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villains as those men？ and if you do encounter them； how do you manage
them？〃
〃In the first place；〃 said Monsieur Nicolas； 〃there are no atrocious
villains。 There are diseased natures； to be cared for in asylums； but
outside of those rare medical cases； we find only persons who are
without religion； or who reason ill； and the mission of charity is to
teach them the right use of reason； to encourage the weak； and guide
aright those who go astray。〃
〃And；〃 said the Abbe de Veze； 〃all is possible to such teachers； for
God is with them。〃
〃If they were to send you those criminals； you could do nothing with
them； could you？〃 asked Godefroid。
〃The time would be too short；〃 remarked Monsieur Alain。
〃In general；〃 said Monsieur Nicolas； 〃persons turn over to religion
souls which have reached the last stages of evil； and leave it no time
to do its work。 The criminals of whom you speak were men of remarkable
vigor； could they have been within our hands in time they might have
become distinguished men； but as soon as they committed a murder； it
was no longer possible to interfere； they then belonged to human
justice。〃
〃That must mean；〃 said Godefroid； 〃that you are against the penalty of
death？〃
Monsieur Nicolas rose hastily and left the room。
〃Do not ever mention the penalty of death again before Monsieur
Nicolas；〃 said Monsieur Alain。 〃He recognized in a criminal at whose
execution he was officially present his natural son。〃
〃And the son was innocent！〃 added Monsieur Joseph。
Madame de la Chanterie； who had been absent for a while； returned to
the salon at this moment。
〃But you must admit；〃 said Godefroid； addressing Monsieur Joseph；
〃that society cannot exist without the death penalty； and that those
persons who to…morrow morning will have their heads cut〃
Godefroid felt his mouth suddenly closed by a vigorous hand； and he
saw the abbe leading away Madame de la Chanterie in an almost fainting
condition。
〃What have you done？〃 Monsieur Joseph said to him。 〃Take him away；
Alain！〃 he added； removing the hand with which he had gagged
Godefroid。 Then he followed the Abbe de Veze into Madame de la
Chanterie's room。
〃Come！〃 said Monsieur Alain to Godefroid； 〃you have made it essential
that I should tell you the secrets of Madame's life。〃
They were presently sitting in the old man's room。
〃Well？〃 said Godefroid； whose face showed plainly his regret for
having been the cause of something which； in that peaceful home； might
be called a catastrophe。
〃I am waiting till Manon comes to reassure us；〃 replied the goodman；
listening to the steps of the maid upon the staircase。
〃Madame is better；〃 said Manon。 〃Monsieur l'abbe has deceived her as
to what was said。〃 And she looked at Godefroid angrily。
〃Good God！〃 cried the poor fellow； in distress； the tears coming into
his eyes。
〃Come； sit down；〃 said Monsieur Alain； sitting down himself。 Then he
made a pause as if to gather up his ideas。 〃I don't know；〃 he went on；
〃if I have the talent to worthily relate a life so cruelly tried。 You
must excuse me if the words of so poor a speaker as I are beneath the
level of its actions and catastrophes。 Remember that it is long since
I left school； and that I am the child of a century in which men cared
more for thought than for effect；a prosaic century which knew only
how to call things by their right names。〃
Godefroid made an acquiescing gesture； with an expression of sincere
admiration； and said simply； 〃I am listening。〃
〃You have just had a proof； my young friend；〃 resumed the old man；
〃that it is impossible you should remain among us without knowing at
least some of the terrible facts in the life of that saintly woman。
There are ideas and illusions and fatal words which are completely
interdicted in this house； lest they reopen wounds in Madame's heart；
and cause a suffering which； if again renewed； might kill her。〃
〃Good God！〃 cried Godefroid； 〃what have I done？〃
〃If Monsieur Joseph had not stopped the words on your lips； you were
about to speak of that fatal instrument of death； and that would have
stricken down Madame de la Chanterie like a thunderbolt。 It is time
you should know all； for you will really belong to us before long；we
all think so。 Here； then； is the history of her life：
〃Madame de la Chanterie；〃 he went on； after a pause； 〃comes from one
of the first families of Lower Normandy。 Her maiden name was
Mademoiselle Barbe…Philiberte de Champignelles； of the younger branch
of that house。 She was destined to take the veil unless she could make
a marriage which renounced on the husband's side the dowry her family
could not give her。 This was frequently the case in the families of
poor nobles。
〃A Sieur de la Chanterie； whose family had fallen into obscurity；
though it dates from the Crusade of Philip Augustus； was anxious to
recover the rank and position which this ancient lineage properly gave
him in the province of Normandy。 This gentleman had doubly derogated
from his rightful station； for he had amassed a fortune of nearly a
million of francs as purveyor to the armies of the king at the time of
the war in Hanover。 The old man had a son； and this son； presuming on
his father's wealth （greatly exaggerated by rumor）； was leading a life
in Paris that greatly disquieted his father。
〃The word of Mademoiselle de Champignelle's character was well known
in the Bessin；that beautiful region of Lower Normandy near Bayeux；
where the family lived。 The old man； whose little estate of la
Chanterie was between Caen and Saint…Lo； often heard regrets expressed
before him that so perfect a young girl； and one so capable of
rendering a husband happy； should be condemned to pass her life in a
convent。 When； on reflection； he expressed a desire to know more of
the young lady； the hope was held out to him of obtaining the hand of
Mademoiselle Philiberte for his son； provided he would take her
without dowry。 He went to Bayeux； had several interviews with the
Champignelles's family； and was completely won by the noble qualities
of the young girl。
〃At sixteen years of age； Mademoiselle de Champignelles gave promise
of what she would ultimately become。 It was easy to see in her a
living piety； an unalterable good sense； an inflexible uprightness；
and one of those souls which never detach themselves from an affection
under any compulsion。 The old father； enriched by his extortions in
the army； recognized in this charming girl a woman who could restrain
his son by the power of virtue； and by the ascendancy of a nature that
was firm without rigidity。
〃You have seen her；〃 said Monsieur Alain； pausing in his narrative；
〃and you know that no one can be gentler than Madame de la Chanterie；
and also； I may tell you； that no one is more confiding。 She has kept；
even to her declining years； the candor and simplicity of innocence；
she has never been willing to believe in evil； and the little mistrust
you may have noticed in her is due only to her terrible misfortunes。
〃The old man；〃 said Monsieur Alain； continuing； 〃agreed with the
Champignelles family to give a receipt for the legal dower of
Mademoiselle Philiberte （thi