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brother。 Let us carry him to a neighboring house； where he can have
immediate aid。〃
The quarryman obeyed with readiness。 Whilst the missionary lifted Father
d'Aigrigny by holding him under the arms； the quarryman took the legs of
the almost inanimate body。 Together； they carried him outside of the
choir。 At sight of the formidable quarryman； aiding the young priest to
render assistance to the man whom he had just before pursued with menaces
of death； the multitude felt a sudden thrill of compassion。 Yielding to
the powerful influence of the words and example of Gabriel； they felt
themselves deeply moved； and each became anxious to offer services。
〃Mr。 Curate； he would perhaps be better on a chair； that one could carry
upright；〃 said Ciboule。
〃Shall I go and fetch a stretcher from the hospital？〃 asked another。
〃Mr。 Curate； let me take your place； the body is too heavy for you。〃
〃Don't trouble yourself；〃 said a powerful man； approaching the missionary
respectfully； 〃I can carry him alone。〃
〃Shall I run and fetch a coach； Mr。 Curate？〃 said a young vagabond；
taking off his red cap。
〃Right；〃 said the quarryman； 〃run away； my buck！〃
〃But first； ask Mr。 Curate if you are to go for a coach；〃 said Ciboule；
stopping the impatient messenger。
〃True；〃 added one of the bystanders； 〃we are here in a church； and Mr。
Curate has the command。 He is at home。〃
〃Yes； yes； go at once； my child；〃 said Gabriel to the obliging young
vagabond。
Whilst the latter was making his way through the crowd； a voice said：
〃I've a little wicker…bottle of brandy； will that be of any use？〃
〃No doubt；〃 answered Gabriel； hastily； 〃pray give it here。 We can rub
his temples with the spirit； and make him inhale a little。〃
〃Pass the bottle；〃 cried Ciboule； 〃but don't put your noses in it！〃 And；
passed with caution from hand to hand； the flask reached Gabriel in
safety。
Whilst waiting for the coming of the coach； Father d'Aigrigny had been
seated on a chair。 Whilst several good…natured people carefully
supported the abbe； the missionary made him inhale a little brandy。 In a
few minutes； the spirit had a powerful influence on the Jesuit； he made
some slight movements； and his oppressed bosom heaved with a deep sigh。
〃He is savedhe will live；〃 cried Gabriel； in a triumphant voice； 〃he
will live； my brothers！〃
〃Oh！ glad to hear it！〃 exclaimed many voices。
〃Oh； yes！ be glad； my brothers！〃 repeated Gabriel； 〃for； instead of being
weighed down with the remorse of crime； you will have a just and
charitable action to remember。 Let us thank God； that he has changed
your blind fury into a sentiment of compassion！ Let us pray to Him； that
neither you； nor those you love； may ever be exposed to such frightful
danger as this unfortunate man has just escaped。 Oh； my brothers！〃 added
Gabriel； as he pointed to the image of Christ with touching emotion；
which communicated itself the more easily to others from the expression
of his angelic countenance； 〃oh； my brothers！ let us never forget； that
HE； who died upon that cross for the defence of the oppressed； for the
obscure children of the people like to ourselves； pronounced those
affectionate words so sweet to the heart； ‘Love ye one another！'Let us
never forget it； let us love and help one another； and we poor people
shall then become better； happier； just。 Loveyes； love ye one another…
…and fall prostrate before that Saviour； who is the God of all that are
weak； oppressed； and suffering in this world！〃
So saying； Gabriel knelt down。 All present respectfully followed his
example； such power was there in his simple and persuasive words。 At
this moment； a singular incident added to the grandeur of the scene。 We
have said that a few seconds before the quarryman and his band entered
the body of the church； several persons had fled from it。 Two of these
had taken refuge in the organ…loft； from which retreat they had viewed
the preceding scene； themselves remaining invisible。 One of these
persons was a young man charged with the care of the organ； and quite
musician enough to play on it。 Deeply moved by the unexpected turn of an
event which at first appeared so tragical； and yielding to an artistical
inspiration； this young man； at the moment when he saw the people
kneeling with Gabriel； could not forbear striking the notes。 Then a sort
of harmonious sigh； at first almost insensible； seemed to rise from the
midst of this immense cathedral； like a divine aspiration。 As soft and
aerial as the balmy vapor of incense； it mounted and spread through the
lofty arches。 Little by little the faint； sweet sounds； though still as
it were covered； changed to an exquisite melody； religious； melancholy；
and affectionate； which rose to heaven like a song of ineffable gratitude
and love。 And the notes were at first so faint； so covered； that the
kneeling multitude had scarcely felt surprise； and had yielded insensibly
to the irresistible influence of that enchanting harmony。
Then many an eye； until now dry and ferocious； became wet with tears
many hard hearts beat gently； as they remembered the words pronounced by
Gabriel with so tender an accent： 〃Love ye one another！〃 It was at this
moment that Father d'Aigrigny came to himselfand opened his eyes。 He
thought himself under the influence of a dream。 He had lost his senses
in sight of a furious populace； who； with insult and blasphemy on their
lips； pursued him with cries of death even to the sanctuary of the
temple。 He opened his eyesand； by the pale light of the sacred lamps；
to the solemn music of the organ； he saw that crowd； just now so menacing
and implacable； kneeling in mute and reverential emotion； and humbly
bowing their heads before the majesty of the shrine。
Some minutes after； Gabriel； carried almost in triumph on the shoulders
of the crowd； entered the coach； in which Father d'Aigrigny； who by
degrees had completely recovered his senses； was already reclining。 By
the order of the Jesuit； the coach stopped before the door of a house in
the Rue de Vaugirard； he had the strength and courage to enter this
dwelling alone； Gabriel was not admitted； but we shall conduct the reader
thither。
CHAPTER XXVI。
THE PATIENT。
At the end of the Rue de Vaugirard； there was then a very high wall； with
only one small doorway in all its length。 On opening this door； you
entered a yard surrounded by a railing； with screens like Venetian
blinds； to prevent your seeing between the rails。 Crossing this
courtyard； you come to a fine large garden； symmetrically planted； at the
end of which stood a building two stories high； looking perfectly
comfortable； without luxury； but with all that cozy simplicity which
betokens discreet opulence。 A few days had elapsed since Father
d'Aigrigny had been so courageously rescued by Gabriel from the popular
fury。 Three ecclesiastics； wearing black gowns； white bands； and square
caps； were walking in the garden with a slow and measured step。 The
youngest seemed to be about thirty years of age； his countenance was
pale； hollow； and impressed with a certain ascetic austerity。 His two
companions； aged between fifty or sixty； had； on the contrary； faces at
once hypocritical and cunning； their round； rosy cheeks shone brightly in
the sunshine； whilst their triple chins； buried in fat； descended in soft
folds over the fine cambric of their bands。 According to the rules of
their order （they belonged to the Society of Jesus）； which forbade their
walking only two together； these three members of the brotherhood never
quitted each other a moment。
〃I fear；〃 said one of the two； continuing a conversation already begun；
and speaking of an absent person； 〃I fear； that the continual agitation
to which the reverend father has been a prey； ever since he was attacked
with the cholera； has exhausted his strength； and caused the dangerous
relapse which now makes us fear for his life。〃
〃They say；〃 resumed the other； 〃that never was there seen anxiety like to
his。〃
〃And moreover；〃 remarked the young priest； bitterly； 〃it is painful to
think； that his reverence Father Rodin has given cause for scandal； by
obstinately refusing to make a public confession； the day before
yesterday when his situation appeared so desperate； that； between two
fits of a delirium； it was thought right to propose to him to receive the
last sacraments。〃
〃His reverence declared that he was not so ill as they supposed；〃
answered one of the fathers； 〃and that he would have the last duties
performed when he thought necessary。〃
〃The fact is； that for the last ten days； ever since he was brought here
dying； his life has been； as it were； only a long and painful agony； and
yet he continues to live。〃
〃I watched by him during the first three days of his malady； with M。
Rousselet； the pupil of Dr。 Baleinier；〃 resumed the youngest father； 〃he
had hardly a moment's consciousness； and when the Lord did grant him a
lucid interval； he employed it in detestable execrations against the fate
which had confined him to his bed。〃
〃It is said；〃 resumed the other； 〃that Father Rodin made answer to his
Eminence Cardinal Malipieri； who cam