"Madam the Marchioness is right," chimed in the Viscount of Mirabeau again. "This measure had no other effect upon the rebels than to cause them, the next day, to instal themselves in the Church of St. Louis." "And then the clergy, or at least a part of the clergy, committed another imbecility--they rallied to the Third Estate. The shaven-heads have their share of responsibility in all this," said the Count of Plouernel. "The high clergy protested, against this treason, the blame of which should be thrown on the curates of the country districts," declared the Cardinal in self-defense. "Monsieur the Cardinal is in error!" it was the harsh voice of Abbot Morlet that broke in. "That fraction of the clergy which went over to the Third Estate displayed great political sense. The low clergy did just what they should have done." "Peace, Abbot, peace there!" cried the Cardinal in accents of sovereign scorn. "You are talking nonsense, my dear sir!" "I maintain what I stated--'tis but little I care for the approbation of Monsieur the Cardinal," snapped Morlet. "What's that you say, Abbot?" flashed back the Cardinal in great irritation. "Measure your words!" "I wish to talk with reasonable men," returned Morlet, impassibly. "This is addressed to you, gentlemen. The royal power having tolerated the existence of this Assembly of malcontents, the clergy, both high and low, should have seized upon the fact, and turned it to its own advantage. By the simple means of choosing its best men, and joining them to the Third Estate, it would then have been able at need to stand in with revolutionary motions, in order to drive the dissatisfied element to the last extremes in the paroxysms of their rage." "Monsieur the Abbot is a profound politician; he is in the right of the matter," assented Victoria. "At the risk of contradicting you, Madam the Marchioness," objected the Cardinal passionately, "I must declare that the Abbot has only once more exhibited the evil spirit of the Society of Jesus, which has always been a veritable pest to the Church. Our holy mother were well rid of that abominable, execrable society!" "So the priest is a Jesuit!" thought Victoria to herself, a light dawning upon her. "The true pest of the Church," retorted Abbot Morlet, "has always been clad in the purple--cardinals and prelates, nearly all sots, imbeciles and peacocks!" "The impudence of this priestlet, this scoundrel, this hypocrite!" the Cardinal cried in a fury. "Out of here with the insolent fellow!" "By the blood of Christ," interjected Victoria quickly, addressing the two churchmen, "is this the hour for discord and recrimination? Do you forget, your Eminence, and you, Monsieur Abbot, that at this moment the safety of the Church depends upon the unity of her defenders?" All the company, with the sole exceptions of the Cardinal and the Abbot, took up the word: "'Tis true--'tis evident! Let us not forget. Let us remain united for the conflict!"