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Don Abbondio then related his melancholy story, suppressing the

name of the principal personage, and substituting in its place,

"_a great lord_,"-thus giving to prudence the little that was

left him in such an extremity.

"And you had no other motive?" asked the cardinal, after having

heard him through.

"Perhaps I have not clearly explained myself. It was under pain

of death that they ordered me not to perform the ceremony."

"And this reason appeared sufficient to prevent the fulfilment of

a rigorous duty?"

"I know my obligation is to do my duty, even to my greatest

detriment; but when life is at stake--"