“Sir!” cried Gabriel

“Allow me,” said Rodin, coldly.  “The law does not acknowledge our existence and therefore can take no cognizance of donations made in favor of the Company.  You might resume to-morrow what you are pleased to give us to-day.”

“But my oath, sir!” cried Gabriel.

Rodin looked at him fixedly, as he answered:  “Your oath?  Did you not swear eternal obedience to the Company, and never to separate from us?—­and of what weight now are these oaths?”

For a moment Gabriel was embarrassed; but, feeling how false was this logic, he rose, calm and dignified, went to seat himself at the desk, took up a pen, and wrote as follows: 

“Before God, who sees and hears me, and in the presence of you, Father d’Aigrigny and M. Rodin, I renew and confirm, freely and voluntarily, the absolute donation made by me to the Society of Jesus, in the person of the said Father d’Aigrigny, of all the property which may hereafter belong to me, whatever may be its value.  I swear, on pain of infamy, to perform tis irrevocable promise, whose accomplishment I regard, in my soul and conscience, as the discharge of a debt, and the fulfilment of a pious duty.

“This donation having for its object the acknowledgment of past services, and the relief of the poor, no future occurrences can at all modify it.  For the very reason that I know I could one day legally cancel the present free and deliberate act, I declare, that if ever I were to attempt such a thing, under any possible circumstances, I should deserve the contempt and horror of all honest people.

“In witness whereof I have written this paper, on the 13th of February, 1832, in Paris, immediately before the opening of the testament of one of my paternal ancestors.

“Gabriel de Rennepont.”

As he rose, the young priest delivered this document to Rodin, without uttering a word.  The socius read it attentively, and, still impassible, answered, as he looked at Gabriel:  “Well, it is a written oath—­that is all.”

Gabriel dwelt stupefied at the audacity of Rodin, who ventured to tell him, that this document, in which he renewed his donation in so noble, generous, and spontaneous a manner, was not all sufficient.  The socius was the first again to break the silence, and he said to Father d’Aigrigny, with his usual cool impudence.  “One of two things must be.  Either your dear son means to render his donation absolutely valuable and irrevocable,—­or—­”

“Sir,” exclaimed Gabriel, interrupting him, and hardly able to restrain himself, “spare yourself and me such a shameful supposition.”

“Well, then,” resumed Rodin, impassible as ever, “as you are perfectly decided to make this donation a serious reality, what objection can you have to secure it legally?”

“None, sir,” said Gabriel, bitterly, “since my written and sworn promise will not suffice you.”