis XIV., the great King, punished with the Baileys those
Protestants who, once converted, often by force, afterwards returned to
their first belief.  As for those Protestants who remained in France,
notwithstanding the rigor of the edicts against them, they were deprived
of burial, dragged upon a hurdle, and given to the dogs.--E. S.




CHAPTER XV.

THE THUG.

After a moment's silence, Father d'Aigrigny resumed "Read me to-day's
report on the situation of each of the persons designated."

"Here is that of this evening; it has just come."

"Let us hear."

Rodin read as follows: "Jacques Rennepont, alias Sleepinbuff, was seen in
the interior of the debtors' prison at eight o'clock this evening."

"He will not disturb us to-morrow.  One; go on."

"The lady superior of St. Mary's Convent, warned by the Princess de
Saint-Dizier, has thought fit to confine still more strictly the
Demoiselles Rose and Blanche Simon.  This evening, at nine o'clock, they
have been carefully locked in their cells, and armed men will make their
round in the convent garden during the night."

"Thanks to these precautions, there is nothing to fear from that side,"
said Father d'Aigrigny.  "Go on."

"Dr. Baleinier, also warned by the Princess de Saint-Dizier, continues to
have Mdlle. de Cardoville very closely watched.  At a quarter to nine the
door of the building in which she is lodged was locked and bolted."

"That is still another cause the less for uneasiness."

"As for M. Hardy," resumed Rodin "I have received this morning, from
Toulouse, a letter from his intimate friend, M. de Bressac, who has been
of such service to us in keeping the manufacturer away for some days
longer.  This letter contains a note, addressed by M. Hardy to a
confidential person, which M. de Bressac has thought fit to intercept,
and send to us as another proof of the success of the steps he has taken,
and for which he hopes we shall give him credit--as to serve us, he adds,
he betrays his friend in the most shameful manner, and acts a part in an
odious comedy.  M. de Bressac trusts that, in return for these good
offices, we will deliver up to him those papers, which place him in our
absolute dependence, as they might ruin for ever a woman he loves with an
adulterous passion.  He says that we ought to have pity on the horrible
alternative in which he is placed--either to dishonor and ruin the woman
he adores, or infamously to betray the confidence of his bosom friend."

"These adulterous lamentations are not deserving of pity," answered
Father d'Aigrigny, with contempt.  "We will see about that; M. de Bressac
may still be useful to us.  But let us hear this letter of M. Hardy, that
impious and republican manufacturer, worthy descendant of an accursed
race, whom it is of the first importance to keep away."

"Here is M. Hardy's letter," resumed Rodin.  "To-morrow, we will send it
to the person to whom it is addressed."  Rodin read as follows:

"TOULOUSE, February the 10th.

"At length I find a moment to write to you, and to explain the cause of
the sudden departure which, without alarming, must at least have
astonished you.  I write also to ask you a service; the facts may be
stated in a few words.  I have often spoken to you of Felix de Bressac,
one of my boyhood mates, though not nearly so old as myself.  We have
always loved each other tenderly, and have shown too many proofs of
mutual affection not to count upon one another.  He is a brother to me.
You know all I mean by that expression.  Well--a few days ago, he wrote
to me from Toulouse, where he was to spend some time: 'If you love me,
come; I have the greatest need of you.  At once!  Your consolations may
perhaps give me the courage to live.  If you arrive too late--why,
forgive me--and think sometimes of him who will be yours to the last.'
Judge of my grief and fear on receipt of the above.  I seat instantly for
post-horses.  My old foreman, whom I esteem and revere (the father of
General Simon), hearing that I was going to the south, begged me to take
him with me, and to leave him for some days in the department of the
Creuse, to examine some ironworks recently founded there.  I consented
willingly to this proposition, as I should thus at least have some one to
whom I could pour out the grief and anxiety which had been caused by this
letter from Bressac.  I arrive at Toulouse; they tell me that he left the
evening before, taking arms with him, a prey to the most violent despair.
It was impossible at first to tell whither he had gone; after two days,
some indications, collected with great trouble, put me upon his track.
At last, after a thousand adventures, I found him in a miserable village.
Never--no, never, have I seen despair like this.  No violence, but a
dreadful dejection, a savage silence.  At first, he almost repulsed me;
then, this horrible agony having reached its height, he softened by
degrees, and, in about a quarter of an hour, threw himself into my arms,
bathed in tears.  Beside him were his loaded pistols: one day later, and
all would have been over.  I cannot tell you the reason of his despair; I
am not at liberty to do so; but it did not greatly astonish me.  Now
there is a complete cure to effect.  We must calm, and soothe, and heal
this poor soul, which has been cruelly wounded.  The hand of friendship
is alone equal to this delicate task, and I have good hope of success.  I
have therefore persuaded him to travel for some time; movement and change
of scene will be favorable to him.  I shall take him first to Nice; we
set out tomorrow.  If he wishes to prolong this excursion.  I shall do so
too, for my affairs do not imperiously demand my presence in Paris before
the end of March.  As for the service I have to ask of you, it is
conditional.  These are the facts.  According to some family papers that
belonged to my mother, it seems I have a certain interest to present
myself at No. 3, Rue Saint-Francois, in Paris, on the 13th of February.
I had inquired about it, and could learn nothing, except that this house
of very antique appearance, has been shut up for the last hundred and
fifty years, through a whim of one of my maternal ancestors, and that it
is to be opened on the 13th of this month, in presence of the co-heirs
who, if I have any, are quite unknown to me.  Not being able to attend
myself, I have written to my foreman, the father of General Simon, in
whom I have the greatest confidence, and whom I had left behind in the
department of the Creuse, to set out for Paris, and to be present at the
opening of this house, not as an agent (which would be useless), but as a
spectator, and inform me at Nice what has been the result of this
romantic notion of my ancestor's.  As it is possible that my foreman may
arrive too late to accomplish this mission, I should be much obliged if
you would inquire at my house at Plessy, if he has yet come, and, in case
of his still being absent, if you would take his place at the opening of
the house in the Rue Saint-Francois.  I believe that I have made a very
small sacrifice for my friend Bressac, in not being in Paris on that day.
But had the sacrifice been immense, I should have made it with pleasure,
for my care and friendship are at present most necessary to the man whom
I look upon as a brother.  I count upon your compliance with my request,
and, begging you to be kind enough to write me, 'to be called for,' at
Nice, the result of your visit of inquiry, I remain, etc., etc.

"FRANCIS HARDY."


"Though his presence cannot be of any great importance, it would be
preferable that Marshal Simon's father should not attend at the opening
of this house to-morrow," said Father d'Aigrigny.  "But no matter.  M.
Hardy himself is out of the way.  There only remains the young Indian."

"As for him," continued the abbe, with a thoughtful air, "we acted wisely
in letting M. Norval set out with the presents of Mdlle. de Cardoville.
The doctor who accompanies M. Norval, and who was chosen by M. Baleinier,
will inspire no suspicion?"

"None," answered Rod in.  "His letter of yesterday is completely
satisfactory."

"There is nothing, then, to fear from the Indian prince," said
D'Aigrigny.  "All goes well."

"As for Gabriel," resumed Rodin, "he has again written this morning, to
obtain from your reverence the interview that he has vainly solicited for
the last three days.  He is affected by the rigor exercised towards him,
in forbidding him to leave the house for these five days past."

"To-morrow, when we take him to the Rue Saint-Francois, I will hear what
he has to say.  It will be time enough.  Thus, at this hour," said Father
d'Aigrigny, with an air of triumphant satisfaction, "all the descendants
of this family, whose presence might ruin our projects, are so placed
that it is absolutely impossible for them to be at the Rue Saint-Francois
to-morrow before noon, while Gabriel will he sure to be there.  At last
our end is gained."

Two cautious knocks at the door interrupted Father d'Aigrigny.  "Come
in," said he.

An old servant in black presented himself, and said:  "There is a man
downstairs who wishes to speak instantly to M. Rodin on very urgent
business."

"His name?" asked Father d'Aigrigny.

"He would not tell his name; but he says that he comes from M. Van Dael,
a merchant in Java."

Father d'Aigrigny and Rodin exchanged a glance of surprise, almost of
alarm.

"See what this man is," said D'Aigrigny to Rodin, unable to conceal his
uneasiness, "and then come and give me an account of it."  Then,
addressing the servant, he added:  "Show him in"--and exchanging another
expressive sign with Rodin, Father d'Aigrigny disappeared by a side-door.

A minute after, Faringhea, the ex-chief of the Stranglers, appeared
before Rodin, who instantly remembered having seen him at Cardoville
Castle.

The socius started, but he did not wish to appear to recollect his
visitor.  Still bending over his desk, he seemed not to seen Faringhea,
but wrote hastily some words on a sheet of paper that lay before him.

"Sir," said the servant, astonished at the silence of Rodin, "here is the
person."

Rodin folded the note that he had so precipitately written, and said to
the servant: "Let this be taken to its address.  Wait for an answer."

The servant bowed, and went out.  Then Rodin, without rising, fixed his

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