“By this it appears that these various items amount to little less than two millions.  Teaching, moreover, is another important source of revenue to the Jesuits.  The college at Broyclette alone brings in 200,000 francs.  The two provinces in France (for the general of the Jesuits at Rome has divided France into two provinces, Lyons and Paris) possess, besides a large sum in ready money, Austrian bonds of more than 260,000 francs.  Their Propagation of Faith furnishes annually some 50,000 francs; and the harvest which the priests collect by their sermons amounts to 150,000 francs.  The alms given for charity may be estimated at the same figure, producing together a revenue of 540,000 francs.  Now, to this revenue may be added the produce of the sale of the Society’s works, and the profit obtained by hawking pictures.  Each plate costs, design and engraving included, about 600 francs, off which are struck about 10,000 copies, at 40 francs per thousand, and there is a further expense of 250 francs to their publisher; and they obtain a net profit of 210 francs on every thousand.  This, indeed, is working to advantage.  And it can easily be imagined with what rapidity all these are sold.  The fathers themselves are the travellers for the Society, and it would be difficult to find more zealous or persevering ones.  They are always well received, and do not know what it is to meet with a refusal.  They always take care that the publisher should be one of their own body.  The first person whom they selected for this occupation was one of their members, possessing some money; but they were obliged, notwithstanding, to make certain advances to enable him to defray the expenses of its first establishment.  But, when they became fully convinced of the success of their undertaking, they suddenly called in these advances, which the publisher was not in a condition to pay.  They were perfectly aware of this, and superseded him by a wealthy successor, with whom they could make a better bargain; and thus, without remorse, they ruined the man, by thrusting him from an appointment of which they had morally guaranteed the continuance.”

[12] Louis XIV., the great King, punished with the Galleys those Protestants who, once converted, often by force, afterwards returned to their first belief.  As for those Protestants who remained in France, notwithstanding the rigor of the edicts against them, they were deprived of burial, dragged upon a hurdle, and given to the dogs.—­E.  S.

CHAPTER XV.

The thug.

After a moment’s silence, Father d’Aigrigny resumed “Read me to-day’s report on the situation of each of the persons designated.”

“Here is that of this evening; it has just come.”

“Let us hear.”

Rodin read as follows:  “Jacques Rennepont, alias Sleepinbuff, was seen in the interior of the debtors’ prison at eight o’clock this evening.”