s
well as gratitude, would point to you as my best counsellor."

According to the skillful tactics of the sons of Loyola, who sometimes
deny their own existence, in order to escape from an adversary--and
sometimes proclaim with audacity the living power of their organization,
in order to intimidate the feeble-R-odin had laughed in the face of the
bailiff of Cardoville, when the latter had spoken of the existence of
the Jesuits; while now, at this moment, picturing their means of action,
he endeavored, and he succeeded in the endeavor, to impregnate the mind
of Mdlle. de Cardoville with some germs of doubt, which were gradually
to develop themselves by reflection, and serve hereafter the dark
projects that he meditated. Mother Bunch still felt considerable alarm
with regard to Rodin. Yet, since she had heard the fatal powers of the
formidable Order revealed to Adrienne, the young sempstress, far from
suspecting the Jesuit of having the audacity to speak thus of a society
of which he was himself a member, felt grateful to him, in spite of
herself, for the important advice that he had just given her patroness.
The side-glance which she now cast upon him (which Rodin also detected,
for he watched the young girl with sustained attention), was full
of gratitude, mingled with surprise. Guessing the nature of this
impression, and wishing entirely to remove her unfavorable opinion, and
also to anticipate a revelation which would be made sooner or later,
the Jesuit appeared to have forgotten something of great importance,
and exclaimed, striking his forehead: "What was I thinking of?" Then,
speaking to Mother Bunch, he added: "Do you know where your sister is,
my dear girl?" Disconcerted and saddened by this unexpected question,
the workwoman answered with a blush, for she remembered her last
interview with the brilliant Bacchanal Queen: "I have not seen my sister
for some days, sir."

"Well, my dear girl, she is not very comfortable," said Rodin; "I
promised one of her friends to send her some little assistance. I have
applied to a charitable person, and that is what I received for her."
So saying, he drew from his pocket a sealed roll of coin, which he
delivered to Mother Bunch, who was now both surprised and affected.

"You have a sister in trouble, and I know nothing of it?" said Adrienne,
hastily. "This is not right of you, my child!"

"Do not blame her," said Rodin. "First of all, she did not know that her
sister was in