“And,” said the Abbe de Veze, “all is possible to such teachers, for God is with them.”
“If they were to send you those criminals, you could do nothing with them, could you?” asked Godefroid.
“The time would be too short,” remarked Monsieur Alain.
“In general,” said Monsieur Nicolas, “persons turn over to religion souls which have reached the last stages of evil, and leave it no time to do its work. The criminals of whom you speak were men of remarkable vigor; could they have been within our hands in time they might have become distinguished men; but as soon as they committed a murder, it was no longer possible to interfere; they then belonged to human justice.”
“That must mean,” said Godefroid, “that you are against the penalty of death?”
Monsieur Nicolas rose hastily and left the room.
“Do not ever mention the penalty of death again before Monsieur Nicolas,” said Monsieur Alain. “He recognized in a criminal at whose execution he was officially present his natural son.”
“And the son was innocent!” added Monsieur Joseph.
Madame de la Chanterie, who had been absent for a while, returned to the salon at this moment.
“But you must admit,” said Godefroid, addressing Monsieur Joseph, “that society cannot exist without the death penalty, and that those persons who to-morrow morning will have their heads cut—”