The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-20
III.

my time had been in no degree influenced
by the counts grotesque retirement l
had intended all along to stay at home
until o'clock to dine with the Princess
Y, to go TO the dance. and to visit the
dearest friend that / had in the world.
He was a Dominican monk, of great
learning and acuteness, resident in the
Monastery of s. PetroX, about half a mile
of. We were old schoolfellows. and,
though our ways of life were very diff
ferent, he had never lost the ascendancy
over me which. as q boy, he had IN
derstood how to gain.
He was busy reading when I entered
his cell; he laid his finger on his lips to
show me that ! must not interrupt him.
After a long pause he closed the great
volume reverently. and asked me what I
| wanted at that time Of night.
II want an immortal soul.
"Curious"' he remarked, pushing his
spectacles up on his forehead. u have
just been studying the question of the
soul
We'll. what is the result of your in
vestigations?"
My friend" returned the Dominican.
what would it avail were / TO tell thee?
I know your mind upon these subjects
That is more than | know myself then
more than I should ever have wished
& -
I told him all the circumstance of my
conversation with the count not men
| tiOning his name. of course.
''YOu have helped me at many a diff
| cult pass before now ! said. Help me
! again. Pour out the contents of that
| great volume upon my head
You would be as wise as you were be-
! fore. ] know you, AMIGO mic. You own
no teacher save experience"
1 IVY hat he gyDpTi4nga that Car1 ma liz
a man believe in that of which he has
none? Tell me, that ! may seek il.
rs there any one in the world of whcm
| you are really fond?" said the Dominican
For the fraction Of q second | hesituted
Forgive the question: 1t is Of no i'm
portance There is one way by which you
| can be brought TO believe, but il may
| cost you your life. Are you willing 10
! risk it?"
Il am bound to preserve my life until
! tomorrow morning"
80 far | can guarantee it, if YOU are
! careful 10 obey. For the rest. you are
| indifferent? Well and good! Understand
| that ], on my part. am running a great
risk for your sake. IF what / am about
| TO do were to become known, / should in
cur communication. Ny felloW-chuTch.
men would say that / was cndangcrinS a
| soul within the fold to save one that is
without. So be it! lou are my friend
| You are. / know, IN actor of some OK
! perience. Do you think that you could
! impcrsonate me?"
with your Instructions 1 have no doubt
! that / could.
He rose. and took from his cupboard a
| priests robe and a little cap.
You have lust recovered from an ill
ness; you must wear a beretta. You are
close shaver; that is wei. Under the
beretta your hair is not too long. BE
! sure to recollect that you are still sub
| ject to coId-that you must on no account
| take il OF. Before we 30 any further
oblige me my taking an oath-a solemn
oath. First. that, whatever may happen
you viii attempt no resistance: secondly
! that you will never reveal the names OF
| those amongst whom ] am going TO SEND
| you, nor any Of the circumstances V hich
you may be called upon TO witness. Be
| fore you swear, reflect. The possession
of a secret Of this kind implies cousidera-
| bic danger. Is it worth the risk
"A strange question for one Of your
| calling to ask, / retOrted. Il am no
| priest, but | think it is.
rs there anything in the world that
| you hold sacred?' asked the Dominican.
! drew the bit Of swansdown from its
restingplace. profaHing the one true
sentiment that was in me with a laugh
| As for my friend, he never even smiled.
THAT viii do, he said. Swear upon
| that
did so.
you are now a penitent before me.
l have heard your confession. am
! about to absolve you Take accurate
note Of everything that ! say, and re-
! produce my words as nearly as you can
when you are called in to the death
| bed"
| You spoke to me as If I were a wom-
! an l observed when he had finished.
You are quite right, said the monk
Now let us reverse the parts. Do you
| absolve me as if ! were u woman!"
| | repeated the form Of words which
! he had just gone through.
'Evviva" he said when | had done
You might have been born in a cas-
| sock
| At the same moment l heard the boot
! ing Of an owl in the garden below. He
started, and looked at the clock
''Latei" he said. THAT is the car
| riage. We have not a moment to lose
| Let me recommend you to keep silence
! from the time you leave these doors ia
! the time when you are set down again.
If you say a word more than is neces-
! sary, / Will not answer for the cousc-
| quences. l shall await you here on
| your return. Remember your OATH
| Then. bending forward as if he feared
! the very walls would hear he added III
| a whisper:
Take no rcfreshmeut in that house,
| He touched the back of volume of the
| Via Media as he spoke: part of what
| had appeared to he the bookcase go %
! open and disclosed a winding stair. with