After transacting his business, Monsieur Chaubard parted with his clerical brethren, who left him by himself in the sacristy (or vestry) of the church. Before he had quitted the room, in his turn, the beadle entered it, and inquired for the Abbé de Mariotte, one of the officiating priests attached to the cathedral.
"The Abbé has just gone out," replied Monsieur Chaubard. "Who wants him?"
"A respectable-looking man," said the beadle. "I thought he seemed to be in some distress of mind when he spoke to me."
"Did he mention his business with the Abbé?"
"Yes, sir; he expressed himself as anxious to make his confession immediately."
"In that case," said Monsieur Chaubard, "I may be of use to him in the Abbé's absence, for I have authority to act here as confessor. Let us go into the church and see if this person feels disposed to accept my services."
When they went into the church, they found the man walking backward and forward in a restless, disordered manner. His looks were so strikingly suggestive of some serious mental perturbation, that Monsieur Chaubard found it no easy matter to preserve his composure when he first addressed himself to the stranger.
"I am sorry," he began, "that the Abbé de Mariotte is not here to offer you his services—"
"I want to make my confession," said the man, looking about him vacantly, as if the priest's words had not attracted his attention.
"You can do so at once, if you please," said Monsieur Chaubard. "I am attached to this church, and I possess the necessary authority to receive confessions in it. Perhaps, however, you are personally acquainted with the Abbé de Mariotte? Perhaps you would prefer waiting—"