第582章

Samuel delivered the list to Father Caboccini, and approaching the casket, touched a spring, which was not seen by Rodin.The heavy lid flew open, and, while Father Caboccini read the names of the different securities, Samuel showed them to Rodin, who returned them to the old Jew, after a careful examination.This verification did not last long, for this immense fortune was all comprised, as we already know, in eight government securities, five hundred thousand francs in bank-note, thirty-

five thousand francs in gold, and two hundred and fifty francs in silver-

-making in all an amount of two hundred and twelve millions, one hundred and seventy-five thousand francs.When Rodin had counted the last of the five hundred bank-notes, of a thousand francs each, he said, as he returned them to Samuel: "It is quite right.Two hundred and twelve millions, one hundred and seventy-five thousand francs!"

He was no doubt almost choked with joy, for he breathed with difficulty, his eyes closed, and he was obliged to lean upon Father Caboccini's arm, as he said to him in an altered voice: "It is singular.I thought myself proof against all such emotions; but what I feel is extraordinary."

The natural paleness of the Jesuit increased so much, and he seemed so much agitated with convulsive movements, that Father Caboccini exclaimed:

"My dear father, collect yourself; do not let success overcome you thus."

Whilst the little one-eyed man was, attending to Rodin, Samuel carefully replaced the securities in the iron casket.Thanks to his unconquerable energy, and to the joy he felt at seeing himself so near the term of his labors, Rodin mastered this attack of weakness, and drawing himself up, calm and proud, he said to Caboccini: "It is nothing.I did not survive the cholera to die of joy on the first of June."

And, though still frightfully pale, the countenance of the Jesuit shone with audacious confidence.But now, when Rodin appeared to be quite recovered, Father Caboccini seemed suddenly transformed.Though short, fat, and one-eyed, his features assumed on the instant so firm, harsh, and commanding an expression, that Rodin recoiled a step as he looked at him.Then Father Caboccini, drawing a paper from his pocket, kissed it respectfully, glanced sternly at Rodin, and read as follows, in a severe and menacing tone:

"`On receipt of the present rescript, the Reverend Father Rodin will deliver up all his powers to the Reverend Father Caboccini, who is alone commissioned, with the Reverend Father d'Aigrigny, to receive the inheritance of the Rennepont family, if, in His eternal justice, the Lord should restore this property, of which our Company has been wronged.

"`Moreover, on receipt of the present rescript, the Reverend Father Rodin, in charge of a person to be named by the Reverend Father Caboccini, shall be conveyed to our house in the Town of Laval, to be kept in strict seclusion in his cell until further orders.'"

Then Father Caboccini handed the rescript to Rodin, that the latter might read the signature of the General of the Company.Samuel, greatly interested by this scene, drew a few steps nearer, leaving the casket half-open.Suddenly, Rodin burst into a loud laugh--a laugh of joy, contempt and triumph, impossible to describe.Father Caboccini looked at him with angry astonishment; when Rodin, growing still more imperious and haughty, and with an air of more sovereign disdain than ever, pushed aside the paper with the back of his dirty hand and said:

"What is the date of that scribble?"

"The eleventh of May," answered Father Caboccini in amazement.

"Here is a brief, that I received last night from Rome, under date of the eighteenth.It informs me that I am appointed GENERAL OF THE ORDER.

Read!"

Father Caboccini took the paper, read it, and remained thunderstruck.

Then, returning it humbly to Rodin, he respectfully bent his knee before him.Thus seemed the ambitious views of Rodin accomplished.In spite of the hatred and suspicion of that party, of which Cardinal Malipieri was the representative and the chief, Rodin, by address and craft, audacity and persuasion, and in consequence of the high esteem in which his partisans at Rome held his rare capacity, had succeeded in deposing his General, and in procuring his own elevation to that eminent post.Now, according to his calculation, aided by the millions he was about to possess, it would be but one step from that post to the pontifical throne.A mute witness of this scene, Samuel smiled also with an air of triumph, as he closed the casket by means of the spring known only to himself.That metallic sound recalled Rodin from the heights of his mad ambition to the realities of life, and he said to Samuel in a sharp voice: "You have heard? These millions must be delivered to me alone."

He extended his hands eagerly and impatiently towards the casket, as if he would have taken possession of it, before the arrival of the magistrate.Then Samuel in his turn seemed transfigured, and, folding his arms upon his breast, and drawing up his aged form to its full height, he assumed a threatening and imposing air.His eyes flashed with indignation, and he said in a solemn tone: "This fortune--at first the humble remains of the inheritance of the most noble of men, whom the plots of the sons of Loyola drove to suicide--this fortune, which has since become royal in amount, thanks to the sacred probity of three generations of faithful servants--this fortune shall never be the reward of falsehood, hypocrisy and murder.No! the eternal justice of heaven will not allow it."

"On murder? what do you mean, sir?" asked Rodin, boldly.