repeat the "Belief" with clasped hands, and a rosary by her side. The sponsors were stated, the hour, the church, the officiating minister, "while her godfather (Count Walewski) was declared to have given her a christening gift of diamonds to the amount of 50,000 francs. The following covert sneer was made at the tragedian's expense at the end of this tissue of romance: "Jean Jacques Rousseau became a convert for the sum of three francs."
She related once to some of her theatrical comrades the story of the Archbishop at Madame Recamier's. "All reste, je ne mourrai pas sans être Chrétienne," added the actress with a sigh. "For whose benefit, Madam, will this extraordinary peformance be given?" asked M. Roussel, one of the actors. The only answer he received was one of those looks for which Rachel was celebrated, and never again was M. Roussel engaged as a member of her "troupe."
The exhortations of her family, all staunch Jews, did a great deal to keep her loyal to the religion of her fathers. When in Rome, Rebecca, remarking the profound impression made on her sister by the services of the church, adjured her solemnly not to allow herself to be led away by the flattery and persuasions of those interested in her conversion, and there is little doubt that the young girl was a potent influence in preventing her change of faith. We already know that, when realising Rebecca's illness at the last to be hopeless, like all superstitious people, she sought for some cause to account for the affliction that had fallen on her, and remembering the rosary blessed by the Pope, which she had worn round her arm as a bracelet ever since the visit to Rome, she tore it from her wrist and dashed it to the ground.
