he exclaimed, as he rushed forward to seize the casket.It had been made fast to the heavy marble slab.
"Yes, fire," said Samuel."In a few minutes, of that immense treasure there will remain nothing but ashes.And better so, than that it should belong to you or yours.This treasure is not mine, and it only remains for me to destroy it--since Gabriel de Rennepont will be faithful to the oath he has taken."
"Help! water! water!" cried Rodin, as he covered the casket with his body, trying in vain to extinguish the flames, which, fanned by the current of air, now issued from the thousand apertures in the lid; but soon the intensity of the fire diminished, a few threads of bluish smoke alone mounted upwards--and then, all was extinct.
The work was done! Breathless and faint, Rodin leaned against the marble slab.For the first time in his life, he wept; large tears of rage rolled down his cadaverous cheeks.But suddenly, dreadful pains, at first dull, but gradually augmenting in intensity, seized on him with so much fury, though he employed all his energy to struggle against them, that he fell on his knees, and, pressing his two hands to his chest, murmured with an attempt to smile: "It is nothing.Do not be alarmed.A
few spasms--that is all.The treasure is destroyed--but I remain General of the Order.Oh! I suffer.What a furnace!" he added, writhing in agony."Since I entered this cursed house, I know not what ails me.If --I had not lived on roots--water--bread--which I go myself to buy--I should think--I was poisoned--for I triumph--and Cardinal Malipieri has long arms.Yes--I still triumph--for I will not die--this time no more than the other--I will not die!"