The Huguenot Bartholomew Dupuy and his descendants

124 BARTHOLOMEW DUPUY IN HISTORY.
Chap. I. the cause of his Excellency the Pope of Rome—
the
,pjjg opposing banner. You will excuse me, but this
Priest, seems to me reasonable."
"Have I not given you good reasons, my son?
Have I not—"
"Talked about the Saints? Yes, a good deal, my
worthy cure. But I have not yet made up my mind
to believe in them. I even doubt the doctrines of
Purgatory, Indulgences, Absolution, and the Immaculate
Conception."
The cure shook his head as if these words both
pained and shocked him.
"But how is it possible for you to doubt these
tenets of the Holy Church, my son?" he said. "You
cause me very great suffering."
"I am truly sorry; but I can not say otherwise,
though I fully appreciate the kindness of your
visit."
"
'Twas duty !"
"Well, others would have considered it differently.
Tliey would have endeavored to convert me
by holding up a picture of the fagot or the halter.
Now 'tis probable that it will come to that, is it
not?"
The cure heaved a deep sigh.
"I fear it is," he said.
"And vou would be compelled to inform upon
me?"
"A terrible duty again," sighed the poor cure.
"Yet the Holy Father inculcates the necessity."
"So that you, who have eaten at my table, taken
my arm, talked familiarly with my wife, and slept
in security beneath my roof— you would be compelled
to point me out as a lieretic, to bring the
dragoons to my door— to fit the halter round my
neck, or the fagots around my
limbs! This would
be your bounden duty, would it not, Aymer?"
The old familiar name put the finishing stroke
to the terrific appeal. With bloodless cheeks, brows
bathed in perspiration, and trembling lips, the unhappy
cure murmured.