'I have learned more than I desired,' replied Monsieur Carigniez, with a troubled air. 'What is your opinion of the situation of Monsieur Gorsay? Do you still believe that the delirium of fever has any thing to do with this strange declaration?'
'Were my life at stake,' answered the physician, 'I could not speak an untruth against my conscience. Monsieur Gorsay is at present free from fever, and knows very well what he says: whether he speaks the truth or not, that I cannot tell.'
'And you, reverend Sir, cannot you aid us with your lights?' said the solicitor to the curate, who on learning the declaration of the old man, remained absorbed in silent consternation.
'A true christian would have forgiven,' replied the old priest, to whom Lucia had made a full and detailed confession of her faults.
'Forgiven what?' demanded the magistrate.
The curate felt that to pronounce a single word more would be to betray the secrets of the confessional.
'God reads the heart,' answered he in an agitated voice; 'He alone can cause light to descend upon men, whose mission it is to dispense justice. He alone can proclaim innocence, and amend the guilty by leading him to repentance.'
'I wish to know your opinion,' said the attorney, still persisting in his inquiry; 'do you believe Monsieur d'Aubian guilty of the crime of which he stands accused?'
'I believe him innocent, Sir;' replied the priest with warmth.
'How then do you explain the conduct of Monsieur Gorsay?'