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calmer and more silent than this dwelling。 Every one spoke in whispers；
and the servants themselves had something oily in their words； something
sanctified in their very walk。
Like all that is subject to the chilling and destructive influences of
these men； this mournfully quiet house was entirely wanting in life and
animation。 The boarders passed an existence of wearisome and icy
monotony； only broken by the use of certain devotional exercises； and
thus； in accordance with the selfish calculation of the reverend fathers；
the mind； deprived of all nourishment and all external support； soon
began to droop and pine away in solitude。 The heart seemed to beat more
slowly； the soul was benumbed； the character weakened； at last； all
freewill； all power of discrimination； was extinguished； and the
boarders； submitting to the same process of self…annihilation as the
novices of the Company； became； like them； mere 〃corpses〃 in the hands of
the brotherhood。
The object of these manoeuvres was clear and simple。 They secured the
means of obtaining all kinds of donations； the constant aim of the
skillful policy and merciless cupidity of these priests。 By the aid of
enormous sums； of which they thus become the possessors or the trustees；
they follow out and obtain the success of their projects； even though
murder； incendiarism； revolt； and all the horrors of civil war； excited
by and through them； should drench in blood the lands over which they
seek to extend their dark dominion。
Such； then； was the asylum of peace and innocence in which Francois Hardy
had taken refuge。 He occupied the ground…floor of a summer…house； which
opened upon a portion of the garden。 His apartments had been judiciously
chosen； for we know with what profound and diabolical craft the reverend
fathers avail themselves of material influences； to make a deep
impression upon the minds they are moulding to their purpose。 Imagine a
prospect bounded by a high wall； of a blackish gray； half…covered with
ivy； the plant peculiar to ruins。 A dark avenue of old yew…trees； so fit
to shade the grave with their sepulchral verdure； extended from this wall
to a little semicircle； in front of the apartment generally occupied by
M。 Hardy。 Two or three mounds of earth； bordered with box； symmetrically
cut； completed the charms of this garden； which in every respect
resembled a cemetery。
It was about two o'clock in the afternoon。 Though the April sun shone
brightly； its rays； intercepted by the high wall of which we have spoken；
could not penetrate into that portion of the garden； obscure； damp； and
cold as a cavern； which communicated with M。 Hardy's apartment。 The room
was furnished with a perfect sense of the comfortable。 A soft carpet
covered the floor； thick curtains of dark green baize； the same color as
the walls； sheltered an excellent bed； and hung in folds about the glass…
door； which opened on the garden。 Some pieces of mahogany furniture；
plain； but very clean and bright； stood round the room。 Above the
secretary； placed just in front of the bed； was a large ivory crucifix；
upon a black velvet ground。 The chimney…piece was adorned with a clock；
in an ebony case； with ivory ornaments representing all sorts of gloomy
emblems； such as hour…glasses； scythes； death's…heads； etc。 Now imagine
this scene in twilight； with its solitary and mournful silence； only
broken at the hour of prayer by the lugubrious sound of the bells of the
neighboring chapel； and you will recognize the infernal skill； with which
these dangerous priests know how to turn to account every external
object； when they wish to influence the mind of those they are anxious to
gain over。
And this was not all。 After appealing to the senses； it was necessary to
address themselves to the intellectand this was the method adopted by
the reverend fathers。 A single bookbut onewas left； as if by chance；
within reach。 This book was Thomas a Kempis' 〃Imitation。〃 But as it
might happen that M。 Hardy would not have the courage or the desire to
read this book； thoughts and reflections borrowed from its merciless
pages； and written in very large characters； were suspended in black
frames close to the bed； or at other parts within sight； so that；
involuntarily； in the sad leisure of his inactive dejection； the
dweller's eyes were almost necessarily attracted by them。 To that fatal
circle of despairing thoughts they confined the already weakened mind of
this unfortunate man； so long a prey to the most acute sorrow。 What he
read mechanically； every instant of the day and night； whenever the
blessed sleep fled from his eyes inflamed with tears； was not enough
merely to plunge the soul of the victim into incurable despair； but also
to reduce him to the corpse…like obedience required by the Society of
Jesus。 In that awful book may be found a thousand terrors to operate on
weak minds； a thousand slavish maxims to chain and degrade the
pusillanimous soul。
And now imagine M。 Hardy carried wounded into this house； while his
heart； torn by bitter grief and the sense of horrible treachery； bled
even faster than his external injuries。 Attended with the utmost care；
and thanks to the acknowledged skill of Dr。 Baleinier； M。 Hardy soon
recovered from the hurts he had received when he threw himself into the
embers of his burning factory。 Yet； in order to favor the projects of
the reverend fathers； a drug； harmless enough in its effects； but
destined to act for a time upon the mind of the patient； and often
employed for that purpose in similar important cases by the pious doctor；
was administered to Hardy； and had kept him pretty long in a state of
mental torpor。 To a soul agonized by cruel deceptions； it appears an
inestimable benefit to be plunged into that kind of torpor； which at
least prevents one from dwelling upon the past。
Hardy resigned himself entirely to this profound apathy； and at length
came to regard it as the supreme good。 Thus do unfortunate wretches；
tortured by cruel diseases； accept with gratitude the opiate which kills
them slowly； but which at least deadens the sense of pain。
In sketching the portrait of M。 Hardy； we tried to give some idea of the
exquisite delicacy of his tender soul； of his painful susceptibility with
regard to anything base or wicked； and of his extreme goodness；
uprightness； and generosity。 We now allude to these admirable qualities；
because we must observe； that with him； as with almost all who possess
them； they were not； and could not be； united with an energetic and
resolute character。 Admirably persevering in good deeds； the influence
of this excellent man； was insinuating rather than commanding； it was not
by the bold energy and somewhat overbearing will； peculiar to other men
of great and noble heart； that Hardy had realized the prodigy of his
Common Dwelling…house； it was by affectionate persuasion； for with him
mildness took the place of force。 At sight of any baseness or injustice；
he did not rouse himself； furious and threatening； but he suffered
intense pain。 He did not boldly attack the criminal； but he turned away
from him in pity and sorrow。 An