"That alters the case," said Dagobert, with a sigh of regret."I thought to make my first parade through Paris with you this morning; but it must be deferred in favor of your work.It is sacred: since it is that which sustains your mother.Nevertheless, it is vexatious, devilish vexatious.
And yet no--I am unjust.See how quickly one gets habituated to and spoilt by happiness.I growl like a true grumbler, at a walk being put off for a few hours! I do this! I who, during eighteen years, have only hoped to see you once more, without daring to reckon very much upon it!
Oh! I am but a silly old fool! Vive l'amour et cogni--I mean--my Agricola!" And, to console himself, the old soldier gayly slapped his son's shoulder.
This seemed another omen of evil to the blacksmith; for he dreaded one moment to another lest the fears of Mother Bunch should be realized.
"Now that I have recovered myself," said Dagobert, laughing, "let us speak of business.Know you where I find the addresses of all the notaries in Paris?"
"I don't know; but nothing is more easy than to discover it."
"My reason is," resumed Dagobert, "that I sent from Russia by post, and by order of the mother of the two children that I have brought here, some important papers to a Parisian notary.As it was my duty to see this notary immediately upon my arrival, I had written his name and his address in a portfolio, of which however, I have been robbed during my journey; and as I have forgotten his devil of a name, it seems to me, that if I should see it again in the list of notaries, I might recollect it."
Two knocks at the door of the garret made Agricola start.He involuntarily thought of a warrant for his apprehension.
His father, who, at the sound of the knocking turned round his head, had not perceived his emotion, and said with a loud voice: "Come in!" The door opened.It was Gabriel.He wore a black cassock and a broad-
brimmed hat.
To recognize his brother by adoption, and to throw himself into his arms, were two movements performed at once by Agricola--as quick as thought.--
"My brother!" exclaimed Agricola.
"Agricola!" cried Gabriel.
"Gabriel!" responded the blacksmith.
"After so long an absence!" said the one.
"To behold you again!" rejoined the other.
Such were the words exchanged between the blacksmith and the missionary, while they were locked in a close embrace.
Dagobert, moved and charmed by these fraternal endearments, felt his eyes become moist.There was something truly touching in the affection of the young men--in their hearts so much alike, and yet of characters and aspects so very different--for the manly countenance of Agricola contrasted strongly with the delicacy and angelic physiognomy of Gabriel.
"I was forewarned by my father of your arrival," said the blacksmith at length."I have been expecting to see you; and my happiness has been a hundred times the greater, because I have had all the pleasures of hoping for it."
"And my good mother?" asked Gabriel, in affectionately grasping the hands of Dagobert."I trust that you have found her in good health."
"Yes, my brave boy!" replied Dagobert; "and her health will have become a hundred times better, now that we are all together.Nothing is so healthful as joy." Then addressing himself to Agricola, who, forgetting his fear of being arrested, regarded the missionary with an expression of ineffable affection, Dagobert added:
"Let it be remembered, that, with the soft cheek of a young girl, Gabriel has the courage of a lion; I have already told with what intrepidity he saved the lives of Marshal Simon's daughters, and tried to save mine also."
"But, Gabriel! what has happened to your forehead?" suddenly exclaimed Agricola, who for a few seconds had been attentively examining the missionary.
Gabriel, having thrown aside his hat on entering, was now directly beneath the skylight of the garret apartment, the bright light through which shone upon his sweet, pale countenance: and the round scar, which extended from one eyebrow to the other, was therefore distinctly visible.
In the midst of the powerful and diversified emotion, and of the exciting events which so rapidly followed the shipwreck on the rocky coast near Cardoville House, Dagobert, during the short interview he then had with Gabriel, had not perceived the scar which seamed the forehead of the young missionary.Now, partaking, however, of the surprise of his son, Dagobert said:
"Aye, indeed! how came this scar upon your brow?"
"And on his hands, too; see, dear father!" exclaimed the blacksmith, with renewed surprise, while he seized one of the hands which the young priest held out towards him in order to tranquillize his fears.
"Gabriel, my brave boy, explain this to us!" added Dagobert; "who has wounded you thus?" and in his turn, taking the other hand of the missionary, he examined the scar upon it with the eye of a judge of wounds, and then added, "In Spain, one of my comrades was found and taken down alive from a cross, erected at the junction of several roads, upon which the monks had crucified, and left him to die of hunger, thirst, and agony.Ever afterwards he bore scars upon his hands, exactly similar to this upon your hand."
"My father is right!" exclaimed Agricola."It is evident that your hands have been pierced through! My poor brother!" and Agricola became grievously agitated.
"Do not think about it," said Gabriel, reddening with the embarrassment of modesty."Having gone as a missionary amongst the savages of the Rocky Mountains, they crucified me, and they had begun to scalp me, when Providence snatched me from their hands."
"Unfortunate youth," said Dagobert; "without arms then? You had not a sufficient escort for your protection?"
"It is not for such as me to carry arms." said Gabriel, sweetly smiling;
"and we are never accompanied by any escort."
"Well, but your companions, those who were along with you, how came it that they did not defend you?" impetuously asked Agricola.
"I was alone, my dear brother."
"Alone!"