profound knowledge of astrology," said Gevingey.

"But if the study of the sidereal influence is so important," said
Durtal, "why don't you take pupils?"

"I can't get them. Where will you unearth people willing to study twenty
years without glory or profit? Because, to be able to establish a
horoscope one must be an astronomer of the first order, know mathematics
from top to bottom, and one must have put in long hours tussling with
the obscure Latin of the old masters. Besides, you must have the
vocation and the faith, and they are lost."

"Just the way it is with bell ringing," said Carhaix.

"No, you see, messieurs," Gevingey went on, "the day when the grand
sciences of the Middle Ages fell foul of the systematic and hostile
indifference of an impious people was the death-day of the soul in
France. All we can do now is fold our arms and listen to the wild
vagaries of society, which by turns shrieks with farcical joy and bitter
grief."

"We must not despair. A better time is coming," said Mme. Carhaix in a
conciliating tone, and before she retired she shook hands with all her
guests.

"The people," said Des Hermies, pouring the water into the coffee-pot,
"instead of being ameliorated with time, grow, from century to century,
more avaricious, abject, and stupid. Remember the Siege, the Commune;
the unreasonable infatuations, the tumultuous hatreds, all the dementia
of a deteriorated, malnourished people in arms. They certainly cannot
compare with the naif and tender-hearted plebes of the Middle Ages. Tell
us, Durtal, how the people acted when Gilles de Rais was conducted to
the stake."

"Yes, tell us," said Carhaix, his great eyes made watery by the smoke of
his pipe.

"Well, you know, as a consequence of unheard-of crimes, the Marshal de
Rais was condemned to be hanged and burned alive. After the sentence was
passed, when he was brought back to his dungeon, he addressed a last
appeal to the Bishop, Jean de Malestroit, beseeching the Bishop to
intercede for him with the fathers and mothers of the children Gilles
had so ferociously violated and put to death, to be present when he
suffered.

"The people whose hearts he had lacerated wept with pity. They now saw
in this demoniac noble only a poor man who lamented his crimes and was
about to confront the Divine Wrath. The day of execution, by nine
o'clock they were marching through the city in processional. They
chanted psalms in the streets and took vows in th