‘Nevertheless, they will conquer,’ M. le Cure said.

It angered me that he should say so.  My heart was sore as if my friend had forsaken me.  And then it was that the worst step was taken in this crusade of false religion.  It was from my mother that I heard of it first.  One day she came home in great excitement, saying that now indeed a real light was to be shed upon all that had happened to us.

‘It appears,’ she said, ’that Pierre Plastron was in the hospital all the time, and heard and saw many wonderful things.  Sister Genevieve has just told me.  It is wonderful beyond anything you could believe.  He has spoken with our holy patron himself, St. Lambert, and has received instructions for a pilgrimage—­’

‘Pierre Plastron!’ I cried; ’Pierre Plastron saw nothing, ma mere.  He was not even aware that anything remarkable had occurred.  He complained to us of the Sisters that they neglected him; he knew nothing more.’

‘My son,’ she said, looking upon me with reproving eyes, ’what have the good Sisters done to thee?  Why is it that you look so unfavourably upon everything that comes from the community of St. Jean?’

‘What have I to do with the community?’ I cried—­’when I tell thee, Maman, that this Pierre Plastron knows nothing!  I heard it from the fellow’s own lips, and M. le Cure was present and heard him too.  He had seen nothing, he knew nothing.  Inquire of M. le Cure, if you have doubts of me.’

‘I do not doubt you, Martin,’ said my mother, with severity, ’when you are not biassed by prejudice.  And, as for M. le Cure, it is well known that the clergy are often jealous of the good Sisters, when they are not under their own control.’

Such was the injustice with which we were treated.  And next day nothing was talked of but the revelation of Pierre Plastron.  What he had seen and what he had heard was wonderful.  All the saints had come and talked with him, and told him what he was to say to his townsmen.  They told him exactly how everything had happened:  how St. Jean himself had interfered on behalf of the Sisters, and how, if we were not more attentive to the duties of religion, certain among us would be bound hand and foot and cast into the jaws of hell.  That I was one, nay the chief, of these denounced persons, no one could have any doubt.  This exasperated me; and as soon as I knew that this folly had been printed and was in every house, I hastened to M. le Cure, and entreated him in his next Sunday’s sermon to tell the true story of Pierre Plastron, and reveal the imposture.  But M. le Cure shook his head.  ‘It will do no good,’ he said.

‘But how no good?’ said I.  ’What good are we looking for?  These are lies, nothing but lies.  Either he has deceived the poor ladies basely, or they themselves—­but this is what I cannot believe.’