पृष्ठ 680 / 1118

And without any pledge or security, to place a poor curate in his

hands! A holy bishop-and he is such assuredly-a holy bishop

should regard his curates as the apple of his eye. A little

prudence, a little coolness, a little charity, are things which,

in my opinion, are not inconsistent with sanctity. And should

this be all hypocrisy? Who can tell the designs of such a man? To

think that I must accompany him into the castle? There must be

some deviltry in it! Am I not unhappy enough? Let me not think of

it. But how has Lucy fallen into the clutches of this man? It is

a secret between him and my lord the cardinal, and they don't

deign to inform me concerning it: I don't care to meddle with the

affairs of others, but when one's life is in danger one has a

right to know something.-But poor Lucy-I shall be satisfied if

she escapes. Heaven knows what she has suffered. I pity her, but

she was born to be my ruin. And if this man is really converted,

what need has he of me? Oh! what a chaos!