"Minister of God, before you is a woman who has betrayed the blood of her ancestors, and whose doom is irrevocably fixed. She knows on what conditions an interview with you has been granted her; she knows too that all supplication would be useless. You know your duty, M. le Curé; I leave you to fulfill it, and will return to seek you in half an hour." So saying he departed, and the agitated priest saw lying on the bed a young and beautiful girl, bathed in tears, battling with despair, and calling in her bitter agony for the comforts of religion. No investigation possible! for the unhappy creature declared herself bound by a terrible oath to conceal her name; besides, she knew not in what place she was. "I am," she said, "the victim of a secret family tribunal, whose sentence is irrevocable! More, I can not tell. I forgive mine enemies, as I trust that God will forgive me. Pray for me!" The minister of religion invoked the sublime promises of the gospel to soothe her troubled soul, and he succeeded. Her countenance, after a time, became composed, she clasped her hands in fervent prayer, and then extended them toward her consoler. As she did so, the curé perceived that the sleeve of her robe was stained with blood. "My child," said he, with a trembling voice, "what is this?" "Father, it is the vein which they have already opened, and the bandage, no doubt, was carelessly put on." At these words, a sudden thought struck the priest. He unrolled the dressing, allowed the blood to flow, steeped his handkerchief in it, then replaced the bandage, concealed the stained handkerchief within his vest, and whispered: "Farewell, my daughter, take courage, and have confidence in God!" The half-hour had expired, and the step of his terrible conductor was heard approaching. "I am ready," said the curé, and having allowed his eyes to be covered, he took the arm of the Duke de ----, and left the awful room, praying meanwhile with secret fervor. Arrived at the foot of the staircase, the old man, succeeded, without his guide's knowledge, in slightly displacing the thick bandage so as to admit a partial ray of lamp light. Finding himself in the carriage gateway, he managed to stumble and fall, with both hands forward toward a dark corner. The duke hastened to raise him, both resumed their places in the carriage, and, after repassing through the same tortuous route, the curé was set down in safety at his own door. Without one moment's delay, he called his servant. "Pierre," he said, "arm yourself with a stick, and give me your support; I must instantly go to the minister of police." Soon afterward the official gate was opened to admit the well-known venerable pastor.