Father Antonio, Agostino, and Baccio stood forth in the balcony, and, drawing in their breath, looked down, as the three men of the hour, pale and haggard with imprisonment and torture, were brought up amid the hoots and obscene jests of the populace. Savonarola first was led before the tribunal, and there, with circumstantial minuteness, endued with all his priestly vestments, which again, with separate ceremonies of reprobation and ignominy, were taken from him. He stood through it all serene as stood his Master when stripped of His garments on Calvary. There is a momentary hush of voices and drawing in of breaths in the great crowd. The Papal legate takes him by the hand and pronounces the words, "Jerome Savonarola, I separate thee from the Church Militant and the Church Triumphant." He is going to speak. "What says he?" said Agostino, leaning over the balcony. Solemnly and clear that impressive voice which so often had thrilled the crowds in that very square made answer,-- "From the Church Militant you _may_ divide me; but from the Church Triumphant, _no,--that_ is above your power!"--and a light flashed out in his face as if a smile from Christ had shone down upon him. "Amen!" said Father Antonio; "he hath witnessed a good confession,"--and turning, he went in, and, burying his face in his hands, remained in prayer. "When like ceremonies had been passed through with the others, the three martyrs were delivered to the secular executioner, and, amid the scoffs and jeers of the brutal crowd, turned their faces to the gibbet. "Brothers, let us sing the Te Deum," said Savonarola. "Do not so infuriate the mob," said the executioner,--"for harm might be done." "At least let us repeat it together," said he, "lest we forget it." And so they went forward, speaking to each other of the glorious company of the apostles, the goodly fellowship of the prophets, the noble army of martyrs, and giving thanks aloud in that great triumphal hymn of the Church of all Ages. When the lurid fires were lighted which blazed red and fearful through that crowded square, all in that silent chamber fell on their knees, and Father Antonio repeated prayers for departing souls. To the last, that benignant right hand which had so often pointed the way of life to that faithless city was stretched out over the crowd in the attitude of blessing; and so loving, not hating, praying with exaltation, and rendering blessing for cursing, the souls of the martyrs ascended to the great cloud of witnesses above. CHAPTER XXXII. CONCLUSION. A few days after the death of Savonarola, Father Antonio was found one morning engaged in deep converse with Agnes. The Princess Paulina, acting for her family, desired to give her hand to the Prince Agostino Sarelli, and the interview related to the religious scruples which still conflicted with the natural desires of the child.