The six sisters of the valleys : an historical romance - University Library

242 THE SIX SISTEES OF THE VALLEYS.
ordered to give that heretic a turn on the
rack instead of licking the sign of the cross
on those flags."
" The Virgin/' said Placido Corso,
gazing at the figure of the Madonna, " is
merciful ; why add to this woman's pangs,
and make a young and unpolluted hand do
the work of the executioner ?"
"Shame becomes honour in the Church's
service," retorted De la Mena ; " you're very
tender of heretical flesh, Signor Placido.
Have you any private investments ?"
"Young man," replied Placido Corso,
" your zeal, like that of Paul, may be sin-
cere, and you are anxious to purge Italy
from the stain of heresy. I mourn over
and hate divisions; but though I am a
Roman Catholic, I have not forgotten
that I am also a man. I'm sure," con-
tinued the kind-hearted priest, " I've
started in my dreams five times a night
since I last saw the horrible scene here, and
I've been as nervous as if one of Turin's