Summary of the preceding chapters: The secret society of the Ardents covets an enormous inheritance which is to be divided on the 13 February 1832 between the descendants of Marius Rennepont who will be present in Paris on that date. The leaders of the Ardents, d’Aigrigny and Rodin want to prevent the heirs from arriving in Paris, with the exception of abbot Gabriel, whose trust they wish to exploit. Cholera reigns in Paris. Rodin counts on the epidemic to deal with some of the heirs.