ully explanatory; you did not forget that the person it is intended for
ought not to know all?"

"I bore it in mind, and drew up the paper accordingly."

"Read," said the master.

M. Rodin read as follows, slowly and deliberately:

"'A hundred and fifty years ago, a French Protestant family, foreseeing
the speedy--revocation of the edict of Nantes, went into voluntary
exile, in order to avoid the just and rigorous decrees already issued
against the members of the reformed church--those indomitable foes of
our holy religion.

"'Some members of this family sought refuge in Holland, and afterwards
in the Dutch colonies; others in Poland, others in Germany; some in
England, and some in America.

"'It is supposed that only seven descendants remain of this family,
which underwent strange vicissitudes since; its present representatives
are found in all ranks of society, from the sovereign to the mechanic.

"'These descendants, direct or indirect, are:

"'On the mother's side,

"'Rose and Blanche Simon--minors.

"'General Simon married, at Warsaw, a descendant of the said family.

"'Francois Hardy, manufacturer at Plessis, near Paris.

"'Prince Djalma, son of Kadja-sing, King of Mondi.

"'Kadja-sing, married, in 1802, a descendant of the said family, then
settled at Batavia, in the Island of Java, a Dutch colony.

"'On the father's side--Jacques Rennepont, surnamed Sleepinbuff,
mechanic.

"'Adrienne de Cardoville, daughter of the Count of Rennepont, Duke of
Cardoville.

"'Gabriel Rennepont, priest of the foreign missions.

"'All the members of this family possess, or should possess, a bronze
medal bearing the following inscriptions:

Victim
of
L. C. D. J.
Pray for me!
Paris
February the 13th, 1682.

At Paris,
Rue Saint Francois, No. 3,
In a century and a half
you will be.
February the 13th, 1832.
Pray For Me!

"'These words and dates show that all of them have a great interest to
be at Paris on the 13th of February, 1832; and that, not by proxy, but
in person, whether they are minors, married or single.

"'But other persons have an immense interest that none of the
descendants of this family be at Paris on the 13th February, except
Gabriel Rennepont, priest of the foreign missions.

"'At all hazards, therefore, Gabriel mus