“In brief, sir, what do you want?” said Father d’Aigrigny, hardly, able to control himself.

“I have come to unmask you—­you, that are as false and hateful a priest, as Gabriel is admirable and beloved by all.”

“Sir!” cried the marquis, becoming livid with rage and emotion.

“I tell you, that you are infamous,” resumed the soldier, with still greater force.  “To rob Marshal Simon’s daughters, and Gabriel, and Mdlle. de Cardoville of their inheritance, you have had recourse to the most shameful means.”

“What do you say?” cried Gabriel.  “The daughters of Marshal Simon?”

“Are your relations, my dear boy, as is also that worthy Mdlle. de Cardoville, the benefactress of Agricola.  Now, this priest,” he added, pointing to Father d’Aigrigny, “has had them shut up—­the one as mad, in a lunatic asylum—­the others in a convent.  As for you, my dear boy, I did not hope to find you here, believing that they would have prevented you, like the others, from coming hither this morning.  But, thank God, you are here, and I arrive in time.  I should have been sooner, but for my wound.  I have lost so much blood, that I have done nothing but faint all the morning.”

“Truly!” cried Gabriel, with uneasiness.  “I had not remarked your arm in a sling.  What is the wound?”

At a sign from Agricola, Dagobert answered:  “Nothing; the consequence of a fall.  But here I am, to unveil many infamies.”

It is impossible to paint the curiosity, anguish, surprise, or fear, of the different actors in this scene, as they listened to Dagobert’s threatening words.  But the most overcome was Gabriel.  His angelic countenance was distorted, his knees trembled under him.  Struck by the communication of Dagobert which revealed the existence of other heirs, he was unable to speak for some time; at length, he cried out, in a tone of despair:  “And it is I—­oh, God!  I—­who am the cause of the spoliation of this family!”

“You, brother?” exclaimed Agricola.

“Did they not wish to rob you also?” added Dagobert.

“The will,” cried Gabriel, with increasing agony, “gave the property to those of the heirs that should appear before noon.”

“Well?” said Dagobert, alarmed at the emotion of the young priest.

“Twelve o’clock has struck,” resumed the latter.  “Of all the family, I alone was present.  Do you understand it now?  The term is expired.  The heirs have been thrust aside by me!”

“By you!” said Dagobert, stammering with joy.  “By you, my brave boy! then all is well.”

“But—­”

“All is well,” resumed Dagobert, radiant with delight.  “You will share with the others—­I know you.”

“But all this property I have irrevocably, made over to another,” cried Gabriel, in despair.

“Made over the property!” cried Dagobert, quite petrified.  “To whom, then?—­to whom?”

“To this gentleman,” said Gabriel, pointing to Father d’Aigrigny.