for word his reply, 'If I have violated the laws
of the Church, I am ready to undergo the penalty of my fault. If you
think me culpable, pass a canonical judgment and I will execute it, I
swear on my sacerdotal honour; but I wish a formal sentence, for, in
law, nobody is bound to condemn himself: "_Nemo se tradere tenetur_,"
says the Corpus Juris Canonici.'

"There was a copy of his review on the table. The Cardinal pointed to a
page and asked, 'Did you write that?'

"'Yes, Eminence.'

"'Infamous doctrines!' and he went from his office into the next room,
crying, 'Out of my sight!'

"Then Johannes advanced as far as the threshold of the other room, and
falling on his knees, he said, 'Eminence, I had no intention of
offending. If I have done so, I beg forgiveness.'

"The Cardinal cried more loudly, 'Out of my sight before I call for
assistance!'

"Johannes rose and left.

"'All my old ties are broken,' he said, as he parted from me. He was so
sad that I had not the heart to question him further."

There was a silence. Carhaix went up to his tower to ring a peal. His
wife removed the dessert dishes and the cloth. Des Hermies prepared the
coffee. Durtal, pensive, rolled his cigarette.

Carhaix, when he returned, as if enveloped in a fog of sounds,
exclaimed, "A while ago, Des Hermies, you were speaking of the
Franciscans. Do you know that that order, to live up to its professions
of poverty, was supposed not to possess even a bell? True, this rule has
been relaxed somewhat. It was too severe! Now they have a bell, but only
one."

"Just like most other abbeys, then."

"No, because all communities have at least three, in honour of the holy
and triple Hypostasis."

"Do you mean to say that the number of bells a monastery or church can
have is limited by rule?"

"Formerly it was. There was a pious hierarchy of ringing: the bells of a
convent could not sound when the bells of a church pealed. They were the
vassals, and, respectful and submissive as became their rank, they were
silent when the Suzerain spoke to the multitudes. These principles of
procedure, consecrated, in 1590, by a canon of the Council of Toulouse
and confirmed by two decrees of the Congress of Rites, are no longer
followed. The rulings of San Carlo Borromeo, who decreed that a church
should have from five to seven bells, a boy's academy three, and a
parochial school two, are abolished. Today churches have more or fewer
bells as they are mor