Le Juif errant. English

by Eugène Sue

  CHAPTER XVI. THE ORDERS.

  The principal houses correspond with that in Paris; they are alsoin direct communication with the General, who resides at Rome. Thecorrespondence of the Jesuits so active, various, and organized in sowonderful a manner, has for its object to supply the heads with all theinformation they can require. Every day, the General receives a hostof reports, which serve to check one another. In the central house, atRome, are immense registers, in which are inscribed the names of allthe Jesuits, of their adherents, and of all the considerable persons,whether friends or enemies, with whom they have any connection. In theseregisters are reported, without alteration, hatred or passion thefacts relating to the life of each individual. It is the most giganticbiographical collection that has ever been formed. The frailties of awoman, the secret errors of a statesman, are chronicled in this bookwith the same cold impartiality. Drawn up for the purpose of beinguseful, these biographies are necessarily exact. When the Jesuits wishto influence an individual, they have but to turn to this book, and theyknow immediately his life, his character, his parts, his faults, hisprojects, his family, his friends, his most sacred ties. Conceive,what a superior facility of action this immense police-register, whichincludes the whole world, must give to any one society! It is notlightly that I speak of these registers; I have my facts from a personwho has seen this collection, and who is perfectly well acquainted withthe Jesuits. Here then, is matter to reflect on for all those families,who admit freely into their houses the members of a community thatcarries its biographical researches to such a point. (Libri, Member ofthe Institute. Letters on the Clergy.)

  When he had conquered the involuntary emotion which the name orremembrance of General Simon had occasioned, Rodin's master said to thesecretary: "Do not yet open the letters from Leipsic, Charlestown, andBatavia; the information they contain will doubtless find its placepresently. It will save our going over the same ground twice."

  The secretary looked inquiringly at his master.

  The latter continued--"Have you finished the note relating to themedals?"

  "Here it is," replied the secretary; "I was just finishing myinterpretation of the cipher."

  "Read it to me, in the order of the facts. You can append to it the newscontained in those three letters."

  "True," said Rodin; "in that way the letters will find their rightplace."

  "I wish to see," rejoined the other, "whether this note is clear andfully explanatory; you did not forget that the person it is intended forought not to know all?"

  "I bore it in mind, and drew up the paper accordingly."

  "Read," said the master.

  M. Rodin read as follows, slowly and deliberately:

  "'A hundred and fifty years ago, a French Protestant family, foreseeingthe speedy--revocation of the edict of Nantes, went into voluntaryexile, in order to avoid the just and rigorous decrees already issuedagainst the members of the reformed church--those indomitable foes ofour holy religion.

  "'Some members of this family sought refuge in Holland, and afterwardsin the Dutch colonies; others in Poland, others in Germany; some inEngland, and some in America.

  "'It is supposed that only seven descendants remain of this family,which underwent strange vicissitudes since; its present representativesare found in all ranks of society, from the sovereign to the mechanic.

  "'These descendants, direct or indirect, are:

  "'On the mother's side,

  "'Rose and Blanche Simon--minors.

  "'General Simon married, at Warsaw, a descendant of the said family.

  "'Francois Hardy, manufacturer at Plessis, near Paris.

  "'Prince Djalma, son of Kadja-sing, King of Mondi.

  "'Kadja-sing, married, in 1802, a descendant of the said family, thensettled at Batavia, in the Island of Java, a Dutch colony.

  "'On the father's side--Jacques Rennepont, surnamed Sleepinbuff,mechanic.

  "'Adrienne de Cardoville, daughter of the Count of Rennepont, Duke ofCardoville.

  "'Gabriel Rennepont, priest of the foreign missions.

  "'All the members of this family possess, or should possess, a bronzemedal bearing the following inscriptions:

  Victim of L. C. D. J. Pray for me! Paris February the 13th, 1682.

  At Paris, Rue Saint Francois, No. 3, In a century and a half you will be. February the 13th, 1832. Pray For Me!

  "'These words and dates show that all of them have a great interest tobe at Paris on the 13th of February, 1832; and that, not by proxy, butin person, whether they are minors, married or single.

  "'But other persons have an immense interest that none of thedescendants of this family be at Paris on the 13th February, exceptGabriel Rennepont, priest of the foreign missions.

  "'At all hazards, therefore, Gabriel must be the only person present atthe appointment made with the descendants of this family, a century anda half ago.

  "'To prevent the other six persons from reaching Paris on the said day,or to render their presence of no effect, much has been already done;but much remains to be done to ensure the success of this affair,which is considered as the most vital and most important of the age, onaccount of its probable results.'"

  "'Tis but too true," observed Rodin's master, interrupting him, andshaking his head pensively. "And, moreover, that the consequences ofsuccess are incalculable, and there is no forseeing what may followfailure. In a word, it almost involves a question of existence or nonexistence during several years. To succeed, therefore, 'all possiblemeans must be employed. Nothing must be shunned,' except, however, thatappearances must be skillfully maintained."

  "I have written it," said Rodin, having added the words his master hadjust dictated, who then said,

  "Continue."

  Rodin read on:

  "'To forward or secure the affair in question, it is necessary to givesome private and secret particulars respecting the seven persons whorepresent this family.

  "'The truth of these particulars may be relied on. In case of needthey might be completed in the most minute degree for contradictoryinformation having been given, very lengthened evidence has beenobtained. The order in which the names of the persons stand will beobserved, and events that have happened up to the present time will onlybe mentioned.

  "'NOTE, No. I. "'Rose and Blanche Simon, twin sisters, about fifteenyears of age; very pretty, so much alike, one might be taken for theother; mild and timid disposition, but capable of enthusiasm. Broughtup in Siberia by their mother, a woman of strong mind and deisticalsentiments, they are wholly ignorant of our holy religion.

  "'General Simon, separated from his wife before they were born, is notaware, even now, that he has two daughters.

  "'It was hoped that their presence in Paris, on the 13th of February,would be prevented, by sending their mother to a place of exile, muchmore distant than the one first allotted her; but their mother dying,the Governor of Siberia, who is wholly ours, supposing, by a deplorablemistake, that the measure only affected the wife of General Simonpersonally, unfortunately allowed the girls to return to France, underthe guidance of an old soldier.

  "'This man is enterprising, faithful, and determined. He is noted downas dangerous.

  "'The Simon girls are inoffensive. It is hoped, on fair grounds, thatthey are now detained in the neighborhood of Leipsic.'"

  Rodin's master interrupted him, saying:

  "Now, read the letter just received from Leipsic; it may complete theinformation."

  Rodin read it, and exclaimed:

  "Excellent news! The maidens and their guide had succeeded in escapingduring the night from the White Falcon Tavern, but all three wereovertaken and seized about a league from Mockern. They have beentransferred to Leipsic, where they are imprisoned as vagabonds;their guide, the soldier, is accused and condemned of resisting theauthorities, and using violence to a magistrate."r />
  "It is almost certain, then, considering the tedious mode of proceedingin Germany (otherwise we would see to it), that the girls will not beable to be here on the 13th February," added Rodin's master. "Appendthis to the note on the back."

  The secretary obeyed, and endorsed "An abstract of Morok's letter."

  "It is written," he then added.

  "Go on," resumed his master.

  Rodin continued reading.

  "'NOTE, No. II. "'Francois Hardy, manufacturer at Plessis, nearParis, forty years old; a steady, rich, intelligent, active, honest,well-informed man, idolized by his workmen--thanks to numberlessinnovations to promote their welfare. Never attending to the duties ofour holy religion. Noted down as a very dangerous man: but the hatredand envy he excites among other manufacturers, especially in M. le BaronTripeaud, his competitor, may easily be turned against him. If othermeans of action on his account, and against him, are necessary, theevidence may be consulted; it is very voluminous. This man has beenmarked and watched for a long time.

  "'He has been so effectually misguided with respect to the medal, thathe is completely deceived as to the interests it represents. Heis, however, constantly watched, surrounded, and governed, withoutsuspecting it; one of his dearest friends deceives him, and through hismeans we know his secret thoughts.

  "'NOTE, No. III. "'Prince Djalma; eighteen; energetic and generous,haughty, independent and wild; favorite of General Simon, who commandedthe troops of his father, Kadja-sing, in the struggle maintained by thelatter against the English in India. Djalma is mentioned only by way ofreminder, for his mother died young, while her parents were living. Theyresided at Batavia. On the death of the latter, neither Djalma northe king, his father, claimed their little property. It is, therefore,certain that they are ignorant of the grave interests connected with thepossession of the medal in question, which formed part of the propertyof Djalma's mother."'"

  Rodin's master interrupted him.

  "Now read the letter from Batavia, and complete the informationrespecting Djalma."

  Rodin read, and then observed:

  "Good news again. Joshua Van Dael, merchant at Batavia (he was educatedin our Pondicherry establishment), learns from his correspondent atCalcutta that the old Indian king was killed in the last battle withthe English. His son, Djalma, deprived of the paternal throne, isprovisionally detained as a prisoner of state in an Indian fortress."

  "We are at the end of October," said Rodin's master. "If Prince Djalmawere to leave India now, he could scarcely reach Paris by the month ofFebruary."

  "Van Dael," continued Rodin, "regrets that he has not been able to provehis zeal in this case. Supposing Prince Djalma set at liberty, or havingeffected his escape, it is certain he would come to Batavia to claim hisinheritance from his mother, since he has nothing else left him in theworld. In that case, you may rely on Van Dael's devotedness. In return,he solicits very precise information, by the next post, respecting thefortune of M. le Baron Tripeaud, banker and manufacturer, with whom hehas business transactions."

  "Answer that point evasively. Van Dael as yet has only shown zeal;complete the information respecting Djalma from these new tidings."

  Rodin wrote.

  But in a few minutes his master said to him with a singular expression:

  "Does not Van Dael mention General Simon in connection with Djalma'simprisonment and his father's death?"

  "He does not allude to him," said the secretary, continuing his task.

  Rodin's master was silent, and paced the room.

  In a few moments Rodin said to him: "I have done it."

  "Go on, then."

  "'NOTE, No. IV. "'Jacques Rennepont, surnamed "Sleepinbuff," i.e. Lienaked, workman in Baron Tripeaud's factory. This artisan is drunken,idle, noisy, and prodigal; he is not without sense, but idleness anddebauch have ruined him. A clever agent, on whom we rely, has becomeacquainted with his mistress, Cephyse Soliveau, nicknamed the BacchanalQueen. Through her means, the agent has formed such ties with him thathe may even now be considered beyond the reach of the interests thatought to insure his presence in Paris on the 13th of February.

  "'NOTE, No. V. "'Gabriel Rennepont, priest of foreign missions, distantrelation of the above, but he is alike ignorant of the existence of hisrelative and the relationship. An orphan foundling, he was adopted byFrances Baudoin, the wife of a soldier going by the name Dagobert.

  "'Should this soldier, contrary to expectation, reach Paris, his wifewould be a powerful means of influencing him. She is an excellentcreature, ignorant and credulous, of exemplary piety, over whom we havelong had unlimited control. She prevailed on Gabriel to take orders,notwithstanding his repugnance.

  "'Gabriel is five-and-twenty; disposition as angelic as his countenance;rare and solid virtues; unfortunately he was brought up with hisadopted brother, Agricola, Dagobert's son. This Agricola is a poetand workman--but an excellent workman; he is employed by M. Hardy;has imbibed the most detestable doctrines; fond of his mother; honest,laborious, but without religious feeling. Marked as very dangerous. Thiscauses his intimacy with Gabriel to be feared.

  "'The latter, notwithstanding his excellent qualities, sometimes causesuneasiness. We have even delayed confiding in him fully. A false stepmight make him, too, one of the most dangerous. Much precaution must beused then, especially till the 13th of February; since, we repeat it,on him, on his presence in Paris at that time, depend immense hopes andequally important interests.

  "'Among other precautions, we have consented to his taking part in theAmerican mission, for he unites with angelic sweetness of character acalm intrepidity and adventurous spirit which could only be satisfiedby allowing him to engage in the perilous existence of the missionaries.Luckily, his superiors at Charlestown have received the strictest ordersnot to endanger, on any account, so precious a life. They are to sendhim to Paris, at least a month or two before February 13th."'

  Rodin's master again interrupted him, and said: "Read the letterfrom Charlestown, and see what it tells you in order to complete theinformation upon this point also."

  When he had read the letter, Rodin went on: "Gabriel is expected everyday from the Rocky Mountains, whither he had absolutely insisted ongoing alone upon a mission."

  "What imprudence!"

  "He has no doubt escaped all danger, as he himself announces his speedyreturn to Charlestown. As soon as he arrives, which cannot (they write)be later than the middle of this month, he will be shipped off forFrance."

  "Add this to the note which concerns him," said Rodin's master.

  "It is written," replied the secretary, a few moments later.

  "Proceed, then," said his master. Rodin continued

  "'NOTE, No. VI. "'ADRIENNE RENNEPONT DE CARDOVILLE.

  "'Distantly related (without knowing it) to Jacques Rennepont, aliasSleepinbuff, and Gabriel Rennepont, missionary priest. She will soonbe twenty-one years of age, the most attractive person in theworld--extraordinary beauty, though red-haired--a mind remarkablefor its originality--immense fortune--all the animal instincts. Theincredible independence of her character makes one tremble for thefuture fate of this young person. Happily, her appointed guardian, BaronTripeaud (a baron of 1829 creation, formerly agent to the late Count ofRennepont, Duke of Cardoville), is quite in the interest, and almost inthe dependence, of the young lady's aunt. We count, with reason, uponthis worthy and respectable relative, and on the Baron Tripeaud, tooppose and repress the singular, unheard-of designs which this youngperson, as resolute as independent, does not fear to avow--and which,unfortunately, cannot be turned to account in the interest of the affairin question--for--"

  Rodin was here interrupted by two discreet taps at the door. Thesecretary rose, went to see who knocked, remained a moment without, andthen returned with two letters in his hand, saying: "The princess hasprofited by the departure of a courier to--"

  "Give me the letter!" cried his master, without leaving him time tofinish. "At length," he added, "I shall have news of my m
other--"

  He had scarcely read the first few lines of the letter, when he grewdeadly pale, and his features took an expression of painful astonishmentand poignant grief. "My mother!" he cried, "oh, heavens! my mother!"

  "What misfortune has happened!" asked Rodin, with a look of alarm, as herose at the exclamation of his master.

  "The symptoms of improvement were fallacious," replied the other,dejectedly; "she has now relapsed into a nearly hopeless state. Andyet the doctor thinks my presence might save her, for she calls for mewithout ceasing. She wishes to see me for the last time, that shemay die in peace. Oh, that wish is sacred! Not to grant it would bematricide. If I can but arrive in time! Travelling day and night, itwill take nearly two days."

  "Alas! what a misfortune!" said Rodin, wringing his hands, and raisinghis eyes to heaven.

  His master rang the bell violently, and said to the old servant thatopened the door: "Just put what is indispensable into the portmanteauof my travelling-carriage. Let the porter take a cab, and go forpost horses instantly. Within an hour, I must be on the road. Mother!mother!" cried he, as the servant departed in haste. "Not to see heragain--oh, it would be frightful!" And sinking upon a chair, overwhelmedwith sorrow, he covered his face with his hands.

  This great grief was sincere--he loved tenderly his mother that divinesentiment had accompanied him, unalterable and pure, through all thephases of a too often guilty life.

  After a few minutes, Rodin ventured to say to his master, as he showedhim the second letter: "This, also, has just been brought from M.Duplessis. It is very important--very pressing--"

  "See what it is, and answer it. I have no head for business."

  "The letter is confidential," said Rodin, presenting it to his master."I dare not open it, as you may see by the mark on the cover."

  At sight of this mark, the countenance of Rodin's master assumed anindefinable expression of respect and fear. With a trembling hand hebroke the seal. The note contained only the following words: "Leave allbusiness, and without losing a minute, set out and come. M. Duplessiswill replace you. He has orders."

  "Great God!" cried this man in despair. "Set out before I have seen mymother! It is frightful, impossible--it would perhaps kill her--yes, itwould be matricide!"

  Whilst he uttered these words, his eyes rested on the huge globe, markedwith red crosses. A sudden revolution seemed to take place within him;he appeared to repent of the violence of his regrets; his face, thoughstill sad, became once more calm and grave. He handed the fatal letterto his secretary, and said to him, whilst he stifled a sigh: "To beclassed under its proper number."

  Rodin took the letter, wrote a number upon it, and placed it in aparticular box. After a moment's silence, his master resumed: "You willtake orders from M. Duplessis, and work with him. You will deliver tohim the note on the affair of the medals; he knows to whom to addressit. You will write to Batavia, Leipsic, and Charlestown, in the senseagreed. Prevent, at any price, the daughters of General Simon fromquitting Leipsic; hasten the arrival of Gabriel in Paris; and shouldPrince Djalma come to Batavia, tell M. Joshua Van Dael, that we count onhis zeal and obedience to keep him there."

  And this man, who, while his dying mother called to him in vain, couldthus preserve his presence of mind, entered his own apartments; whilstRodin busied himself with the answers he had been ordered to write, andtranscribed them in cipher.

  In about three quarters of an hour, the bells of the post-horses wereheard jingling without. The old servant again entered, after discreetlyknocking at the door, and said:

  "The carriage is ready."

  Rodin nodded, and the servant withdrew. The secretary, in his turn, wentto knock at the door of the inner room. His master appeared, still graveand cold, but fearfully pale, and holding a letter in his hand.

  "This for my mother," said he to Rodin; "you will send a courier on theinstant."

  "On the instant," replied the secretary.

  "Let the three letters for Leipsic, Batavia and Charlestown, leaveto-day by the ordinary channel. They are of the last importance. Youknow it."

  Those were his last words. Executing merciless orders with a mercilessobedience, he departed without even attempting to see his mother. Hissecretary accompanied him respectfully to his carriage.

  "What road, sir?" asked the postilion, turning round on his saddle.

  "The road to ITALY!" answered Rodin's master, with so deep a sigh thatit almost resembled a sob.

  As the horses started at full gallop, Rodin made a low bow; then hereturned to the large, cold, bare apartment. The attitude, countenance,and gait of this personage seemed to have undergone a sudden change. Heappeared to have increased in dimensions. He was no longer an automaton,moved by the mechanism of humble obedience. His features, till nowimpassible, his glance, hitherto subdued, became suddenly animated withan expression of diabolical craft; a sardonic smile curled his thin,pale lips, and a look of grim satisfaction relaxed his cadaverous face.

  In turn, he stopped before the huge globe. In turn, he contemplatedit in silence, even as his master had done. Then, bending over it, andembracing it, as it were, in his arms, he gloated with his reptile-eyeon it for some moments, drew his coarse finger along its polishedsurface, and tapped his flat, dirty nail on three of the places dottedwith red crosses. And, whilst he thus pointed to three towns, in verydifferent parts of the world, he named them aloud, with a sneer.

  "Leipsic--Charlestown--Batavia."

  "In each of these three places," he added, "distant as they are from oneanother, there exist persons who little think that here, in thisobscure street, from the recesses of this chamber, wakeful eyes areupon them--that all their movements are followed, all their actionsknown--and that hence will issue new instructions, which deeply concernthem, and which will be inexorably executed; for an interest is atstake, which may have a powerful influence on Europe--on the world.Luckily, we have friends at Leipsic, Charlestown, and Batavia."

  This funny, old, sordid, ill-dressed man, with his livid and death-likecountenance, thus crawling over the sphere before him, appeared stillmore awful than his master, when the latter, erect and haughty, hadimperiously laid his hand upon that globe, which he seemed desirous ofsubjecting by the strength of his pride and courage. The one resembledthe eagle, that hovers above his prey--the other the reptile, thatenvelops its victim in its inextricable folds.

  After some minutes, Rodin approached his desk, rubbing his hands brisklytogether, and wrote the following epistle in a cipher unknown even tohis master:

  "Paris, 3/4 past 9 A.M.

  "He is gone--but he hesitated!

  "When he received the order, his dying mother had just summoned himto her. He might, they told him, save her by his presence; and heexclaimed: 'Not to go to my mother would be matricide!'

  "Still, he is gone--but he hesitated. I keep my eye upon himcontinually. These lines will reach Rome at the same time as himself.

  "P.S.--Tell the Cardinal-Prince that he may rely on me, but I hope forhis active aid in return."

  When he had folded and sealed this letter, Rodin put it into his pocket.The clock struck ten, M. Rodin's hour for breakfast. He arranged andlocked up his papers in a drawer, of which he carried away the key,brushed his old greasy hat with his sleeve, took a patched umbrella inhis hand, and went out. (1)

  Whilst these two men, in the depths of their obscure retreat, were thusframing a plot, which was to involve the seven descendants of a raceformerly proscribed--a strange mysterious defender was planning how toprotect this family, which was also his own.

  1 Having cited the excellent, courageous letters of M. Libri, and thecurious work edited by M. Paulin, it is our duty likewise to mentionmany bold and conscientious writings on the subject of the "Society ofJesus," recently published by the elder Dupin, Michelet, Quinet, Genin,and the Count de Saint Priest--works of high and impartial intellects,in which the fatal theories of the order are admirably exposed andcondemned. We esteem ourselves happy, if we can bring one s
tone towardsthe erection of the strong, and, we hope, durable embankment which thesegenerous hearts and noble minds are raising against the encroachments ofan impure and always menacing flood.--E. S.