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Rh what Rosalie tells me I fear that your soul is sick. You told her that you had an enemy whom you were seeking to destroy, did you not?"

"Yes," I answered. "That is quite true; but this man is not only my enemy, but one to all society. It is Chu-Chu le Tondeur; and every year of his life—every month, one might almost say—adds its new list of thievery and murder. Besides, if I do not manage to kill him, he will certainly kill me."

Her great, intelligent eyes rested thoughtfully on mine.

"It were perhaps better that he should destroy you, my son," she answered, "than that you should destroy your own soul. Will you tell me your story? Perhaps I may be able to help you."

It seemed to me that I owed her this confidence, so I told her all that had happened, holding back only the names. When I had finished she sat for a while, thinking deeply. Then she said:

"It is just as I thought when I first looked into your eyes. Your soul is not one of those poor, unfortunate, deformed ones. It has been ill, and now it is beginning to recover. Your own strength must make this recovery complete. My son, your duty is very plain."

"Perhaps you mean," said I, "that I ought to take the whole affair to the police?"

She nodded her silvery head.

"But that would be impossible," said I quickly. "I passed my word to the Chief that I would not betray him or any of his crowd."

"There are times, mon ami," said Sœur Anne