As Simon turned round abruptly, his two daughters threw themselves into his arms.Here was a long silence, broken only by sobs, and kisses, and exclamations of joy.
"Come forward, at least, and enjoy the good you have done!" said Mdlle.
de Cardoville, drying her eyes, and turning towards Rodin, who, leaning against the door, seemed to contemplate this scene with deep emotion.
Dagobert, at sight of Rodin bringing back the children, was at first struck with stupor, and unable to move a step; but hearing the words of Adrienne, and yielding to a burst of almost insane gratitude, he threw himself on his knees before the Jesuit, joined his hands together, and exclaimed in a broken voice: "You have saved me, by bringing back these children."
"Oh, bless you, sir!" said Mother Bunch, yielding to the general current.
"My good friends, this is too much," said Rodin, as if his emotions were beyond his strength; "this is really too much for me.Excuse me to the marshal, and tell him that I am repaid by the sight of his happiness."
"Pray, sir," said Adrienne, "let the marshal at least have the opportunity to see and know you."
"Oh, remain! you that have saved us all!" cried Dagobert, trying to stop Rodin.
"Providence, you know, my dear young lady, does not trouble itself about the good that is done, but the good that remains to do," said Rodin, with an accent of playful kindness."Must I not think of Prince Djalma? My task is not finished, and moments are precious.Come," he added, disengaging himself gently from Dagobert's hold, "come the day has been as good a one as I had hoped..The Abbe d'Aigrigny is unmasked; you are free, my dear young lady; you have recovered your cross, my brave soldier; Mother Bunch is sure of a protectress; the marshal has found his children.I have my share in all these joys, it is a full share--my heart is satisfied.Adieu, my friends, till we meet again." So saying, Rodin waved his hand affectionately to Adrienne, Dagobert, and the hunchback, and withdrew, waving his hand with a look of delight on Marshal Simon, who, seated between his daughters, held them in his arms, and covered them with tears and kisses, remaining quite indifferent to all that was passing around him.
An hour after this scene, Mdlle.de Cardoville and the sempstress, Marshal Simon, his two daughters and Dagobert quitted Dr.Beleinier's asylum.
In terminating this episode, a few words by way of moral, with regard to lunatic asylums and convents may not be out of place.We have said, and we repeat, that the laws which apply to the superintendence of lunatic asylums appear to us insufficient.Facts that have recently transpired before the courts, and other facts that have been privately communicated to us, evidently prove this insufficiency.Doubtless, magistrates have full power to visit lunatic asylums.They are even required to make such visits.But we know, from the best authority, that the numerous and pressing occupations of magistrates, whose number is often out of proportion with the labor imposed upon them, render these inspections so rare, that they are, so to speak, illusory.It appears, therefore, to us advisable to institute a system of inspections, at least twice a month, especially designed for lunatic asylums, and entrusted to a physician and a magistrate, so that every complaint may be submitted to a double examination.Doubtless, the law is sufficient when its ministers are fully informed; but how many formalities, how many difficulties must be gone through, before they can be so, particularly when the unfortunate creature who needs their assistance, already suspected, isolated, and imprisoned, has no friend to come forward in defence, and demand, in his or her name, the protection of the authorities! Is it not imperative, therefore, on the civil power, to meet these necessities by a periodical and well-organized system of inspection?
What we here say of lunatic asylums will apply with still greater force to convents for women, seminaries, and houses inhabited by religious bodies.Recent and notorious facts, with which all France has rung, have, unfortunately, proved that violence, forcible detention, barbarous usage, abduction of minors, and illegal imprisonment, accompanied by torture, are occurrences which, if not frequent, are at least possible in religious houses.It required singular accidents, audacious and cynical brutalities; to bring these detestable actions to public knowledge.How many other victims have been, and, perhaps still are, entombed in those large silent mansions, where no profane look may penetrate, and which, through the privileges of the clergy, escape the superintendence of the civil power.Is it not deplorable that these dwellings should not also be subject to periodical inspection, by visitors consisting, if it be desired, of a priest, a magistrate, and some delegate of the municipal authorities? If nothing takes place, but what is legal, human, and charitable, in these establishments, which have all the character, and incur all the responsibility, of public institutions, why this resistance, this furious indignation of the church party, when any mention is made of touching what they call their privileges? There is something higher than the constitutions devised at Rome.We mean the Law of France--the common law--which grants to all protection, but which, in return, exacts from all respect and obedience.
End The Wandering Jew, Volume 7
