resumed the reverend father; "if it were still surrounded by the respect and homage which are due to it from all true believers--in spite of the abominable calumnies with which we are assailed--then, my dear son, we should perhaps have hesitated to release you from your vows, and have rather endeavored to open your eyes to the light, and save you from the fatal delusion to which you are a prey.But now that we are weak, oppressed, threatened on every side, it is our duty, it is an act of charity, not to force you to share in perils from which you have the prudence to wish to withdraw yourself."
So, saying, Father d'Aigrigny cast a rapid glance at his socius, who answered with a nod of approbation, accompanied by a movement of impatience that seemed to say: "Go on! go on!"
Gabriel was quite overcome.There was not in the whole world a heart more generous, loyal, and brave than his.We may judge of what he must have suffered, on hearing the resolution he had come to thus misinterpreted.
"Father," he resumed, in an agitated voice, whilst his eyes filled with tears, "your words are cruel and unjust.You know that I am not a coward."
"No," said Rodin, in his sharp, cutting voice, addressing Father d'Aigrigny, and pointing to Gabriel with a disdainful look; "your dear son is only prudent."
These words from Rodin made Gabriel start; a slight blush colored his pale cheeks; his large and blue eyes sparkled with a generous anger;
then, faithful to the precepts of Christian humility and resignation, he conquered this irritable impulse, hung down his head, and, too much agitated to reply, remained silent, and brushed away an unseen tear.
This tear did not escape the notice of the socius.He saw in it no doubt, a favorable symptom, for he exchanged a glance of satisfaction with Father d'Aigrigny.The latter was about to touch on a question of great interest, so, notwithstanding his self-command, his voice trembled slightly; but encouraged, or rather pushed on by a look from Rodin, who had become extremely attentive, he said to Gabriel: "Another motive obliges us not to hesitate in releasing you from your vow, my dear son.
It is a question of pure delicacy.You probably learned yesterday from your adopted mother, that you will perhaps be called upon to take possession of an inheritance, of which the value is unknown."
Gabriel raised his head hastily and said to Father d'Aigrigny: "As I have already stated to M.Rodin, my adopted mother only talked of her scruples of conscience, and I was completely ignorant of the existence of the inheritance of which you speak."
The expression of indifference with which the young priest pronounced these last words, was remarked by Rodin.
"Be it so," replied Father d'Aigrigny."You were not aware of it--I believe you--though all appearances would tend to prove the contrary--to prove, indeed, that the knowledge of this inheritance was not unconnected with your resolution to separate from us."
"I do not understand you, Father."
"It is very simple.Your rupture with us would then have two motives.
First, we are in danger, and you think it prudent to leave us--"
"Father!"
"Allow me to finish, my dear son, and come to the second motive.If I am deceived, you can tell me so.These are the facts.Formerly, on the hypothesis that your family, of which you knew nothing, might one day leave you some property, you made, in return for the care bestowed on you by the Company, a free gift of all you might hereafter possess, not to us--but to the poor, of whom we are the born shepherds."
"Well, father?" asked Gabriel, not seeing to what this preamble tended.
"Well, my dear son--now that you are sure of enjoying a competence, you wish, no doubt, by separating from us, to annul this donation made under other circumstances."
"To speak plainly, you violate your oath, because we are persecuted, and because you wish to take back your gifts," added Rodin, in a sharp voice, as if to describe in the clearest and plainest manner the situation of Gabriel with regard to the Society.
At this infamous accusation, Gabriel could only raise his hands and eyes to heaven, and exclaim, with an expression of despair, "Oh, heaven!"
Once more exchanging a look of intelligence with Rodin, Father d'Aigrigny said to him, in a severe tone, as if reproaching him for his too savage frankness: "I think you go too far.Our dear son could only have acted in the base and cowardly manner you suggest, had he known his position as an heir; but, since he affirms the contrary, we are bound to believe him-
-in spite of appearances."
"Father," said Gabriel, pale, agitated trembling, and with half-
suppressed grief and indignation, "I thank you, at least, for having suspended your judgment.No, I am not a coward; for heaven is my witness, that I knew of no danger to which the Society was exposed.Nor am I base and avaricious; for heaven is also my witness, that only at this moment I learn from you, father, that I may be destined to inherit property, and--"
"One word, my dear son.It is quite lately that I became informed of this circumstance, by the greatest chance in the world," said Father d'Aigrigny, interrupting Gabriel; "and that was thanks to some family papers which your adopted mother had given to her confessor, and which were entrusted to us when you entered our college.A little before your return from America, in arranging the archives of the Company, your file of papers fell into the hands of our father-attorney.It was examined, and we thus learned that one of your paternal ancestors, to whom the house in which we now are belonged, left a will which is to be opened to-
