"I think so, father, I think so. She whom I dragged with me into the pit was an innocent young girl." "You seduced her, did you?" "Seduced; yes, father, that is the word." "And you wish to atone for your sin?" "That at least is my intention." "There is but one way to do it." "I know it well, and that is why I have been undecided so long: if there were two ways I would have chosen the other." "You wish to marry her?" "One moment, no! I will not lie: no, father, I do not wish to do it, but I am resigned." "A warmer, more devoted feeling would be much better." "What would you have, father? There are people who are born to marry, and others to remain single. Celibacy was my vocation, and nothing less than my present situation, I swear--" "Very well, my son, the sooner the better, as you may repent of your virtuous intentions." "What will be the earliest possible moment?" Aubry asked. "Dame!" said the priest, "as it is a marriage _in extremis_, there will be no difficulty about the necessary dispensations, and I think that by day after to-morrow--" "Day after to-morrow let it be," said the student with a sigh. "But the young woman?" "What of her?" "Will she consent?" "To what?" "To the marriage." "Pardieu! will she consent? That she will, with thanks. Such propositions aren't made to her every day." "Then there is no obstacle?" "None." "Your parents?" "Absent." "And hers?" "Unknown." "Her name?" "Gervaise-Perrette Popinot." "Do you wish me to tell her of your purpose?" "If you will kindly take that trouble, father, I shall be truly grateful." "She shall be informed this very day." "Tell me, father, tell me, could you possibly hand her a letter?" "No, my son: we who are admitted to minister to the prisoners have sworn to deliver no message for them to any person until after their death. When that time comes, I will do whatever you choose." "Thanks, it would be useless; marriage it must be, then," muttered Aubry. "You have nothing else to say to me?" "Nothing, except that, if you doubt the truth of what I say, and if she makes any objection to granting my request, you will find in the office of the lieutenant criminal a complaint lodged by said Gervaise-Perrette Popinot, which will prove that what I have said is the exact truth." "Rely upon me to smooth away all obstacles," replied the priest, who realized that Jacques's proposed action was not prompted by enthusiasm for the marriage, but that he was yielding to necessity; "and two days hence--" "Two days hence--" "You will have restored, her honor to the woman whose honor you took from her." "Alas!" muttered the student with a deep sigh. "Ah, my son!" said the priest, "the more a sacrifice costs you, the greater pleasure it affords to God." "By Mahomet's belly!" cried Jacques; "in that case God should be very grateful to me! go, father, go!"