le hag of
a fortune-teller held in her hands the hand of the little child, and
seemed to read there his future fate, for these words in large blue
letters issued from her mouth: "Sara Papa" (he shall be Pope).

The second of these works of art, which appeared to inspire Rodin with
deep meditations, was an excellent etching, whose careful finish and
bold, correct drawing, contrasted singularly with the coarse coloring
of the other picture. This rare and splendid engraving, which had cost
Rodin six louis (an enormous expense for him), represented a young boy
dressed in rags. The ugliness of his features was compensated by the
intellectual expression of his strongly marked countenance. Seated on
a stone, surrounded by a herd of swine, that he seemed employed in
keeping, he was seen in front, with his elbow resting on his knee, and
his chin in the palm of his hand. The pensive and reflective attitude
of this young man, dressed as a beggar, the power expressed in his large
forehead, the acuteness of his penetrating glance, and the firm lines
of the mouth, seemed to reveal indomitable resolution, combined with
superior intelligence and ready craft. Beneath this figure, the emblems
of the papacy encircled a medallion, in the centre of which was the
head of an old man, the lines of which, strongly marked, recalled in
a striking manner, notwithstanding their look of advanced age, the
features of the young swineherd. This engraving was entitled THE YOUTH
of SIXTUS V.; the color print was entitled The Prediction.(22)

In contemplating these prints more and more nearly, with ardent and
inquiring eye, as though he had asked for hopes or inspirations from
them, Rodin had come so close that, still standing, with his right arm
bent behind his head, he rested, as it were, against the wall, whilst,
hiding his left hand in the pocket of his black trousers, he thus held
back one of the flaps of his olive great-coat. For some minutes, he
remained in this meditative attitude.

Rodin, as we have said, came seldom to this lodging; according to the
rules of his Order, he had till now lived with Father d'Aigrigny,
whom he was specially charged to watch. No member of the Society,
particularly in the subaltern position which Rodin had hitherto held,
could either shut himself in, or possess an article of furniture made
to lock. By this means nothing interferes with the mutual spy-system,
incessantly carried on, which forms one of the most powerfu