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Rodin's master again interrupted him； and said： 〃Read the letter from
Charlestown； and see what it tells you in order to complete the
information upon this point also。〃
When he had read the letter； Rodin went on： 〃Gabriel is expected every
day from the Rocky Mountains； whither he had absolutely insisted on going
alone upon a mission。〃
〃What imprudence！〃
〃He has no doubt escaped all danger； as he himself announces his speedy
return to Charlestown。 As soon as he arrives； which cannot （they write）
be later than the middle of this month； he will be shipped off for
France。〃
〃Add this to the note which concerns him；〃 said Rodin's master。
〃It is written；〃 replied the secretary； a few moments later。
〃Proceed； then；〃 said his master。 Rodin continued
〃‘NOTE； No。 VI。
〃‘ADRIENNE RENNEPONT DE CARDOVILLE。
〃‘Distantly related （without knowing it） to Jacques Rennepont； alias
Sleepinbuff； and Gabriel Rennepont； missionary priest。 She will soon be
twenty…one years of age； the most attractive person in the world
extraordinary beauty； though red…haireda mind remarkable for its
originalityimmense fortuneall the animal instincts。 The incredible
independence of her character makes one tremble for the future fate of
this young person。 Happily； her appointed guardian； Baron Tripeaud （a
baron of 1829 creation； formerly agent to the late Count of Rennepont；
Duke of Cardoville）； is quite in the interest； and almost in the
dependence； of the young lady's aunt。 We count； with reason； upon this
worthy and respectable relative； and on the Baron Tripeaud； to oppose and
repress the singular； unheard…of designs which this young person； as
resolute as independent； does not fear to avowand which； unfortunately；
cannot be turned to account in the interest of the affair in question
for〃
Rodin was here interrupted by two discreet taps at the door。 The
secretary rose； went to see who knocked； remained a moment without； and
then returned with two letters in his hand； saying： 〃The princess has
profited by the departure of a courier to〃
〃Give me the letter！〃 cried his master； without leaving him time to
finish。 〃At length；〃 he added； 〃I shall have news of my mother〃
He had scarcely read the first few lines of the letter； when he grew
deadly pale； and his features took an expression of painful astonishment
and poignant grief。 〃My mother！〃 he cried； 〃oh； heavens！ my mother！〃
〃What misfortune has happened！〃 asked Rodin； with a look of alarm； as he
rose at the exclamation of his master。
〃The symptoms of improvement were fallacious；〃 replied the other；
dejectedly； 〃she has now relapsed into a nearly hopeless state。 And yet
the doctor thinks my presence might save her； for she calls for me
without ceasing。 She wishes to see me for the last time； that she may
die in peace。 Oh； that wish is sacred！ Not to grant it would be
matricide。 If I can but arrive in time！ Travelling day and night； it
will take nearly two days。〃
〃Alas！ what a misfortune！〃 said Rodin； wringing his hands； and raising
his eyes to heaven。
His master rang the bell violently； and said to the old servant that
opened tile door： 〃Just put what is indispensable into the portmanteau of
my travelling…carriage。 Let the porter take a cab； and go for post…
horses instantly。 Within an hour； I must be on the road。 Mother！
mother！〃 cried he； as the servant departed in haste。 〃Not to see her
againoh； it would be frightful！〃 And sinking upon a chair；
overwhelmed with sorrow； he covered his face with his hands。
This great grief was sincerehe loved tenderly his mother that divine
sentiment had accompanied him； unalterable and pure； through all the
phases of a too often guilty life。
After a few minutes； Rodin ventured to say to his master； as he showed
him the second letter： 〃This； also； has just been brought from M。
Duplessis。 It is very importantvery pressing〃
〃See what it is； and answer it。 I have no head for business。〃
〃The letter is confidential；〃 said Rodin； presenting it to his master。
〃I dare not open it； as you may see by the mark on the cover。〃
At sight of this mark； the countenance of Rodin's master assumed an
indefinable expression of respect and fear。 With a trembling hand he
broke the seal。 The note contained only the following words： 〃Leave all
business； and without losing a minute； set out and come。 M。 Duplessis
will replace you。 He has orders。〃
〃Great God！〃 cried this man in despair。 〃Set out before I have seen my
mother！ It is frightful； impossibleit would perhaps kill heryes； it
would be matricide！〃
Whilst he uttered these words； his eyes rested on the huge globe； marked
with red crosses。 A sudden revolution seemed to take place within him；
he appeared to repent of the violence of his regrets； his face； though
still sad； became once more calm and grave。 He handed the fatal letter
to his secretary； and said to him； whilst he stifled a sigh： 〃To be
classed under its proper number。〃
Rodin took the letter； wrote a number upon it； and placed it in a
particular box。 After a moment's silence； his master resumed： 〃You will
take orders from M。 Duplessis； and work with him。 You will deliver to
him the note on the affair of the medals； he knows to whom to address it。
You will write to Batavia； Leipsic； and Charlestown； in the sense agreed。
Prevent； at any price； the daughters of General Simon from quitting
Leipsic； hasten the arrival of Gabriel in Paris； and should Prince Djalma
come to Batavia； tell M。 Joshua Van Dael； that we count on his zeal and
obedience to keep him there。〃
And this man； who； while his dying mother called to him in vain； could
thus preserve his presence of mind； entered his own apartments； whilst
Rodin busied himself with the answers he had been ordered to write； and
transcribed them in cipher。
In about three quarters of an hour； the bells of the post…horses were
heard jingling without。 The old servant again entered； after discreetly
knocking at the door； and said：
〃The carriage is ready。〃
Rodin nodded； and the servant withdrew。 The secretary； in his turn； went
to knock at the door of the inner room。 His master appeared； still grave
and cold； but fearfully pale； and holding a letter in his hand。
〃This for my mother；〃 said he to Rodin； 〃you will send a courier on the
instant。〃
〃On the instant；〃 replied the secretary。
〃Let the three letters for Leipsic； Batavia and Charlestown； leave to…day
by the ordinary channel。 They are of the last importance。 You know it。〃
Those were his last words。 Executing merciless orders with a merciless
obedience； he departed without even attempting to see his mother。 His
secretary accompanied him respectfully to his carriage。
〃What road； sir？〃 asked the postilion； turning round on his saddle。
〃The road to ITALY！〃 answered Rodin's master； with so deep a sigh that it
almost resembled a sob。
As the horses started at full gallop； Rodin made a low bow； then he
returned to the large； cold； bare apartment。 The attitude； countenance；
and gait of this personage seemed to have undergone a sudden change。 He
appeared to have increased in dimensions。 He was no