“With regard to that, your Eminence may be assured that I always refuse assistance to any poor person who cannot produce a certificate from the confessional.”

“And it is only thus, madame,” resumed the cardinal, this time allowing himself to be tempted by the attractions of the crawfish’s tails, “it is only thus that charity has any meaning.  I care little that the irreligious should feel hunger, but with the pious it is different;” and the prelate gayly swallowed a mouthful.  “Moreover,” resumed he, “it is well known with what ardent zeal you pursue the impious, and those who are rebels against the authority of our Holy Father.”

“Your Eminence may feel convinced that I am Roman in heart and soul; I see no difference between a Gallican and a Turk,” said the princess, bravely.

“The princess is right,” said the Belgian bishop:  “I will go further, and assert that a Gallican should be more odious to the church than a pagan.  In this respect I am of the opinion of Louis XIV.  They asked him a favor for a man about the court. `Never,’ said the great king; `this person is a Jansenist.’—­`No, sire; he is an atheist.’—­’Oh! that is different; I will grant what he asks,’ said the King.”

This little episcopal jest made them all laugh.  After which Father d’Aigrigny resumed seriously, addressing the cardinal:  “Unfortunately, as I was about to observe to your Eminence with regard to the Abbe Gabriel, unless they are very narrowly watched, the lower clergy have a tendency to become infected with dissenting views, and with ideas of rebellion against what they call the despotism of the bishops.”

“This young man must be a Catholic Luther!” said the bishop.  And, walking on tip-toe, he went to pour himself out a glorious glass of Madeira, in which he soaked some sweet cake, made in the form of a crozier.

Led by his example, the Cardinal, under pretence of warming his feet by drawing still closer to the fire, helped himself to an excellent glass of old Malaga, which he swallowed by mouthfuls, with an air of profound meditation; after which he resumed:  “So this Abbe Gabriel starts as a reformer.  He must be an ambitious man.  Is he dangerous?”

“By our advice his superiors have judged him to be so.  They have ordered him to come hither.  He will soon be here, and I will tell your Eminence why I have sent for him.  But first, I have a note on the dangerous tendencies of the Abbe Gabriel.  Certain questions were addressed to him, with regard to some of his acts, and it was in consequence of his answers that his superiors recalled him.”

So saying, Father d’Aigrigny, took from his pocket-book a paper, which he read as follows: 

“`Question.—­Is it true that you performed religious rites for an inhabitant of your parish who died in final impenitence of the most detestable kind, since he had committed suicide?

“`Answer of Abbe Gabriel.—­I paid him the last duties, because, more than any one else, because of his guilty end, he required the prayers of the church.  During the night which followed his interment I continually implored for him the divine mercy.