k. You seem to have overlooked the fact, that the numerous
individuals devoted to this melancholy office, in Germany and France,
compose two large families severally connected by intermarriages and
adoptions. In France especially, the executioner is under a compulsory
obligation to transmit his office to one of his sons, who grows up with
a consciousness of this necessity; and, being systematically trained to
it, he submits, in most instances, without repining, to his painful lot.
If the executioner has only daughters, he adopts a young man, who
becomes his son-in-law and successor. I knew an instance of adoption
which affords decisive evidence, that even a youth of education and
refinement, of spotless integrity, diffident, gentle, and humane to a
fault, may be compelled, by the force of circumstances, to undertake an
office from which his nature recoils with abhorrence, and from which, in
this instance, the party would have been saved by a higher degree of
moral courage."

It was here remarked by one of the students, that cruel propensities and
a want of courage were perfectly compatible.

"But I am speaking of a _good_ man," warmly rejoined Julius, "and good
in the best and most comprehensive sense of the word. A man, not only
pure from all offence, but of primitive and uncorrupted singleness of
heart. For the truth of this I can pledge myself, for I know him well."

At this undisguised avowal of his acquaintance with a public
executioner, his auditors looked at him, and at each other, with
obvious dismay. "Oh!" continued he, with a mournful smile, while his
pale face was flushed with strong emotion, "wonder not at this
acknowledgment. I can assure you, that, on my part, the acquaintance was
involuntary; and had we not already devoted too much time to this
painful subject, I could, by relating this headsman's strange and
eventful history, fully vindicate my opinion of him, and of the unhappy
caste to which he belongs."

The Professor, who thought that the detail of an interesting story would
excite in the three students a friendly feeling for the melancholy
narrator, besought him earnestly to indulge them with the recital. "In
our present frame of mind," he added, "your narrative will lay a strong
hold, and will doubtless tend to reconcile our various opinions."

The students warmly seconded the Professor's entreaties, and, thus
called upon, Julius could no longer hesitate to comply. A flush of
timidity, or of s