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〃It is said;〃 resumed the other; 〃that Father Rodin made answer to his
Eminence Cardinal Malipieri; who came to persuade him to die in an
exemplary manner; worthy of a son of Loyola; our blessed founder〃at
these words; the three Jesuits bowed their heads together; as if they had
been all moved by the same spring〃it is said; that Father Rodin made
answer to his eminence: ‘I do not need to confess publicly; I WANT TO
LIVE; AND I WILL LIVE。'〃
〃I did not hear that;〃 said the young priest; with an indignant air; 〃but
if Father Rodin really made use of such expressions; it is〃
Here; no doubt; reflection came to him just in time; for he stole a
sidelong glance at his two silent; impassible companions; and added: 〃It
is a great misfortune for his soul; but I am certain; his reverence has
been slandered。〃
〃It was only as a calumnious report; that I mentioned those words;〃 said
the other priest; exchanging a glance with his companion。
One of the garden gates opened; and one of the three reverend fathers
exclaimed; at the sight of the personage who now entered: 〃Oh! here is
his Eminence Cardinal Malipieri; coming to pay a visit to Father Rodin。〃
〃May this visit of his eminence;〃 said the young priest; calmly; 〃be more
profitable to Father Rodin than the last!〃
Cardinal Malipieri was crossing the garden; on his way to the apartment
occupied by Rodin。
Cardinal Malipieri; whom we saw assisting at the sort of council held at
the Princess de Saint…Dizier's; now on his way to Rodin's apartment; was
dressed as a layman; but enveloped in an ample pelisse of puce…colored
satin; which exhaled a strong odor of camphor; for the prelate had taken
care to surround himself with all sorts of anti…cholera specifics。
Having reached the second story of the house; the cardinal knocked at a
little gray door。 Nobody answering; he opened it; and; like a man to
whom the locality was well known; passed through a sort of antechamber;
and entered a room in which was a turn…up bed。 On a black wood table
were many phials; which had contained different medicines。 The prelate's
countenance seemed uneasy and morose; his complexion was still yellow and
bilious; the brown circle which surrounded his black; squinting eyes
appeared still darker than usual。
Pausing a moment; he looked round him almost in fear; and several times
stopped to smell at his anti…cholera bottle。 Then; seeing he was alone;
he approached a glass over the chimney…piece; and examined with much
attention the color of his tongue; after some minutes spent in this
careful investigation; with the result of which he appeared tolerably
satisfied; he took some preservative lozenges out of a golden box; and
allowed them to melt in his mouth; whilst he closed his eyes with a
sanctified air。 Having taken these sanitary precautions; and again
pressed his bottle to his nose; the prelate prepared to enter the third
room; when he heard a tolerably loud noise through the thin partition
which separated him from it; and; stopping to listen; all that was said
in the next apartment easily reached his ear。
〃Now that my wounds are dressed; I will get up;〃 said weak; but sharp and
imperious voice。
〃Do not think of it; reverend father;〃 was answered in a stronger tone;
〃it is impossible。〃
〃You shall see if it is impossible;〃 replied the other voice。
〃But; reverend father; you will kill yourself。 You are not in a state to
get up。 You will expose yourself to a mortal relapse。 I cannot consent
to it。〃
To these words succeeded the noise of a faint struggle; mingled with
groans more angry than plaintive; and the voice resumed: 〃No; no; father;
for your own safety; I will not leave your clothes within your reach。 It
is almost time for your medicine; I will go and prepare it for you。〃
Almost immediately after; the door opened; and the prelate saw enter a
man of about twenty…five years of age; carrying on his arm an old olive
great…coat and threadbare black trousers; which he threw down upon a
chair。
This personage was Ange Modeste Rousselet; chief pupil of Dr。 Baleinier;
the countenance of the young practitioner was mild; humble; and reserved;
his hair; very short in front; flowed down upon his neck behind。 He made
a slight start in surprise on perceiving the cardinal; and bowed twice
very low; without raising his eyes。
〃Before anything else;〃 said the prelate; with his marked Italian accent;
still holding to his nose his bottle of camphor; 〃have any choleraic
symptoms returned?〃
〃No; my lord; the pernicious fever; which succeeded the attack of
cholera; still continues。〃
〃Very good。 But will not the reverend father be reasonable? What was
the noise that I just heard?〃
〃His reverence wished absolutely to get up and dress himself; but his
weakness is so great; that he could not have taken two steps from the
bed。 He is devoured by impatience; and we fear that this agitation will
cause a mortal relapse。〃
〃Has Dr。 Baleinier been here this morning?〃
〃He has just left; my lord。〃
〃What does he think of the patient?〃
〃He finds him in the most alarming state; my lord。 The night was so bad;
that he was extremely uneasy this morning。 Father Rodin is at one of
those critical junctures; when a few hours may decide the life or death
of the patient。 Dr。 Baleinier is now gone to fetch what is necessary for
a very painful operation; which he is about to perform on the reverend
father。〃
〃Has Father d'Aigrigny been told of this?〃
〃Father d'Aigrigny is himself very unwell; as your eminence knows; he has
not been able to leave his bed for the last three days。〃
〃I inquired about him as I came up;〃 answered the prelate; 〃and I shall
see him directly。 But; to return to Father Rodin; have you sent for his
confessor; since he is in a desperate state; and about to undergo a
serious operation?〃
〃Dr。 Baleinier spoke a word to him about it; as well as about the last
sacraments; but Father Rodin exclaimed; with great irritation; that they
did not leave him a moment's peace; that he had as much care as any one
for his salvation; and that〃
〃Per Bacco! I am not thinking of him;〃 cried the cardinal; interrupting
Ange Modeste Rousselet with his pagan oath; and raising his sharp voice
to a still higher key; 〃I am not thinking of him; but of the interests of
the Company。 It is indispensable that the reverend father should receive
the sacraments with the most splendid solemnity; and that his end should
not only be Christian; but exemplary。 All the people in the house; and
even strangers; should be invited to the spectacle; so that his edifying
death may produce an excellent sensation。〃
〃That is what Fathers Grison and Brunet have already endeavored to
persuade his reverence; my lord; but your Eminence knows with what
impatience Father Rodin received this advice; and Dr。 Baleinier did not
venture to persist; for fear of advancing a fatal crisis。〃
〃Well; I will venture to do it; for in these times of revolutionary
impiety; a solemnly Christian death would produce a very salutary effect
on the public。 It would indeed be proper to make the necessary
preparations to embalm the reverend father: he might then lie in state
for some days; with lighted tapers; according to Romish custom。 My
secretary would furnish the design for the bier; it would be very
splendid and imposing; from his position in the Order; Father Rodin is
entitled to have everything in the most sumptuous style。 He must have at
least six hundred tapers; and a dozen funeral lamps; burning spirits of
wine; to hang just over the body; and light it from above: the effect
would be excellent。 We must also distribute little tracts to the people;
concerning the pious and ascetic life of his reverence〃
Here a sudden noise; like that of some piece of metal thrown angrily on
the floor; was heard from the next room; in which was the sick man; and
interrupted the prelate in his description。
〃I hope Father Rodin has not heard you talk of embalming him; my lord;〃
said Rousselet; in a whisper: 〃his bed touches the partition; and almost
everything is audible through it。〃
〃If Father Rodin has heard me;〃 answered the cardinal; sinking his voice;
and retiring to the other end of the room; 〃this circumstance will enable
me to enter at once on the business; but; in any case; I persist in
believing that the embalming and the lying in state are required to make
a good effect upon the public。 The people are already frightened at the
cholera; and such funeral pomp would have no small influence on the
imagination。〃
〃I would venture to observe to your Eminence; that here the laws are
opposed to such exhibitions。〃
〃The lawsalready the laws!〃 said the cardinal; angrily; 〃has not Rome
also her laws? And is not every priest a subject of Rome? Is it not
time〃
But; not choosing; doubtless; to begin a more explicit conversation with
the young doctor; the prelate resumed; 〃We will talk of this hereafter。
But; tell me; since my last visit; has the reverend father had any fresh
attacks of delirium?〃
〃Yes; my lord; here is the note; as your Eminence commanded。〃 So saying
Rousselet delivered a paper to the prelate。 We