regent, suspecting that this was only a new
specimen of his daughter's ordinary follies.

"Come to this window and look out," said the abbess.

The regent, in compliance with the invitation, approached the window,
and saw a large fire blazing in the middle of the courtyard. Dubois--who
was as curious as if he had really been an abbe--slipped up beside him.

Several people were rapidly passing and repassing before the fire, and
throwing various singular-shaped objects into the flames.

"But what is that?" asked the regent of Dubois, who seemed as much
surprised as himself.

"That which is burning now?" asked the abbe.----"Yes," replied the
regent.

"Ma foi, monseigneur, it looks to me very much like a violincello."

"It is mine," said the abbess, "an excellent violincello by Valeri."

"And you are burning it!" exclaimed the duke.

"All instruments are sources of perdition," said the abbess, in a tone
which betrayed the most profound remorse.

"Eh, but here is a harpsichord," interrupted the duke.

"My harpsichord, monsieur; it was so perfect that it enticed me toward
earthly things; I condemned it this morning."

"And what are those chests of papers with which they are feeding the
fire?" asked Dubois, whom the spectacle seemed to interest immensely.

"My music, which I am having burned."

"Your music?" demanded the regent.

"Yes, and even yours," answered the abbess; "look carefully and you will
see your opera of 'Panthee' follow in its turn. You will understand that
my resolution once taken, its execution was necessarily general."

"Well, madame, this time you are really mad! To light the fire with
music, and then feed it with bass-viols and harpsichords is really a
little too luxurious."

"I am doing penance, monsieur."

"Hum, say rather that you are refitting your house, and that this is an
excuse for buying new furniture, since you are doubtless tired of the
old."

"No, monseigneur, it is no such thing."

"Well, then, what is it? Tell me frankly."

"In truth, I am weary of amusing myself, and, indeed, I intend to act
differently."

"And what are you going to do?"

"I am going with my nuns to visit my tomb."

"Diable, monseigneur!" exclaimed the abbe, "her wits are gone at last."

"It will be truly edifying, will it not, monsieur?" continued the
abbess, gravely.

"Indeed," answered the regent, "if you really do this, I doubt not but
people will laugh at it twice as much as they did at