"Well?" said Dagobert, alarmed at the emotion of the young priest.
"Twelve o'clock has struck," resumed the latter. "Of all the family, I alone was present. Do you understand it now? The term is expired. The heirs have been thrust aside by me!"
"By you!" said Dagobert, stammering with joy. "By you, my brave boy! then all is well."
"But—"
"All is well," resumed Dagobert, radiant with delight. "You will share with the others—I know you."
"But all this property I have irrevocably, made over to another," cried
Gabriel, in despair.
"Made over the property!" cried Dagobert, quite petrified. "To whom, then?—to whom?"
"To this gentleman," said Gabriel, pointing to Father d'Aigrigny.
"To him!" exclaimed Dagobert, overwhelmed by the news; "to him—the renegade—who has always been the evil genius of this family!"
"But, brother," cried Agricola, "did you then know your claim to this inheritance?"