Gabriel fell back into his chair, in the midst of a general silence, which was broken by Father d’Aigrigny saying, “It is a case of extraordinary resemblance; that is all, my dear son.  Only, the natural gratitude which you feel towards your benefactress, makes you take a deep interest in this singular coincidence.”

Rodin, bursting with impatience, here said to the notary, by whose side he stood, “It seems to me, sir, that all this little romance has nothing to do with the testament.”

“You are right,” answered the notary, resuming his seat; “but the fact is so extraordinary, and as you say, romantic, that one cannot help sharing in this gentleman’s astonishment.”

He pointed to Gabriel, who, with his elbow resting on the arms of the chair, leaned his forehead upon his hand, apparently quite absorbed in thought.  The notary continued the reading of the will, as follows: 

“’Such are the persecutions to which my family has been exposed on the part of the Society of Jesus.

“’The Society possesses at this hour the whole of my confiscated property.  I am about to die.  May its hatred perish with me, and spare my kindred, whose fate at this solemn moment is my last and only thought.

“’This morning I sent for a man of long tried probity Isaac Samuel.  He owes his life to me, and every day I congratulate myself on having been able to preserve to the world so honest and excellent a creature.

“’Before the confiscation of my property, Isaac Samuel had long managed it with as much intelligence as uprightness.  I have entrusted him with the fifty thousand crowns, returned to me by a faithful friend.  Isaac Samuel, and his descendants after him, to whom he will leave this debt of gratitude, will invest the above sum, and allow it to accumulate, until the expiration of the hundred and fiftieth year from this time.

“’The amount thus accumulated may become enormous, and constitute a royal fortune, if no unfavorable event should occur.  May my descendants attend to my wishes, as to the division and employment of this immense sum!

“’In a century and a half, there happen so many changes, so many varieties of fortunes, such a rise and fall in the condition of the successive generations of a family, that probably, a hundred and fifty years hence, my descendants will belong to various classes of society, and thus represent the divers social elements of their time.

“’There may, perhaps, be among them men of great intelligence great courage, or great virtue—­learned men, or names illustrious in arts and arms.  There may, perhaps, also be obscure workmen, or humble citizens—­perhaps, also, alas! great criminals.

“’However, this may be, my most earnest desire is that my descendants should combine together, and, reconstituting one family, by a close and sincere union, put into practice the divine words of Christ, “Love ye one another.”