“Do not think, my friend, that our happiness makes us forgetful.  No, no; not a day passes without our repeating, with pious and tender respect, those names so dear to our heart.  And these painful memories, hovering forever about us, give to our calm and happy existence that shade of mild seriousness which struck you so much.  No doubt, my friend, this kind of life, bounded by the family circle, and not extending beyond, for the happiness or improvement of our brethren, may be set down as selfish; but, alas! we have not the means—­and though the poor man always finds a place at our frugal table, and shelter beneath our roof, we must renounce all great projects of fraternal action.  The little revenue of our farm just suffices to supply our wants.  Alas! when I think over it, notwithstanding a momentary regret, I cannot blame my resolution to keep faithfully my sacred oath, and to renounce that great inheritance, which, alas! had become immense by the death of my kindred.  Yes, I believe I performed a duty, when I begged the guardian of that treasure to reduce it to ashes, rather than let it fall into the hands of people, who would have made an execrable use of it, or to perjure myself by disputing a donation which I had granted freely, voluntarily, sincerely.  And yet, when I picture to myself the realization of the magnificent views of—­my ancestor—­an admirable Utopia, only possible with immense resources—­and which Mdlle. de Cardoville hoped to carry into execution, with the aid of M. Francois Hardy, of Prince Djalma, of Marshal Simon and his daughters, and of myself—­when I think of the dazzling focus of living forces, which such an association would have been, and of the immense influence it might have had on the happiness of the whole human race—­my indignation and horror, as an honest man and a Christian, are excited against that abominable Company, whose black plots nipped in their bud all those great hopes, which promised so much for futurity.  What remains now of all these splendid projects?  Seven tombs.  For my grave also is dug in that mausoleum, which Samuel has erected on the site of the house in the Rue Neuve-Saint-Francois, and of which he remains the keeper—­faithful to the end!

“I had written thus far, my friend, when I received your letter.  So, after having forbidden you to see me, your bishop now orders that you shall cease to correspond with me.  Your touching, painful regrets have deeply moved me, my friend.  Often have we talked together of ecclesiastical discipline, and of the absolute power of the bishops over, us, the poor working clergy, left to their mercy without remedy.  It is painful, but it is the law of the church, my friend, and you have sworn to observe it.  Submit as I have submitted.  Every engagement is binding upon the man of honor!  My poor, dear Joseph! would that you had the compensations which remained to me, after the rupture of ties that I so much value.  But I know too well what you must feel—­I cannot go on I find it impossible to continue this letter, I might be bitter against those whose orders we are bound to respect.  Since it must be so, this letter shall be my last.  Farewell, my friend! farewell forever.  My heart is almost broken.