“My dear son, you are too hasty in your judgments,” replied Father d’Aigrigny, mildly.  “I tell you, that such was the one, sole thought of your adopted mother.”

“Yesterday, father, she told me all.  She and I were equally deceived.”

“Then, my dear son,” said Father d’Aigrigny, sternly, “you take the word of your adopted mother before mine?”

“Spare me an answer painful for both of us, father,” said Gabriel, casting down his eyes.

“Will you now tell me,” resumed Father d’Aigrigny, with anxiety, “what you mean to—­”

The reverend father was unable to finish.  Samuel entered the room, and said:  “A rather old man wishes to speak to M. Rodin.”

“That is my name, sir,” answered the socius, in surprise; “I am much obliged to you.”  But, before following the Jew, he gave to Father d’Aigrigny a few words written with a pencil upon one of the leaves of his packet-book.

Rodin went out in very uneasy mood, to learn who could have come to seek him in the Rue Saint-Francois.  Father d’Aigrigny and Gabriel were left alone together.

[14] It is only in respect to Missions that the Jesuits acknowledge the papal supremacy.

[15] This rule is so strict in Jesuit Colleges, that if one of three pupils leaves the other two, they separate out of earshot till the first comes back.

CHAPTER XX.

The rupture.

Plunged into a state of mortal anxiety, Father d’Aigrigny had taken mechanically the note written by Rodin, and held it in his hand without thinking of opening it.  The reverend father asked himself in alarm, what conclusion Gabriel would draw from these recriminations upon the past; and he durst not make any answer to his reproaches, for fear of irritating the young priest, upon whose head such immense interests now reposed.  Gabriel could possess nothing for himself, according to the constitutions of the Society of Jesus.  Moreover, the reverend father had obtained from him, in favor of the Order, an express renunciation of all property that might ever come to him.  But the commencement of his conversation seemed to announce so serious a change in Gabriel’s views with regard to the Company, that he might choose to break through the ties which attached him to it; and in that case, he would not be legally bound to fulfil any of his engagements.[16] The donation would thus be cancelled de facto, just at the moment of being so marvellously realized by the possession of the immense fortune of the Rennepont family, and d’Aigrigny’s hopes would thus be completely and for ever frustrated.  Of all these perplexities which the reverend father had experienced for some time past, with regard to this inheritance, none had been more unexpected and terrible than this.  Fearing to interrupt or question Gabriel, Father d’Aigrigny waited, in mute terror, the end of this interview, which already bore so threatening an aspect.