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registers are reported； without alteration； hatred or passion the facts
relating to the life of each individual。 It is the most gigantic
biographical collection that has ever been formed。 The frailties of a
woman； the secret errors of a statesman； are chronicled in this book with
the same cold impartiality。 Drawn up for the purpose of being useful；
these biographies are necessarily exact。 When the Jesuits wish to
influence an individual； they have but to turn to this book； and they
know immediately his life； his character； his parts； his faults； his
projects； his family； his friends； his most sacred ties。 Conceive； what
a superior facility of action this immense police…register； which
includes the whole world； must give to any one society！ It is not
lightly that I speak of these registers； I have my facts from a person
who has seen this collection； and who is perfectly well acquainted with
the Jesuits。 Here then； is matter to reflect on for all those families；
who admit freely into their houses the members of a community that
carries its biographical researches to such a point。
（Libri； Member of the Institute。 Letters on the Clergy。）
When he had conquered the involuntary emotion which the name or
remembrance of General Simon had occasioned； Rodin's master said to the
secretary： 〃Do not yet open the letters from Leipsic； Charlestown； and
Batavia； the information they contain will doubtless find its place
presently。 It will save our going over the same ground twice。〃
The secretary looked inquiringly at his master。
The latter continued〃Have you finished the note relating to the
medals？〃
〃Here it is；〃 replied the secretary； 〃I was just finishing my
interpretation of the cipher。〃
〃Read it to me； in the order of the facts。 You can append to it the news
contained in those three letters。〃
〃True；〃 said Rodin； 〃in that way the letters will find their right
place。〃
〃I wish to see；〃 rejoined the other； 〃whether this note is clear and
fully explanatory； you did not forget that the person it is intended for
ought not to know all？〃
〃I bore it in mind； and drew up the paper accordingly。〃
〃Read；〃 said the master。
M。 Rodin read as follows； slowly and deliberately：
〃‘A hundred and fifty years ago； a French Protestant family； foreseeing
the speedyrevocation of the edict of Nantes； went into voluntary exile；
in order to avoid the just and rigorous decrees already issued against
the members of the reformed churchthose indomitable foes of our holy
religion。
〃‘Some members of this family sought refuge in Holland； and afterwards in
the Dutch colonies； others in Poland； others in Germany； some in England；
and some in America。
〃‘It is supposed that only seven descendants remain of this family； which
underwent strange vicissitudes since； its present representatives are
found in all ranks of society； from the sovereign to the mechanic。
〃‘These descendants； direct or indirect； are：
〃‘On the mother's side；
〃‘Rose and Blanche Simonminors。
〃‘General Simon married； at Warsaw； a descendant of the said family。
〃‘Francois Hardy； manufacturer at Plessis； near Paris。
〃‘Prince Djalma； son of Kadja…sing； King of Mondi。
〃‘Kadja…sing； married； in 1802； a descendant of the said family； then
settled at Batavia； in the Island of Java； a； Dutch colony。
〃‘On the father's side
〃‘Jacques Rennepont； surnamed Sleepinbuff； mechanic。
〃‘Adrienne de Cardoville； daughter of the Count of Rennepont； Duke of
Cardoville。
〃‘Gabriel Rennepont； priest of the foreign missions。
〃‘All the members of this family possess； or should possess； a bronze
medal bearing the following inscriptions：
Victim
of
L。 C。 D。 J。
Pray for me！
Paris
February the 13th； 1682。
At Paris；
Rue Saint Francois； No。 3；
In a century and a half
you will be。
February the 13th； 1832。
Pray For Me！
〃‘These words and dates show that all of them have a great interest to be
at Paris on the 13th of February； 1832； and that； not by proxy； but in
person； whether they are minors； married or single。
〃‘But other persons have an immense interest that none of the descendants
of this family be at Paris on the 13th February； except Gabriel
Rennepont； priest of the foreign missions。
〃‘At all hazards； therefore； Gabriel must be the only person present at
the appointment made with the descendants of this family； a century and a
half ago。
〃‘To prevent the other six persons from reaching Paris on the said day；
or to render their presence of no effect； much has been already done； but
much remains to be done to ensure the success of this affair； which is
considered as the most vital and most important of the age； on account of
its probable results。'〃
〃'Tis but too true；〃 observed Rodin's master； interrupting him； and
shaking his head pensively。 〃And； moreover； that the consequences of
success are incalculable； and there is no forseeing what may follow
failure。 In a word； it almost involves a question of existence or non…
existence during several years。 To succeed； therefore； ‘all possible
means must be employed。 Nothing must be shunned；' except； however； that
appearances must be skillfully maintained。〃
〃I have written it；〃 said Rodin； having added the words his master had
just dictated； who then said；
〃Continue。〃
Rodin read on：
〃‘To forward or secure the affair in question； it is necessary to give
some private and secret particulars respecting the seven persons who
represent this family。
〃‘The truth of these particulars may be relied on。 In case of need they
might be completed in the most minute degree for contradictory
information having been given； very lengthened evidence has been
obtained。 The order in which the names of the persons stand will be
observed； and events that have happened up to the present time will only
be mentioned。
〃‘NOTE； No。 I。
〃‘Rose and Blanche Simon； twin sisters； about fifteen years of age； very
pretty； so much alike； one might be taken for the other； mild and timid
disposition； but capable of enthusiasm。 Brought up in Siberia by their
mother； a woman of strong mind and deistical sentiments； they are wholly
ignorant of our holy religion。
〃‘General Simon； separated from his wife before they were born； is not
aware； even now； that he has two daughters。
〃‘It was hoped that their presence in Paris； on the 13th of February；
would be prevented； by sending their mother to a place of exile； much
more distant than the one first allotted her； but their mother dying； the
Governor of Siberia； who is wholly ours； supposing； by a deplorable
mistake； that the measure only affected the wife of General Simon
personally； unfortunately allowed the girls to return to France； under
the guidance of an old soldier。
〃‘This man is enterprising； faithful； and determined。 He
is note