“No, my lord, you will not arrest me, for my revenge is of great utility to you, the King and France. I revenge myself by revealing the secrets of this monster.”
“Ha, this man has secrets,” said Sartines interested perforce.
“Great political secrets, my lord. But will you shield me?”
“What kind of shield?” coldly asked the magistrate; “silver or official?”
“I want to enter a convent, to live buried there, forgotten. I want a living tomb which will never be violated by any one.”
“You are not asking much. You shall have the convent. Speak!”
“As I have your word, take this casket,” said Lorenza; “it contains mysteries which will make you tremble for the safety of the sovereign and the realm. I know them but superficially but they exist, and are terrible.”
“Political mysteries, you say?”
“Have you ever heard of the great secret society?”
“The Freemasons?”