n to confront the indomitable judicial rectitude of Pierre
de l'Hopital, President and Grand-Seneschal of Brittany.

Gilles de Retz appeared at his trial dressed in white of the richest
materials and with all his military decorations upon him. But his
judge, habited in stern and simple black, was not in the least
intimidated.

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, the accused claimed benefit of clergy.

"I have been a great sinner," he said, "I have indeed deserved a
thousand deaths. But now I am a man of God. I have confessed. I have
received absolution for all my sins. God has forgiven me, and my soul
is cleansed!"

"Good!" answered Pierre de l'Hopital, "I have nothing to do with your
soul. I must leave that, as you very pertinently remark, to God. But I
am here to try your body, and if found guilty to condemn that body to
suffer the penalties by law provided according to the statutes of
Brittany."

Then Clerk Henriet was brought in to testify more fully of the crimes
beyond parallel in the history of mankind.

The court had been hung round with black, and the only object which
appeared prominent was a beautiful ivory crucifix 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 had not proceeded far with his terrible relation of well nigh
inconceivable crimes when he stopped.

"I cannot go on," he said, in a broken appealing voice; "I 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 veiled from sight, that such deeds of
darkness might not be so much as named in that holy and gracious
presence.

And during the ceremony Friar Gilles of the order of the Carmelites
stood up more reverently than any, for now, seeing that no better
might be, he had definitely renounced Barran-Sathanas and cast in his
lot with God Almighty.

* * * * *

"The sentence of this court is that you, Gilles de Laval, Lord of
Retz, Marshal of France, and you, Poitou and Henriet, be carried to
the meadow of La Biesse at nine of the clock on the morning of
to-morrow, and that you be there hanged and burned till you be dead.
And to God the Just One be the glory!"

The voice