lf.
I have asked for full powers; time presses, and I act as if I had
them. One piece of information is indispensable for the success of my
projects. I expect it from you, and I must have it; do you understand
me? The powerful influence of your brother at the Court of Vienna will
serve you in this. I wish to have the most precise details as to the
present position of the Duke de Reichstadt--the Napoleon II. of the
Imperialists. Is it possible, by means of your brother, to open a secret
correspondence with the prince, unknown to his attendants?

"Look to this promptly. It is urgent. This note will be sent off to day.
I shall complete it to-morrow. It will reach you, as usual, by the hands
of the petty shopkeeper."

At the moment when Rodin was sealing this letter within a double
envelope, he thought that he again heard a noise at the door. He
listened. After some silence, several knocks were distinctly audible.
Rodin started. It was the first time any one had knocked at his door,
since nearly a twelve-month that he occupied this room. Hastily placing
the letter in his great-coat pocket, the Jesuit opened the old trunk
under his bed, took from it a packet of papers wrapped in a tattered
cotton handkerchief, added to them the two letters in cipher he had
just received, and carefully relocked the trunk. The knocking continued
without, and seemed to show more and more impatience. Rodin took the
greengrocer's basket in his hand, tucked his umbrella under his arm, and
went with some uneasiness to ascertain who was this unexpected visitor.
He opened the door, and found himself face to face with Rose-Pompon, the
troublesome singer, and who now, with a light and pretty courtesy, said
to him in the most guileless manner in the world, "M. Rodin, if you
please?"

(23) On page 110 of Lamennais' Affaires de Rome, will be seen the
following admirable scathing of Rome by the most truly evangelical
spirit of our age: "So long as the issue of the conflict between Poland
and her oppressors remained in the balances, the papal official organ
contained not one word to offend the so long victorious nation; but
hardly had she gone down under the Czar's atrocious vengeance, and the
long torture of a whole land doomed to rack, and exile, and servitude
began, than this same journal found no language black enough to stain
those whom fortune had fled. Yet it is wrong to charge this unworthy
insult to papal power; it only cringes to the law which