"Alas, yes! Jesus our Lord has remained for them the carpenter of Nazareth, who was put to death for having defended the poor, the slaves, the oppressed, the sinners, against those who then enjoyed power; he promised the former the goods of the latter saying that the day would come when 'the first would be the last.' It is for that reason that these martyrs preach with unconquerable heroism the doctrines of Jesus, the friend of the poor, the enemy of the mighty. The interests of both the present and the future, accordingly, dictate to you that you accept my offer. I resume: Take me for your husband; embrace the new faith, as I did; have yourself and me proclaimed Emperor and Empress; adopt my son and his posterity. All Gaul will follow our example and become Christians; we shall heap privileges and wealth upon the bishops, and they will consecrate in us the most sovereign and absolute authority ever vested in any emperor or empress!" At this point, Victoria's voice, that until then was calm and collected, broke out indignant and threatening: "Tetrik! The compact that you are proposing to me is sacrilegious--infamous! Yesterday I thought you were demented--to-day, when you repeat your proposition and expose to my gaze, even clearer than you did before, the abysmal depths of your infernal soul, I see in you a monster of ambition and of felony! At this hour the past lights up the present before me, and the present lights the future! Blessed be you, Hesus! I was not alone when this plot was unrolled to my ears! You inspired me, Oh, Hesus! I wished to have a witness, who, in case of need, could verify the reality of this monstrous proposal--Victoria herself would not be believed upon her unsupported testimony when she uncovers such dark designs! Come, brother--come, Schanvoch!" At Victoria's call I presented myself, crying: "Sister, I no longer say as I once did: 'I suspect this man!' To-day I accuse the criminal!" "Schanvoch!" answered Tetrik disdainfully, "your accusations are stale. This is not the first time that such silly words have dropped before my contempt--" "I formerly only suspected you, Tetrik," I said determinedly, "of having by your machinations brought on the death of Victorin and his son, who was still in his cradle. To-day I accuse you of that horrible plot. I prefer against you the charge of murder!" "Take care!" Tetrik answered pale, somber and with a threatening gesture. "Take care! My power is great--I can annihilate you--" "Brother," Victoria said to me, "your thought is mine--speak without fear--I also have power." "Tetrik," I proceeded, "I once only suspected you of being at the bottom of Marion's assassination--to-day I accuse you of that crime also!" "Crazy wretch! Where are the proofs of the charges that you have the audacity to hurl at me?" "Oh! You are prudent and skilful as well as patient. You break your tools in the dark after having used them--"