Court's confessor. "God's mercy is inexhaustible. Jesus Christ dying on the cross interceded with his father for the penitent thief."
Court. "May he be pleased to intercede for us likewise."
One of the confessors. "Raise your soul to God, my children, prostrate yourselves in humble prayer before him."
The two sufferers looked at me as if to discover what they ought to do. They appeared to fear my ridiculing any devotional feelings as the result of cowardice or weakness.
Myself. "Let no false shame prevent your obeying the reverend father."
Raoul, (to his comrade.) "My friend, let us recommend our souls to our Maker."
Both Raoul and Court kneeled down, and remained for about a quarter of an hour in that position. They seemed rather collected than absorbed. The clock struck half past eleven, they looked at each other, and both speaking together, exclaimed, "In half an hour it will be all over with us." As they pronounced these words they rose; I saw that they wished to speak with me, I therefore drew aside, and they approached me. "M. Jules," said Court, "we would beg a last favour in addition to those we already owe you."
"What is it? depend upon my readiness to perform whatever you may require."
"We have each of us a wife in Paris.—My kind wife! the thoughts of her breaks my heart—it overcomes me!"—tears filled his eyes, his voice became inarticulate, and he could not proceed.
"Come, Court," said Raoul, "what is the matter with you? Come, never play the baby; after all, you astonish me! can you be the brave fellow I took you for? Have not I a wife as well as you? Come, my boy, courage, courage!"
"'Tis over now," resumed Court, "what I had to say to M. Jules was respecting some commis-
