Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-11

to. who came to know how he could serve
her. 1T matters little. My work is nearly
donei'
So riding, as was her custom, all alone
upon white palfrey, she passed out of
their sight toward the south.
I.
In the city of Nantes the rumor of the
taking of GILES de Retz had spread like
~iidilre and as the cavalcade rode through
the streets the windows rained down curses
ana the citizens hooted up from the side
walks. But the marshal kept his naughty
and disdainful regard like a noble nature
who perforce companies for the nonce with
meaner men. He sat his favorite charger
IKE the companion of Dunois and De Rich
mont and, as more than one remarked on
this occasion he looked like the royal
prince and the Duke of Brittany the pris-
oner.
So in the new tower of the castle of
Nantes Giles de RetZ was placed to wait
MS trial. There is no need to give a long
account of it. The documents have been
printed In plain letter, and all the world
Knows now Clerk Henriet first broke down
under the stern questioning of Pierre de
IHopltal, and how he declared fully all
these ln1quities without parallel in which
he had borne so cruel part
Potion, more faithful to his master held
out TIL the threat Of torture and the ap-
peals of his friend Henriet broke him down
But the attitude and bearing of the chief
culprit, however deserve that the historian
Even in his first naughty and contemptu-
Gus silence Giles de RetZ was shifting his
ground, and with a cool, unheated intelli-
sehce orientinS himself to the new condi-
IONS. 1t soon became evident to his mind
that the powers Of evil, in whom he trusted
and to whose service he had consecrated
his life and fortune, had befooled and be-
trayed him.
Well-eVen so would he fool them-if by
the grace of God, there were vet any merit
or nope in the service of good. The priests
SAID SO. The Scripture said SO, and they
might be right after all. At least the thing
was worth trying.
FOR calculating brain lay behind the
excuses of the terrible Lord de Retz The
fehGion OF the cross might not be of much
maj use, still it was all that remained, and
cues de Retz determined to avail himself
OF II. So once more he apostasised from
Barran-Sathanas to Jehovah.
with an effrontery almost too stupendous
Tor belief he arrayed himself in the white
ropes or a Carmelite novice and spent his
prison days in singing litanies and in pri-
vate confession to his religious adviser
when the great day of the trial at last
arrived the marshal, who had expected on
the bench the weak kindly countenance of
Duke John, was called upon to confront the
indomitable judicial rectitude of Pierre de
IHopitai, president and grand seneschal of
Brittany.
Giles de RetZ appeared at his trial dress
ed in white of the richest materials, and
with all his military decorations upon him.
but MS JuuSe, naDlled In stern and simple
black, was not in the least inundated.
Then came the great surprise After the
evidence of Henriet and Poitou had been
read to him, the marshal was asked to
plead. To the surprise of all he claimed
benefit of clergy
Il have been great sinner" he said. II
have, indeed, deserved a thousand deaths
But now am a man of God. / have con
fesSed l have received dissolution for all
my sins God has forgiven me and my soul
is cleansedr'
'Good. answered Pierre de PHoDital II
nave nothing to do with your soul l must
leave That, as you justly remark, to God
6ut am mere TO try your body, and if
found guilty, to condemn that body to
suffer the penalties by law provided
linen Clerk Henriet was brought in to
testify more fully of the crimes beyond
parallel in the history of mankind.
The court had en hung round with
black, and the only object which appeared
prominent was beautiful crueitix with a
noble figure of the Redeemer of Men carved
upon it. This was suspended, according to
the custom. over the head of the president
of the tribunal.
Henriet bad not proceeded far with his
terrible relation of Uncomfortable crimes
when hs stopped.
Il cannot go on" he said in a broken.
appealing voice. II cannot tell what I
have to tell with that figure looking down
upon me-"
So. with the whole court standing up in
reverence, the image of the Most Pitiful
was solemnly yelled from sight, that such
deeds OF darkness might not be so much as
spoken Of in that holy and gracious pres
ence.
And during the ceremony Friar Giles of
the order of the Carmelites stood up more
revsrently than any, for, sesing that no