"Samuel--a soldier--who insists--"

She had not time to finish. Dagobert appeared at the door of the Red
Room. The soldier was fearfully pale. He seemed almost fainting; his left
arm was in a sling, and he leaned upon Agricola. At sight of Dagobert,
the pale and flabby eyelids of Rodin were suddenly distended, as if all
the blood in his body had flowed towards the head. Then the socius threw
himself upon the casket, with the haste of ferocious rage and avidity, as
if he were resolved to cover it with his body, and defend it at the peril
of his life.

[20] This term is sanctioned by legal usage.




CHAPTER XXV.

THE DEED OF GIFT.

Father d'Aigrigny did not recognize Dagobert, and had never seen
Agricola. He could not therefore, at first explain the kind of angry
alarm exhibited by Rodin. But the reverend father understood it all, when
he heard Gabriel utter a cry of joy, and saw him rush into the arms of
the smith, exclaiming: "My brother! my second father--oh! it is heaven
that sends you to me."

Having pressed Gabriel's hand, Dagobert advanced towards Father
d'Aigrigny, with a rapid but unsteady step. As he remarked the soldier's
threatening countenance, the reverend father, strong in his acquired