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

244 THE SIX SISTERS OF THE VALLEYS.
a smile. " The suggestion is, that he
should turn the handle of the rack on yon
heretic, for whose salvation our brother is
labouring."
" Ha !
a
good idea, to make the Walden-
sian hag useful to the last, and absolve a
soul on her way down to perdition."
" Confessor," said the Marquis, " a
word with you, if you can leave your old
woman whom you are edging sideways
into paradise. The Archbishop has re-
solved that he will prove the sincerity of
Echard before he grants him absolution."
" I take an interest in him, for the
Marchioness's sake," replied Malvicino,
" and will do what you think best for this
holy object."
" We won't try him much, but sentence
him to rack your patient once, and finish
what you have begun." An expression of
anguish came over the face of the Abbot,
and he trembled from head to foot.
"My Lord, you will degrade him
"