"I was forbidden the house; I begged and prayed in vain, nothing could
move the fair devotee, and I grew ill from grief. Well, last week, her
cousin, Madame d'Arville, who is yours also, sent word to me that she
should like to see me, and when I called, she told me on what conditions
I might obtain my pardon, and here they are. I must bring her a relic, a
real, authentic relic, certified to be such by Our Holy Father, the Pope,
of some virgin and martyr, and I am going mad from embarrassment and
anxiety.

"I will go to Rome, if needful, but I cannot call on the Pope
unexpectedly, and tell him my stupid adventure; and, besides, I doubt
whether they let private individuals have relics. Could not you give me
an introduction to some cardinal, or only to some French prelate, who
possesses some remains of a female saint? Or perhaps you may have the
precious object she wants in your collection?

"Help me out of my difficulty, my dear Abbé, and I promise you that I
will be converted ten years sooner than I otherwise should be!

"Madame d'Arville, who takes the matter seriously, said to me the other
day:

"'Poor Gilberte will never marry.'

"My dear old schoolfellow, will you allow your cousin to die the victim
of a stupid piece of business on my part? Pray prevent her from being the
eleventh thousand and one virgin.

"Pardon me, I am unworthy, but I embrace you, and love you with all my