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

68 THE SIX SISTEES OF THE VALLEYS.
" How did you overcome them ?" asked
the Marquis of Pianesse, who had come
down from Turin for a few hours.
"Ah! Marquis, you know, or as you
are a layman perhaps you don't know, but
there's one who has had great experience of
our race, and he said, ' Skin for skin, yea, all
that a man hath will he give for his life.' "
" Be a little more explicit, my Lord, for
I am more of a soldier than a theologian.
My Pater and Credo are embossed on my
sword."
" I mean that we had to appeal to their
fear of torture. They did not fancy having
a twist on the Gehenna, so they have come
over to the bosom of the Church."
"Viva, la Santa Ghiesa ! You have
done spiritual work with spiritual weapons."
"As for that, we're glad to convert
them. It lessens the scandals of apos-
tates. Two such conversions will be splen-
did capital in these valleys. It will be a
stimulant to the soldiers of the cross, and