example, which our fathers possessed in a still higher degree than we,
and of which the greatest captains of our time are not ashamed. Always,
while you wear a sword, remember that you hold it for the service of God.
But at the same time, when you are among men, avoid being deceived by the
hypocrite. He will encompass you, my son; he will assail you on the
vulnerable side of your ingenuous heart, in addressing your religion; and
seeing the extravagance of his affected zeal, you will fancy yourself
lukewarm as compared with him. You will think that your conscience cries
out against you; but it will not be the voice of conscience that you
hear. And what cries would not that conscience send forth, how fiercely
would it not rise upon you, did you contribute to the destruction of
innocence by invoking Heaven itself as a false witness against it?"

"Oh, my father! can such things be possible?" exclaimed Henri d'Effiat,
clasping his hands.

"It is but too true," continued the Abbe; "you saw a partial execution of
it this morning. God grant you may not witness still greater horrors!
But listen! whatever you may see, whatever crime they dare to commit,
I conjure you, in the name of your mother and of all that you hold dear,
say not a word; make not a gesture that may indicate any opinion
whatever. I know the impetuous character that you derive from the
Marechal, your father; curb it, or you are lost. These little
ebullitions of passion give but slight satisfaction, and bring about
great misfortunes. I have observed you give way to them too much.
Oh, did you but know the advantage that a calm temper gives one over men!
The ancients stamped it on the forehead of the divinity as his finest
attribute, since it shows that he is superior to our fears and to our
hopes, to our pleasures and to our pains. Therefore, my dear child,
remain passive in the scenes you are about to witness; but see them you