it.  But property is concerned which belong to poor orphans, brought from a distant exile by my adopted father, and I will not see them wronged.  But the benefactress of my adopted brother is concerned, and I will not see her wronged.  But the last will of a dying man is concerned, who, in his ardent love of humanity, bequeathed to his descendants an evangelic mission—­an admirable mission of progress, love, union, liberty—­and I will not see this mission blighted in its bud.  No, no; I tell you, that this his mission shall be accomplished, though I have to cancel the donation I have made.”

On these words, Father d’Aigrigny and Rodin looked at each other with a slight shrug of the shoulders.  At a sign from the socius, the reverend father began to speak with immovable calmness, in a slow and sanctified voice, keeping eyes constantly cast down:  “There are many incidents connected with this inheritance of M. de Rennepont, which appear very complicated—­many phantoms, which seem un usually menacing—­and yet, nothing could be really more simple and natural.  Let us proceed in regular order.  Let us put aside all these calumnious imputations; we will return to them afterwards.  M. Gabriel de Rennepont—­and I humbly beg him to contradict me, if I depart in the least instance from the exact truth—­M.  Gabriel de Rennepont, in acknowledgment of the care formerly bestowed on him by the society to which I have the honor to belong, made over to me, as its representative, freely and voluntarily, all the property that might come to him one day, the value of which was unknown to him, as well as to myself.”

Father d’Aigrigny here looked at Gabriel, as if appealing to him for the truth of this statement.

“It is true,” said the young priest:  “I made this donation freely.”

“This morning, in consequence of a private conversation, which I will not repeat—­and in this, I am certain beforehand, of the Abbe Gabriel—­”

“True,” replied Gabriel, generously; “the subject of this conversation is of little importance.”

“It was then, in consequence of this conversation that the Abbe Gabriel manifested the desire to confirm this donation—­not in my favor, for I have little to do with earthly wealth—­but in favor of the sacred and charitable works of which our Company is the trustee.  I appeal to the honor of M. Gabriel to declare if he have not engaged himself towards us, not only by a solemn oath, but by a perfectly legal act, executed in presence of M. Dumesnil, here present?”

“It is all true,” answered Gabriel.

“The deed was prepared by me,” added the notary.

“But Gabriel could only give you what belonged to him,” cried Dagobert.  “The dear boy never supposed that you were making use of him to rob other people.”

“Do me the favor, sir, to allow me to explain myself,” replied Father d’Aigrigny, courteously; “you can afterwards make answer.”