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the guidance of an old soldier。
〃‘This man is enterprising； faithful； and determined。 He
is noted down as dangerous。
〃‘The Simon girls are inoffensive。 It is hoped； on fair
grounds； that they are now detained in the neighborhood of
Leipsic。'〃
Rodin's master interrupted him； saying：
〃Now； read the letter just received from Leipsic； it may complete the
information。〃
Rodin read it； and exclaimed：
〃Excellent news！ The maidens and their guide had succeeded in escaping
during the night from the White Falcon Tavern； but all three were
overtaken and seized about a league from Mockern。 They have been
transferred to Leipsic； where they are imprisoned as vagabonds； their
guide； the soldier； is accused and condemned of resisting the
authorities； and using violence to a magistrate。〃
〃It is almost certain； then； considering the tedious mode of proceeding
in Germany （otherwise we would see to it）； that the girls will not be
able to be here on the 13th February；〃 added Rodin's master。 〃Append
this to the note on the back。〃
The secretary obeyed； and endorsed 〃An abstract of Morok's letter。〃
〃It is written；〃 he then added。
〃Go on；〃 resumed his master。
Rodin continued reading。
〃‘NOTE； No。 II。
〃‘Francois Hardy； manufacturer at Plessis； near Paris； forty years old； a
steady； rich； intelligent； active； honest； well…informed man； idolized by
his workmenthanks to numberless innovations to promote their welfare。
Never attending to the duties of our holy religion。 Noted down as a very
dangerous man： but the hatred and envy he excites among other
manufacturers； especially in M。 le Baron Tripeaud； his competitor； may
easily be turned against him。 If other means of action on his account；
and against him； are necessary； the evidence may be consulted； it is very
voluminous。 This man has been marked and watched for a long time。
〃‘He has been so effectually misguided with respect to the medal； that he
is completely deceived as to the interests it represents。 He is；
however； constantly watched； surrounded； and governed； without suspecting
it； one of his dearest friends deceives him； and through his means we
know his secret thoughts。
〃‘NOTE； No。 III。
〃‘Prince Djalma； eighteen； energetic and generous； haughty； independent
and wild； favorite of General Simon； who commanded the troops of his
father； Kadja…sing； in the struggle maintained by the latter against the
English in India。 Djalma is mentioned only by way of reminder； for his
mother died young； while her parents were living。 They resided at
Batavia。 On the death of the latter； neither Djalma nor the king； his
father； claimed their little property。 It is； therefore； certain that
they are ignorant of the grave interests connected with the possession of
the medal in question； which formed part of the property of Djalma's
mother。〃
Rodin's master interrupted him。
〃Now read the letter from Batavia； and complete the information
respecting Djalma。〃
Rodin read； and then observed：
〃Good news again。 Joshua Van Dael； merchant at Batavia （he was educated
in our Pondicherry establishment）； learns from his correspondent at
Calcutta that the old Indian king was killed in the last battle with the
English。 His son； Djalma； deprived of the paternal throne； is
provisionally detained as a prisoner of state in an Indian fortress。〃
〃We are at the end of October；〃 said Rodin's master。 〃If Prince Djalma
were to leave India now； he could scarcely reach Paris by the month of
February。〃
〃Van Dael；〃 continued Rodin； 〃regrets that he has not been able to prove
his zeal in this case。 Supposing Prince Djalma set at liberty； or having
effected his escape； it is certain he would come to Batavia to claim his
inheritance from his mother； since he has nothing else left him in the
world。 In that case； you may rely on Van Dael's devotedness。 In return；
he solicits very precise information； by the next post； respecting the
fortune of M。 le Baron Tripeaud； banker and manufacturer； with whom he
has business transactions。〃
〃Answer that point evasively。 Van Dael as yet has only shown zeal；
complete the information respecting Djalma from these new tidings。〃
Rodin wrote。
But in a few minutes his master said to him with a singular expression：
〃Does not Van Dael mention General Simon in connection with Djalma's
imprisonment and his father's death？〃
〃He does not allude to him；〃 said the secretary； continuing his task。
Rodin's master was silent； and paced the room。
In a few moments Rodin said to him： 〃I have done it。〃
〃Go on； then。〃
〃‘NOTE； No。 IV。
〃'Jacques Rennepont； surnamed 〃Sleepinbuff；〃 i。e。 Lie naked； workman in
Baron Tripeaud's factory。 This artisan is drunken； idle； noisy； and
prodigal； he is not without sense； but idleness and debauch have ruined
him。 A clever agent； on whom we rely； has become acquainted with his
mistress； Cephyse Soliveau； nicknamed the Bacchanal Queen。 Through her
means； the agent has formed such ties with him that he may even now be
considered beyond the reach of the interests that ought to insure his
presence in Paris on the 13th of February。
〃‘NOTE； No。 V。
〃‘Gabriel Rennepont； priest of foreign missions； distant relation of the
above； but he is alike ignorant of the existence of his relative and the
relationship。 An orphan foundling； he was adopted by Frances Baudoin；
the wife of a soldier going by the name Dagobert。
〃‘Should this soldier； contrary to expectation； reach Paris； his wife
would be a powerful means of influencing him。 She is an excellent
creature； ignorant and credulous； of exemplary piety； over whom we have
long had unlimited control。 She prevailed on Gabriel to take orders；
notwithstanding his repugnance。
〃'Gabriel is five…and…twenty； disposition as angelic as his countenance；
rare and solid virtues； unfortunately he was brought up with his adopted
brother； Agricola； Dagobert's son。 This Agricola is a poet and workman
but an excellent workman； he is employed by M。 Hardy； has imbibed the
most detestable doctrines； fond of his mother； honest； laborious； but
without religious feeling。 Marked as very dangerous。 This causes his
intimacy with Gabriel to be feared。
〃‘The latter； notwithstanding his excellent qualities； sometimes causes
uneasiness。 We have even delayed confiding in him fully。 A false step
might make him； too； one of the most dangerous。 Much precaution must be
used then； especially till the 13th of February； since； we repeat it； on
him； on his presence in Paris at that time； depend immense hopes and
equally important interests。
〃‘Among other precautions； we have consented to his taking part in the
American mission； for he unites with angelic sweetness of character a
calm intrepidity and adventurous spirit which could only be satisfied by
allowing him to engage in the perilous existence of the missionaries。
Luckily； his superiors at Charlestown have received the strictest orders
not to endanger； on any account； so precious a life。 They are to send
him to Paris； at least a month or two before February 13th。〃'
Rodin's master again interrupted him； and said： 〃Read the letter f