read this letter."

"Then excuse my having offered," said Djalma mildly.

"And yet," resumed Rodin, after a moment's reflection, and as if
speaking to himself, "why not?"

And he added, addressing Djalma: "Would you really be so obliging, my
dear prince? I should not have ventured to ask you this service."

So saying, Rodin delivered the letter to Djalma, who read aloud as
follows: "'Your visit this morning to Saint-Dizier House can only be
considered, from what I hear, as a new act of aggression on your part.

"'Here is the last proposition I have to make. It may be as fruitless as
the step I took yesterday, when I called upon you in the Rue Clovis.

"'After that long and painful explanation, I told you that I would write
to you. I keep my promise, and here is my ultimatum.

"'First of all, a piece of advice. Beware! If you are determined to
maintain so unequal a struggle, you will be exposed even to the hatred
of those whom you so foolishly seek to protect. There are a thousand
ways to ruin you with them, by enlightening them as to your protects. It
will be proved to them, that you have shared in the plat, which you
now pretend to reveal, not from generosity, but from cupidity.'" Though
Djalma had the delicacy to feel that the least question on the subject
of this letter would be a serious indiscretion, he could not forbear
turning his head suddenly towards the Jesuit, as he read the last
passage.

"Oh, yes! it relates to me. Such as you see me, my dear prince," added
he, glancing at his shabby clothes, "I am accused of cupidity."

"And who are these people that you protect?"

"Those I protect?" said Rodin feigning some hesitation, as if he
had been embarrassed to find an answer; "who are those I protect?
Hem--hem--I will tell you. They are poor devils without resources; good
people without a penny, having only a just cause on their side, in a
lawsuit in which they are engaged. They are threatened with destruction
by powerful parties--very powerful parties; but, happily, these latter
are known to me, and I am able to unmask them. What else could have
been? Being myself poor and weak, I range myself naturally on the side
of the poor and weak. But continue, I beg of you."

Djalma resumed: "'You have therefore every-thing to fear if you persist
in your hostility, and nothing to gain by taking the side of those whom
you call your friends. They might more justly be termed your dupes, for
your disinterestedness