blinded by selfishness of heart or the paroxysm of grief. It is here
that a priest like Monsieur Bonnet becomes an artist who feels, rather
than an artist who judges.

When the rector entered the bishop's salon and found there the two
grand-vicars, the Abbe de Rastignac, Monsieur de Grandville, and the
_procureur-general_, he felt convinced that something more was
expected of him.

"Monsieur," said the bishop, "have you obtained any facts which you
can, without violating your duty, confide to the officers of the law
for their guidance?"

"Monseigneur, in order to give absolution to that poor, wandering
child, I waited not only till his repentance was as sincere and as
complete as the Church could wish, but I have also exacted from him
the restitution of the money."

"This restitution," said the _procureur-general_, "brings me here
to-night; it will, of course, be made in such a way as to throw light
on the mysterious parts of this affair. The criminal certainly had
accomplices."

"The interests of human justice," said the rector, "are not those for
which I act. I am ignorant of how the restitution will be made, but I
know it will take place. In sending for me to minister to my
parishioner, Monseigneur placed me under the conditions which give to
rectors in their parishes the same powers which Monseigneur exercises
in his diocese,--barring, of course, all questions of discipline and
ecclesiastical obedience."