father, in the manner of a man that fancied he did not hear aright.

"I said both, mein Herr; if the former was a weakness, the latter was a
duty."

"This is strange language in the mouth of a Leadsman's child!"

Christine appeared at a loss, for a moment, to comprehend his meaning;
but, passing a hand across her fair brow she continued:

"I think I understand what you would say, mein Herr," she said; "the world
believes us to be without feeling and without hope. We are what we seem in
the eyes of others because the law makes it so, but we are in our hearts
like all around us, Herr Chatelain--with this difference, that, feeling
our abasement among men, we lean more closely and more affectionately on
God. You may condemn us to do your offices and to bear your dislike, but
you cannot rob us of our trust in the justice of heaven. In that, at
least, we are the equals of the proudest baron in the cantons!"

"The examination had better rest here," said the prior, advancing with
glistening eyes to interpose between the maiden and her interrogator.
"Thou knowest, Herr Bourrit, that we have, other prisoners."

The chatelain, who felt his own practised obduracy of feeling strangely
giving way before the innocent and guileless faith of Christine, was not
unwilling himself to change the direction of the inquiries. The family of
Balthazar was directed to retire, and the attendants were commanded to
bring forward Pippo and Conrad.

Chapter XXVIII.

And when thou thus
Shalt stand impleaded at the high tribunal
Of hoodwink'd Justice, who shall tell thy audit!

Cotton.

The buffoon and the pilgrim, though of a general appearance likely to
excite distrust, presented themselves with the confidence and composure of
innocence. Their examination was short, for the account they gave of their
movements was clear and connected. Circumstances that were known to the
monks, too, greatly aided in producing a conviction that they could have
had no agency in the murder. They had left the valley below some hours
before the arrival of Jacques Colis, and they reached the convent, weary
and foot-sore, as was usual with all who ascended that long and toilsome
path, shortly after the commencement of the storm. Measures had been taken
by the local authorities, during the time lost in waiting the arrival of
the bailiff and the chatelain, to ascertain all the minute facts which it
was supposed would be useful in ferreti