ruption, the icy atmosphere in which
he had passed a portion of his childhood and youth had benumbed, but not
vitiated, his generous qualities, which had indeed soon revived in the
warm air of liberty. Father d'Aigrigny, much paler and more agitated than
Gabriel, strove to excuse and explain his anxiety by attributing it to
the sorrow he experienced at the rupture of his dear son with the Order.
Rodin, calm, and perfectly master of himself, saw with secret rage the
strong emotion of Father d'Aigrigny, which might have inspired a man less
confiding than Gabriel with strange suspicions. Yet, notwithstanding his
apparent indifference, the socius was perhaps still more ardently
impatient than his superior for the success of this important affair.
Samuel appeared quite desponding, no other heir but Gabriel having
presented himself. No doubt the old man felt a lively sympathy for the
young priest; but then he was a priest, and with him would finish the
line of Rennepont; and this immense fortune, accumulated with so much
labor, would either be again distributed, or employed otherwise than the
testator had desired. The different actors in this scene were standing
around the table. As they were about to seat themselves, at the
invitation of the notary, Samuel pointed to the register bound in black
shagreen, and said: "I was ordered, sir, to deposit here this register.
It is locked. I will deliver up the key, immediately after the reading of
the will."

"This course is, in fact, directed by the note which accompanies the
will," said M. Dumesnil, "as it was deposited, in the year 1682, in the
hands of Master Thomas Le Semelier, king's counsel, and notary of the
Chatelet of Paris, then living at No. 13, Place Royale."

So saying, M. Dumesnil drew from a portfolio of red morocco a large
parchment envelope, grown yellow with time; to this envelope was annexed,
by a silken thread, a note also upon vellum.

"Gentlemen," said the notary, "if you please to sit down, I will read the
subjoined note, to regulate the formalities at the opening of the will."

The notary, Rodin, Father d'Aigrigny, and Gabriel, took seats. The young
priest, having his back turned to the fireplace, could not see the two
portraits. In spite of the notary's invitation, Samuel remained standing
behind the chair of that functionary, who read as follows:

"'On the 13th February, 1832, my will shall be carried to No. 3, in the
Rue Saint-Francois.

"'At ten o'cl