"Bolko slowly raised his head, and looked full in the face of his confessor.
"'Canst thou vouch for this, Hubert?' he asked in his turn. 'Is it genuine, is it true?'
"'Since when hast thou learned to suspect me of deception?' replied the old man calmly.
"'Forgive me, Hubert. This narrative confounds me. I am unable to distinguish truth from falsehood. But do thou advise me. What dost thou think of it? Can a curse such as this is represented to have been—can it have retained its force so long?'
"'Universal nature is one tremendous mystery,' replied the priest; 'who shall decide wherein her power consists? At the best we can but conjecture at her connexion with the world of man—her weaving and working. No one can deny that a solemn curse, spoken with a determined and haughty purpose, has often, on the very instant, accomplished its fulfilment. If this be so, why may it not work again and again? The disregarded belief of the people—that a curse floats in the air until it finds its victim, and then drops down upon him—is not so worthless as men would have us think. There is at least expressed in it, dimly and perhaps unconsciously, the inseparable union that subsists between the spirit of man and the all-governing spirit of nature.'
"The youth had risen from his chair, and was pacing the apartment to appease his agitated soul.
"'Well, well!' said he, drawing a heavy breath; 'it is a decree which we must receive without a murmur, and suffer patiently.'
"'And who says that?' replied the priest with quickness. 'The wisdom of nature has created an antidote for every poison.'
"'Art thou serious?' asked Bolko earnestly.
"'Heaven is merciful!' continued Hubert. 'Pardon is unlimited where repentance is sincere.'