"I hesitated about complying at first; but there was an expression of mingled sorrow and entreaty resting upon his whole countenance, that awoke my sympathy and conquered fear. Closing the door of the cell, I obeyed him in silence, and sat down with a feeling of awe not to be defined.
"'Father,' he said, laying one hand on each of my shoulders, and staring fixedly in my face, 'Will you hear me confess?'
"The extreme abruptness of the question made me start from him with a gesture of surprise, but I answered not.
"'Will you hear a tale of crime from a criminal?' he continued, pressing heavily upon me, 'a tale of murder from a murderer!'
"I felt convinced that I had a maniac to deal with, and remembering to have heard that any sign of timidity
but added fuel to the fires of insanity, I steadily returned his stare, and responded as quietly as I could.
"'Brother Dominique, if your soul is burthened with crimes, why not confess to the superior who is our father confessor?'
"'No, no!' he exclaimed, frantically. 'To you, or no one.'
"Fearful that, by refusing, I should again arouse him to violence, I drew my cowl closely over my head to guard against the damp air, and bade him tell me his sorrows.
"He, at once, fell upon his knees before me—nor could I persuade him to assume any other attitude.