of catechists, going in the opposite direction, with tapers
which flickered dimly in the remnant of daylight.... It was exquisite....
But, now permit me to laugh at the thought of Montfanon's choler when I
relate to him this baptism. If I knew where to find the old leaguer! But
he has been hiding since our duel. He is in some retreat doing penance.
As I have already told you, the world for him has not stirred since
Francois de Guise. He only admits the alms of the Protestants and the
Jews. When Monseigneur Guerillot tells him of Fanny's religious
aspirations, he raves immoderately. Were she to cast herself to the
lions, like Saint Blandine, he would still cry out 'sacrilege.'"

"He did not see her the day before yesterday," said Alba, "nor the
expression upon her face when she recited the Credo. I do not believe in
mysticism, you know, and I have moments of doubt. There are times when I
can no longer believe in anything, life seems to me so wretched and
sad.... But I shall never forget that expression. She saw God!....
Several women were present with very touching faces, and there were many
devotees.... The Cardinal is very venerable.... All were by Fanny's side,
like saints around the Madonna in the early paintings which you have
taught me to like, and when the baptism had been gone through, guess what
she said to me: 'Come, let us pray for my dear father, and for his
conversion.' Is not such blindness melancholy."

"The fact is," said Dorsenne again, jocosely, "that in the father's
dictionary the word has another meaning: Conversion, feminine
substantive, means to him income.... But let us reason a little,
Countess. Why do you think it sad that the daughter should see her
father's character in her own light?.... You should, on the contrary,
rejoice at it.... And why do you find it melancholy that this adorable
saint should be the daughter of a thief?.... How I wish that you were
really my pupil, and that it would not be too absurd to give you here, in
this corner of the hall, a lesson in intellectuality!.... I would say to
you, when you see one of those anomalies which renders you indignant,
think of the causes. It is so easy. Although Protestant, Fanny is of
Jewish origin--that is to say, the descendant of a persecuted race--which
in consequence has developed by the side of the inherent defects of a
proscribed people the corresponding virtues, the devotion, the abnegation
of the woman who feels that she is the grace