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and gait of this personage seemed to have undergone a sudden change。 He
appeared to have increased in dimensions。 He was no longer an automaton;
moved by the mechanism of humble obedience。 His features; till now
impassible; his glance; hitherto subdued; became suddenly animated with
an expression of diabolical craft; a sardonic smile curled his thin; pale
lips; and a look of grim satisfaction relaxed his cadaverous face。
In turn; he stopped before the huge globe。 In turn; he contemplated it
in silence; even as his master had done。 Then; bending over it; and
embracing it; as it were; in his arms; he gloated with his reptile…eye on
it for some moments; drew his coarse finger along its polished surface;
and tapped his flat; dirty nail on three of the places dotted with red
crosses。 And; whilst he thus pointed to three towns; in very different
parts of the world; he named them aloud; with a sneer。 〃Leipsic
CharlestownBatavia。〃
〃In each of these three places;〃 he added; 〃distant as they are from one
another; there exist persons who little think that here; in this obscure
street; from the recesses of this chamber; wakeful eyes are upon them
that all their movements are followed; all their actions knownand that
hence will issue new instructions; which deeply concern them; and which
will be inexorably executed; for an interest is at stake; which may have
a powerful influence on Europeon the world。 Luckily; we have friends
at Leipsic; Charlestown; and Batavia。〃
This funny; old; sordid; ill…dressed man; with his livid and death…like
countenance; thus crawling over the sphere before him; appeared still
more awful than his master; when the latter; erect and haughty; had
imperiously laid his hand upon that globe; which he seemed desirous of
subjecting by the strength of his pride and courage。 The one resembled
the eagle; that hovers above his preythe other the reptile; that
envelops its victim in its inextricable folds。
After some minutes; Rodin approached his desk; rubbing his hands briskly
together; and wrote the following epistle in a cipher unknown even to his
master:
〃Paris; 3/4 past 9 A。M。
〃He is gonebut he hesitated!
'〃When he received the order; his dying mother had just summoned him to
her。 He might; they told him; save her by his presence; and he
exclaimed: ‘Not to go to my mother would be matricide!'
〃Still; he is gonebut he hesitated。 I keep my eye upon him
continually。 These lines will reach Rome at the same time as himself。
〃P。S。Tell the Cardinal…Prince that he may rely on me; but I hope for
his active aid in return。〃
When he had folded and sealed this letter; Rodin put it into his pocket。
The clock struck ten; M。 Rodin's hour for breakfast。 He arranged and
locked up his papers in a drawer; of which he carried away the key;
brushed his old greasy hat with his sleeve; took a patched umbrella in
his hand; and went out。'1'
Whilst these two men; in the depths of their obscure retreat; were thus
framing a plot; which was to involve the seven descendants of a race
formerly proscribeda strange mysterious defender was planning how to
protect this family; which was also his own。
'1' Having cited the excellent; courageous letters of M。 Libri; and the
curious work edited by M。 Paulin; it is our duty likewise to mention many
bold and conscientious writings on the subject of the 〃Society of Jesus;〃
recently published by the elder Dupin; Michelet; Quinet; Genin; and the
Count de Saint Priestworks of high and impartial intellects; in which
the fatal theories of the order are admirably exposed and condemned。 We
esteem ourselves happy; if we can bring one stone towards the erection of
the strong; and; we hope; durable embankment which these generous hearts
and noble minds are raising against the encroachments of an impure and
always menacing flood。 …E。 S。
End