ra-Catholic paper
called Neighborly Love. From its ultramontane, tyrannical, liberticidal
fury, it will be thought the organ of Rome. I will confirm these
reports. They will cause new terrors.

"That will be well.

"I shall raise the question of the liberty of instruction. The raw
liberals will support us. Like fools, they admit us to equal rights;
when our privileges, our influence of the confessional, our obedience to
Rome, all place us beyond the circle of equal rights, by the advantages
which we enjoy. Double fools! they think us disarmed, because they have
disarmed themselves towards us.

"A burning question--irritating clamors--new cause of disgust for the
Weak Man. Every little makes a mickle.

"That also is very well.

"To sum up all in two words. The end is abdication--the means, vexation,
incessant torture. The Rennepont inheritance wilt pay for the election.
The price agreed, the merchandise will be sold."

Rodin here paused abruptly, thinking he had heard some noise at that
door of his, which opened on the staircase; therefore he listened with
suspended breath; but all remaining silent, he thought he must have been
deceived, and took up his pen:

"I will take care of the Rennepont business--the hinge on which
will turn our temporal operations. We must begin from the
foundation--substitute the play of interests, and the springs of
passion, for the stupid club law of Father d'Aigrigny. He nearly
compromised everything--and yet he has good parts, knows the world, has
powers of seduction, quick insight--but plays ever in a single key, and
is not great enough to make himself little. In his stead, I shall know
how to make use of him. There is good stuff in the man. I availed myself
in time of the full powers given by the R. F. G.; I may inform Father
d'Aigrigny, in case of need, of the secret engagements taken by the
General towards myself. Until now, I have let him invent for this
inheritance the destination that you know of. A good thought, but
unseasonable. The same end, by other means.

"The information was false. There are over two hundred millions. Should
the eventuality occur, what was doubtful must become certain. An immense
latitude is left us. The Rennepont business is now doubly mine, and
within three months, the two hundred millions will be ours, by the
free will of the heirs themselves. It must be so; for this failing, the
temporal part would escape me, and my chances be diminished by one ha