"Then, my dear son," said Father d'Aigrigny, sternly, "you take the word of your adopted mother before mine?"
"Spare me an answer painful for both of us, father," said Gabriel, casting down his eyes.
"Will you now tell me," resumed Father d'Aigrigny, with anxiety, "what you mean to—"
The reverend father was unable to finish. Samuel entered the room, and said: "A rather old man wishes to speak to M. Rodin."
"That is my name, sir," answered the socius, in surprise; "I am much obliged to you." But, before following the Jew, he gave to Father d'Aigrigny a few words written with a pencil upon one of the leaves of his packet-book.
Rodin went out in very uneasy mood, to learn who could have come to seek him in the Rue Saint-Francois. Father d'Aigrigny and Gabriel were left alone together.
[14] It is only in respect to Missions that the Jesuits acknowledge the papal supremacy.
[15] This rule is so strict in Jesuit Colleges, that if one of three pupils leaves the other two, they separate out of earshot till the first comes back.