“No doubt,” answered Gabriel, hastily; “pray give it here.  We can rub his temples with the spirit, and make him inhale a little.”

“Pass the bottle,” cried Ciboule; “but don’t put your noses in it!” And, passed with caution from hand to hand, the flask reached Gabriel in safety.

Whilst waiting for the coming of the coach, Father d’Aigrigny had been seated on a chair.  Whilst several good-natured people carefully supported the abbe, the missionary made him inhale a little brandy.  In a few minutes, the spirit had a powerful influence on the Jesuit; he made some slight movements, and his oppressed bosom heaved with a deep sigh.

“He is saved—­he will live,” cried Gabriel, in a triumphant voice; “he will live, my brothers!”

“Oh! glad to hear it!” exclaimed many voices.

“Oh, yes! be glad, my brothers!” repeated Gabriel; “for, instead of being weighed down with the remorse of crime, you will have a just and charitable action to remember.  Let us thank God, that he has changed your blind fury into a sentiment of compassion!  Let us pray to Him, that neither you, nor those you love, may ever be exposed to such frightful danger as this unfortunate man has just escaped.  Oh, my brothers!” added Gabriel, as he pointed to the image of Christ with touching emotion, which communicated itself the more easily to others from the expression of his angelic countenance; “oh, my brothers! let us never forget, that he, who died upon that cross for the defence of the oppressed, for the obscure children of the people like to ourselves, pronounced those affectionate words so sweet to the heart; `Love ye one another!’—­Let us never forget it; let us love and help one another, and we poor people shall then become better, happier, just.  Love—­yes, love ye one another—­and fall prostrate before that Saviour, who is the God of all that are weak, oppressed, and suffering in this world!”

So saying, Gabriel knelt down.  All present respectfully followed his example, such power was there in his simple and persuasive words.  At this moment, a singular incident added to the grandeur of the scene.  We have said that a few seconds before the quarryman and his band entered the body of the church, several persons had fled from it.  Two of these had taken refuge in the organ-loft, from which retreat they had viewed the preceding scene, themselves remaining invisible.  One of these persons was a young man charged with the care of the organ, and quite musician enough to play on it.  Deeply moved by the unexpected turn of an event which at first appeared so tragical, and yielding to an artistical inspiration, this young man, at the moment when he saw the people kneeling with Gabriel, could not forbear striking the notes.  Then a sort of harmonious sigh, at first almost insensible, seemed to rise from the midst of this immense cathedral, like a divine aspiration.  As soft and aerial as the balmy vapor of incense, it mounted and spread