Father d'Aigrigny was completely discouraged and broken down; this terrible blow had destroyed all life and energy within him.He threw himself back in an arm-chair, quite overcome.During the preceding dialogue, Rodin was standing humbly near the door, with his old hat in his hand.Two or three times, at certain passages in the conversation between Father d'Aigrigny and the princess, the cadaverous face of the socius, whose wrath appeared to be concentrated, was slightly flushed, and his flappy eyelids were tinged with red, as if the blood mounted in consequence of an interior struggle; but, immediately after, his dull countenance resumed its pallid blue.
"I must write instantly to Rome, to announce this defeat, which has become an event of the first importance, because it overthrows immense hopes," said Father d'Aigrigny, much depressed.
The reverend father had remained seated; pointing to a table, he said to Rodin, with an abrupt and haughty air:
"Write!"
The socius placed his hat on the ground, answered with a respectful bow the command, and with stooping head and slanting walk, went to seat himself on a chair, that stood before a desk.Then, taking pen and paper, he waited, silent and motionless, for the dictation of his superior.
"With your permission, princess?" said Father d'Aigrigny to Madame de Saint-Dizier.The latter answered by an impatient wave of the hand, as if she reproached him for the formal demand at such a time.The reverend father bowed, and dictated these words in a hoarse and hollow voice: "All our hopes, which of late had become almost certainties, have been suddenly defeated.The affair of the Rennepont inheritance, in spite of all the care and skill employed upon it, has completely and finally failed.At the point to which matters had been brought, it is unfortunately worse than a failure; it is a most disastrous event for the Society, which was clearly entitled to this property, fraudulently withdrawn from a confiscation made in our favor.My conscience at least bears witness, that, to the last moment, I did all that was possible to defend and secure our rights.But I repeat, we must consider this important affair as lost absolutely and forever, and think no more about it."