Page:Georges Eekhoud - Escal Vigor, a novel.djvu/97

Rh would bring him into further trouble. They would keep him longer in prison on my account."

The innocent child had during the last few days been greatly enlightened as to human laws and the conventions of right and wrong.

"But," objected the priest, "dost thou love this wretched fellow?"

"I do not know if I love him; but I do not hate him at all."

"He has, however, done thee wrong, my child."

"Perhaps! I am willing to believe it even, since you say so, but Monsieur le Curé, is it not said in the catechism that we must forgive our enemies and cherish even those who hate us?"

The priest raged inwardly, but no longer insisted.

Then the peasant woman curious and salacious, changing her tactics, wished at least to know if the child had been taken by force.

Blandine, in order the better to throw the blood-hounds of the law off the scent, and to palliate the poor fellow's offence, pretended not to have tried to escape from his attempt.

But, for a moment, seeing that her cruel