第256章

So saying, Rodin rang the bell violently.Faringhea made a movement as if to stand upon the defensive; but only the old servant, with his quiet and placid mien, appeared at the door.

"Lapierre, light the gentleman out," said Rodin, pointing to Faringhea.

Terrified at Rodin's calmness, the half-caste hesitated to leave the room.

"Why do you wait, sir?" said Rodin, remarking his hesitation."I wish to be alone."

"So, sir," said Faringhea, as he withdrew, slowly, "you refuse my offers?

Take care! to-morrow it will be too late."

"I have the honor to be your most humble servant, sir," said Rodin, bowing courteously.The Strangler went out, and the door closed upon him.

Immediately, Father d'Aigrigny entered from the next room.His countenance was pale and agitated.

"What have you done?" exclaimed he addressing Rodin.

"I have heard all.I am unfortunately too sure that this wretch spoke the truth.The Indian is in his power, and he goes to rejoin him."

"I think not," said Rodin, humbly, as bowing, he reassumed his dull and submissive countenance.

"What will prevent this man from rejoining the prince?"

"Allow me.As soon as the rascal was shown in, I knew him; and so, before speaking a word to him, I wrote a few lines to Morok, who was waiting below with Goliath till your reverence should be at leisure.

Afterwards, in the course of the conversation, when they brought me Morok's answer, I added some fresh instructions, seeing the turn that affairs were taking."

"And what was the use of all this, since you have let the man leave the house?"

"Your reverence will perhaps deign to observe that he did not leave it;

till he had given me the direction of the hotel where the Indian now is, thanks to my innocent stratagem of appearing to despise him.But, if it had failed, Faringhea would still have fallen into the hands of Goliath and Morok, who are waiting for him in the street, a few steps from the door.Only we should have been rather embarrassed, as we should not have known where to find Prince Djalma."

"More violence!" said Father d'Aigrigny, with repugnance.

"It is to be regretted, very much regretted," replied Rodin; "but it was necessary to follow out the system already adopted."

"Is that meant for a reproach?" said Father d'Aigrigny, who began to think that Rodin was something more than a mere writing-machine.

"I could not permit myself to blame your reverence," said Rodin, cringing almost to the ground."But all that will be required is to confine this man for twenty-four hours."

"And afterwards--his complaints?"

"Such a scoundrel as he is will not dare to complain.Besides, he left this house in freedom.Morok and Goliath will bandage his eyes when they seize him.The house has another entrance in the Rue Vieille-des-Ursins.

At this hour, and in such a storm, no one will be passing through this deserted quarter of the town.The knave will be confused by the change of place; they will put him into a cellar, of the new building, and to-

morrow night, about the same hour, they will restore him to liberty with the like precautions.As for the East Indian, we now know where to find him; we must send to him a confidential person, and, if he recovers from his trance, there would be, in my humble opinion," said Rodin, modestly, "a very simple and quiet manner of keeping him away from the Rue Saint-

Francois all day to-morrow."

The same servant with the mild countenance, who had introduced and shown out Faringhea, here entered the room, after knocking discreetly at the door.He held in his hand a sort of game-bag, which he gave to Rodin, saying: "Here is what M.Morok has just brought; he came in by the Rue Vieille."

The servant withdrew, and Rodin, opening the bag, said to Father d'Aigrigny, as he showed him the contents: "The medal, and Van Dael's letter.Morok has been quick at his work."

"One more danger avoided," said the marquis; "it is a pity to be forced to such measures."

"We must only blame the rascal who has obliged us to have recourse to them.I will send instantly to the hotel where the Indian lodges."

"And, at seven in the morning, you will conduct Gabriel to the Rue Saint-

Francois.It is there that I must have with him the interview which he has so earnestly demanded these three days."

"I informed him of it this evening, and he awaits your orders."

"At last, then," said Father d'Aigrigny, "after so many struggles, and fears, and crosses, only a few hours separate us from the moment which we have so long desired."

We now conduct the reader to the house in the Rue Saint-Francois.

[13] The doctrine of passive and absolute obedience, the principal tool in the hands of the Jesuits, as summed up in these terrible words of the dying Loyola--that every member of the order should be in the hands of his superiors as a dead body--'perinde ad cadaver'.