The factor's placid face took on a deep hue, but only for a moment. He filled his pipe, poking the tobacco down hard with his thumb. Then he took the Commissioner's letter, twisted it up, touched it to the tiny fire that blazed in the grate, and lighted his pipe. He smoked in silence for a few moments and then said to himself, being alone, "Huh!"
"Ah, that from the bishop reminds me," said the factor. "I must run over and see the other one."
When the factor had related to the French-Canadian bishop what had passed between the dead curé and himself, the bishop seemed greatly annoyed. "Why, man, he had no mother!"
"The devil he didn't--I beg pardon--I say he asked me to send this to his mother. He started to tell me where she lived and then the call came. It was the dying request of a dear friend. I beg of you tell me his mother's name, that I may keep my word."
"It is impossible, my son. When he came into the church he left the world. He was bound by the law of the church to give up father, mother, sister, brother--all."
"Peace, my son, you do not understand," said the bishop, lifting the little cross which he had taken gently from the factor at the beginning of the interview.
Now the factor was not in the habit of having his requests ignored and his judgment questioned.
"Do you mean to say you will _not_ give me the name and address of the dead man's mother?"
"It's absolutely impossible. Moreover, I am shocked to learn that our late brother could so far forget his duty at the very door of death. No, son, a thousand times no," said the bishop.
"Then give me the crucifix!" demanded the factor, fiercely.
"That, too, is impossible; that is the property of the church."
"Well," said the factor, filling his pipe again and gazing into the flickering fire, "they're all about the same. And they're all right, too, I presume--all but Wing and Dunraven and me."
As Waterloo lingered in the memory of the conquered Corsican, so Ashtabula was burned into the brain of Bradish. Out of that awful wreck he crawled, widowed and childless. For a long time he did not realize, for his head was hurt in that frightful crash.
By the time he was fit to leave the hospital they had told him, little by little, that all his people had perished.