All this was related so simply, and with such an appearance of good faith, that the cure was quite convinced.  And to Monsieur de Lamotte the plans attributed to his wife were not entirely improbably.  Derues had learnt indirectly that such a career for Edouard had been actually under consideration.  However, though Monsieur de Lamotte’s entire ignorance prevented him from making any serious objection, his fears were not entirely at rest, but for the present he appeared satisfied with the explanation.

The cure resumed the conversation.  “What you tell us ought to drive away gloomy ideas.  Just now, when you were announced, Monsieur de Lamotte was confiding his troubles to me.  I was as concerned as he was, and I could say nothing to help him; never did visitor arrive more apropos.  Well, my friend, what now remains of your vain terrors?  What was it you were saying just as Monsieur Derues arrived? . . .  Ah! we were discussing dreams, you asked if I believed in them.”

Monsieur, de Lamotte, who had sunk back in his easy-chair and seemed lost in his reflections, started on hearing these words.  He raised his head and looked again at Derues.  But the latter had had time to note the impression produced by the cure’s remark, and this renewed examination did not disturb him.

“Yes,” said Monsieur de Lamotte, “I had asked that question.”

“And I was going to answer that there are certain secret warnings which can be received by the soul long before they are intelligible to the bodily senses-revelations not understood at first, but which later connect themselves with realities of which they are in some way the precursors.  Do you agree with me, Monsieur Derues?”

“I have no opinion on such a subject, and must leave the discussion to more learned people than myself.  I do not know whether such apparitions really mean anything or not, and I have not sought to fathom these mysteries, thinking them outside the realm of human intelligence.”

“Nevertheless,” said the cure, “we are obliged to recognise their existence.”

“Yes, but without either understanding or explaining them, like many other eternal truths.  I follow the rule given in the Imitation o f Jesus Christ:  ’Beware, my son, of considering too curiously the things beyond thine intelligence.’”

“And I also submit, and avoid too curious consideration.  But has not the soul knowledge of many wondrous things which we can yet neither see nor touch?  I repeat, there are things which cannot be denied.”

Derues listened attentively, continually on his guard; and afraid, he knew not why, of becoming entangled in this conversation, as in a trap.  He carefully watched Monsieur de Lamotte, whose eyes never left him.  The cure resumed—­