You can append to it the news contained in those three letters." "True," said Rodin; "in that way the letters will find their right place." "I wish to see," rejoined the other, "whether this note is clear and fully explanatory; you did not forget that the person it is intended for ought 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, foreseeing the speedy--revocation of the edict of Nantes, went into voluntary exile, in order to avoid the just and rigorous decrees already issued against the members of the reformed church--those indomitable foes of our holy religion.
"'Some members of this family sought refuge in Holland, and afterwards in the Dutch colonies; others in Poland, others in Germany; some in England, and some in America.
"'It is supposed that only seven descendants remain of this family, which underwent strange vicissitudes since; its present representatives are 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, then settled 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 of Cardoville.
"'Gabriel Rennepont, priest of the foreign missions.
"'All the members of this family possess, or should possess, a bronze medal 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 to be at Paris on the 13th of February, 1832; and that, not by proxy, but in person, whether they are minors, married or single.
"'But other persons have an immense interest that none of the descendants of this family be at Paris on the 13th February, except Gabriel Rennepont, priest of the foreign missions.
"'At all hazards, therefore, Gabriel must be the only person present at the appointment made with the descendants of this family, a century and a 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, on account of its probable results.'" "'Tis but too true," observed Rodin's master, interrupting him, and shaking his head pensively.

"And, moreover, that the consequences of success are incalculable, and there is no forseeing what may follow failure.

In a word, it almost involves a question of existence or non existence during several years.