"To important tidings," replied the priest, "which I am come to communicate." "Leave us, Bridget," said her mistress. The servant took an old iron lamp, and went upstairs to her fireless chamber. "What have you to tell me?" asked Marie Marianni of her visitor. "I have had news from France." "Good news?" "Some which may eventually prove so." "The stars, then, have not deceived me!" "What, madam!" said the priest, in a reproving tone; "do you attach any credit to this lying astrology? Believe me, it is a temptation of Satan which you ought to resist. Have you not enough of real misfortune without subjecting yourself to imaginary terrors?" "If it be a weakness, father, it is one which I share in common with many great minds. Who can doubt the influence which the celestial bodies have on things terrestrial?" "All vanity and error, daughter. How can an enlightened mind like yours persuade itself that events happen by aught save the will of God?" "I will not now argue the point, father; tell me rather what are the news from France?" "The nobles' discontent at the prime minister has reached its height. Henri d'Effiat, grand-equerry of France, and the king's favorite, has joined them, and drawn into the plot the Duke de Bouillon, and Monsieur, his majesty's brother. A treaty, which is upon the point of being secretly concluded with the king of Spain, has for its object peace, on condition of the cardinal's removal." "Thank God!" "However, madame, let us not be too confident; continue to act with prudence, and assume the appearance of perfect resignation. Frequent the church in which I minister, place yourself near the lower corner of the right-hand aisle, and I will forewarn you of my next visit." "I will do so, father." Resuming his large cloak, the priest departed, Bridget being summoned by her mistress to open the door. From that time, during several months, the old lady repaired regularly each day to the church; she often saw Father Francis, but he never spoke, or gave her the desired signal. The unaccustomed daily exercise of walking to and from church, together with the "sickness of hope deferred," began to tell unfavorably on her health; she became subject to attacks of intermitting fever, and her large, bright eyes seemed each day to grow larger and brighter. One morning, in passing down the aisle, Father Francis for a moment bent his head toward her, and whispered, "All is lost!" With a powerful effort Marie Marianni subdued all outward signs of the terrible emotion which these words caused her, and returned to her cheerless dwelling. In the evening Father Francis came to her. When they were alone, she asked, "Father, what has happened?" "Monsieur de Cinq-Mars is arrested." "And the Duke de Bouillon?" "Fled." "The treaty with the king of Spain?" "At the moment it was signed at Madrid, the cunning cardinal received a copy of it." "By whom was the plot discovered?" "By a secret agent, who had wormed himself into it."