, priest, has freely and
voluntarily made over by deed of gift to Frederic Emanuel de Bordeville,
Marquis d'Aigrigny, priest, who has accepted the same, and is,
therefore, the only legal holder of such property, in the room of the
said Gabriel de Rennepont, by virtue of the said deed, drawn up and
engrossed by me this morning, and signed in my presence by the said
Gabriel de Rennepont and Frederic d'Aigrigny."

At this moment, the sound of loud voices was heard from the garden.
Bathsheba entered hastily, and said to her husband with an agitated air:
"Samuel--a soldier--who insists--"

She had not time to finish. Dagobert appeared at the door of the Red
Room. The soldier was fearfully pale. He seemed almost fainting; his
left arm was in a sling, and he leaned upon Agricola. At sight of
Dagobert, the pale and flabby eyelids of Rodin were suddenly distended,
as if all the blood in his body had flowed towards the head. Then the
socius threw himself upon the casket, with the haste of ferocious rage
and avidity, as if he were resolved to cover it with his body, and
defend it at the peril of his life.

(20) This term is sanctioned by legal usage.

CHAPTER XXV. THE DEED OF GIFT.

Father d'Aigrigny did not recognize Dagobert, and had never seen
Agricola. He could not therefore, at first explain the kind of angry
alarm exhibited by Rodin. But the reverend father understood it all,
when he heard Gabriel utter a cry of joy, and saw him rush into the
arms of the smith, exclaiming: "My brother! my second father--oh! it is
heaven that sends you to me."

Having pressed Gabriel's hand, Dagobert advanced towards Father
d'Aigrigny, with a rapid but unsteady step. As he remarked the soldier's
threatening countenance, the reverend father, strong in his acquired
rights, and feeling that, since noon, he was at home here; drew back a
little, and said imperiously to the veteran: "Who are you, sir!--What do
you want here?"

Instead of answering, the soldier continued to advance, then, stopping
just facing Father d'Aigrigny, he looked at him for a second with such
an astounding mixture of curiosity, disdain, aversion, and audacity,
that the ex-colonel of hussars quailed before the pale face and glowing
eye of the veteran. The notary and Samuel, struck with surprise,
remained mute spectators of this scene, while Agricola and Gabriel
followed with anxiety Dagobert's least movements. As for Rodin, he
pretended to be leaning on the cas