the archives of the Society,
depicted by your own hand. Wherever you may seek shelter, service,
position, fortune, your own confessions will testify against you."

Paul raised his head smiling: "That is all over, my good Sir, trouble
yourself no longer, those bands are cut asunder. Since I no longer wish
to pass off for a saint you can relate my sins to everyone. What was it
that used formerly to terrify me? My childish confessions! Tell the
gentlemen in Venice that since through you I have blood on my
conscience, the ink in which my weekly confessions were written has
paled, they can cause them to be printed if it so pleases them, and I
will relate in addition the services which under your guidance I have
rendered to the Church."

"The Church expels you, accursed one."

"I have been expelled ever since I followed you," sighed Paul. "Since
then I carry hell within me, and I now know that no priestly absolution
inscribes me in the book of life, should I not be there, and no Priest
blots out my name, once entered therein by the Grace of God."

"Thus is it with you!" said Pigavetta. "Have you also turned heretic?
If the Holy Church is no longer anything to you, look at this corpse.
Do you wish to end your days thus tortured?"

"My inward agonies," continued Paul inclining his head towards his
heart, "will become less if you add to them the external sufferings of
fire and steel. Spare your words, I have surrendered myself entirely to
God's mercy."

"Heretic," hissed Pigavetta. Paolo remained silent. The old Jesuit
sought some other argument by which he could convince the young fool,
but at that moment steps resounded outside. The length of the
conference appeared suspicious to Master Ulrich and he stuck his head
in at the door. Pigavetta turned to leave. "If the grounds do not
appear obvious to you, this worthy gentleman will set you on the right
track by means of thumbscrews and Spanish boots."

"We'll twist him about so that the sun will shine through him," said
the executioner grinning. The door closed and Paul remained alone in
his agonizing posture.

CHAPTER XIII.

A religious discussion was being held in the new court of the Castle.
The Rector of the University, two Professors of theology and two
Jurists had entered into the Kurfuerst's study to consult as to the
advisability of receiving Erastus again as Church Counsellor and of
repealing the sentence of excommunicatio