"Lost, miserable wretch!" cried the priest, lifting his hands in dismay. "Need I tell thee, that in the next world there is a place of torture kept for such as thee—a gulf of burning flames, never to be extinguished. "We are told there is such a place," she answered, struggling with her tears, for the interview was becoming too painful. "May the infinite love and mercy of God keep both you and me from it!" "Thou art hopeless—hopeless!" ejaculated the monk, sternly. "Yet, another question ere I send thee forth. Where hast thou imbibed these deadly doctrines?" "My mother wedded with an Italian," answered Gina, "but she was born on the free soil of England, and reared in its Reformed Faith." "A benighted land—an accursed land!" screamed the priest, vehemently; "the time will come when it shall be deluged from one end to the other with its apostates’ blood." "It is an enlightened land—a free, blessed land!" retorted Gina, in agitation; "and God’s mercy will rest upon it, and keep it powerful amongst nations, so long as its sons remain true to their Reformed Faith." "Insanity has fallen upon them," raved the monk, endeavoring to drown the bold words of Gina,—"nothing but insanity. But," he added, dropping his voice, "let them beware. Quem Deus vult perdere, prius dementat." Gina understood not the tongue; but the Lady Adelaide did, and crossed herself. "And this mother of thine," sneered the monk, turning again to Gina, "where may she be?" "She is dead," gasped Gina, bursting into tears. "Good!" assented the monk; "then she is meeting with her deserts." "God grant she may be!" aspirated the maiden, "for she died in the faith of Christ." "And who have been thy worthy instructors since?" proceeded the priest. "I have had but one guide since," answered Gina. "Disclose the name." "My Bible." The monk uttered what seemed very like a scream of passion, and the Lady Adelaide, as she heard the words, half rose from her chair. "Be calm, my daughter," interrupted the monk, waving his hand towards the countess; "I will guard thee from the harm caused by contact with this heretical being. Desire her, I pray thee, to fetch this Book hither, that I may glance at it." "Go," cried the Lady Adelaide, imperiously, to Gina; "bring this Bible instantly!" Gina obeyed, and the sacred volume was placed in the hands of the monk. The Lady Adelaide shrank from touching it. "Ha!" cried the monk, perceiving it to be printed in the English tongue, "dost thou speak this language, then?" "It is familiar to me as my own," replied Gina.