第294章

THE FIRST LAST, AND THE LAST FIRST.

The carriage had travelled rapidly to Saint-Dizier House.During all the way, Rodin remained mute, contenting himself with observing Father d'Aigrigny, and listening to him, as he poured forth his grief and fury in a long monologue, interrupted by exclamations, lamentations, and bursts of rage, directed against the strokes of that inexorable destiny, which had ruined in a moment the best founded hopes.When the carriage entered the courtyard, and stopped before the portico, the princess's face could be seen through one of the windows, half hidden by the folds of a curtain; in her burning anxiety, she came to see if it was really Father d'Aigrigny who arrived at the house.Still more, in defiance of all ordinary rules, this great lady, generally so scrupulous as to appearances, hurried from her apartment, and descended several steps of the staircase, to meet Father d'Aigrigny, who was coming up with a dejected air.At sight of the livid and agitated countenance of the reverend father, the princess stopped suddenly, and grew pale.She suspected that all was lost.A look rapidly exchanged with her old lover left her no doubt of the issue she so much feared.Rodin humbly followed the reverend father, and both, preceded by the princess, entered the room.The door once closed, the princess, addressing Father d'Aigrigny,, exclaimed with unspeakable anguish: "What has happened?"

Instead of answering this question, the reverend father, his eyes sparkling with rage, his lips white, his features contracted, looked fixedly at the princess, and said to her: "Do you know the amount of this inheritance, that we estimated at forty millions?"

"I understand," cried the princess; "we have been deceived.The inheritance amounts to nothing, and all you have dare has been in vain."

"Yes, it has indeed been in vain," answered the reverend father, grinding his teeth with rage; "it was no question of forty millions, but of two hundred and twelve millions.

"Two hundred and twelve millions!" repeated the princess in amazement, as she drew back a step."It is impossible!"

"I tell you I saw the vouchers, which were examined by the notary."

"Two hundred and twelve millions?" resumed the princess, with deep dejection."It is an immense and sovereign power--and you have renounced--you have not struggled for it, by every possible means, and till the last moment?"

"Madame, I have done all that I could!--notwithstanding the treachery of Gabriel, who this very morning declared that he renounced us, and separated from the Society."

"Ungrateful!" said the princess, unaffectedly.

"The deed of gift, which I had the precaution to have prepared by the notary, was in such good, legal form, that in spite of the objections of that accursed soldier and his son, the notary had put me in possession of the treasure."

"Two hundred and twelve millions!" repeated the princess clasping her hands."Verily it is like a dream!"

"Yes," replied Father d'Aigrigny, bitterly, "for us, this possession is indeed a dream, for a codicil has been discovered, which puts off for three months and a half all the testamentary provisions.Now that our very precautions have roused the suspicion of all these heirs--now that they know the enormous amount at stake--they will be upon their guard;

and all is lost."

"But who is the wretch that produced this codicil?"

"A woman."

"What woman?"

"Some wandering creature, that Gabriel says he met in America, where she saved his life."

"And how could this woman be there--how could she know the existence of this codicil?"

"I think it was all arranged with a miserable Jew, the guardian of the house, whose family has had charge of the funds for three generations; he had no doubt some secret instructions, in case he suspected the detention of any of the heirs, for this Marius de Rennepont had foreseen that our Company would keep their eyes upon his race."

"But can you not dispute the validity of this codicil?"

"What, go to law in these times--litigate about a will--incur the certainty of a thousand clamors, with no security for success?--It is bad enough, that even this should get wind.Alas! it is terrible.So near the goal! after so much care and trouble.An affair that had been followed up with so much perseverance during a century and a half!"

"Two hundred and twelve millions!" said the princess."The Order would have had no need to look for establishments in foreign countries; with such resources, it would have been able to impose itself upon France."

"Yes," resumed Father d'Aigrigny, with bitterness; "by means of education, we might have possessed ourselves of the rising generation.

The power is altogether incalculable." Then, stamping with his foot, he resumed: "I tell you, that it is enough to drive one mad with rage! an affair so wisely, ably, patiently conducted!"

"Is there no hope?"

"Only that Gabriel may not revoke his donation, in as far as concerns himself.That alone would be a considerable sum--not less than thirty millions."

"It is enormous--it is almost what you hoped," said the princess; "then why despair?"

"Because it is evident that Gabriel will dispute this donation.However legal it may be, he will find means to annul it, now that he is free, informed as to our designs, and surrounded by his adopted family.I tell you, that all is lost.There is no hope left.I think it will be even prudent to write to Rome, to obtain permission to leave Paris for a while.This town is odious to me!"

"Oh, yes! I see that no hope is left- since you, my friend, have decided almost to fly."