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 lad, "and everyone concedes that he is a loyal patriot."

"He is a Protestant," replied the Baron, "and that ought to be enough for you to know. To be sure, he may possess good qualities, but this ought not to blind our eyes to the fact that he is a heretic. It is our duty to destroy heretics root and branch. Being under the patronage of that cosmopolitan, William of Orange, we have been obliged so far to tolerate such men."

"But," persisted Hugo, "if heretics lead honest, respectable lives, ought they not to be tolerated as well as Catholics, many of whom lead dissolute lives?"

The Baron regarded his nephew pityingly. "You are young, my boy, and are not conversant with the philosophy of the age. Did you never hear it said that 'the measure of every man is his belief'? We should judge men by their opinions, as well as by their actions. However, if you are fond of this young man's society, there is one condition on which you may continue it: Chancellor Maas is anxious to learn the advocate's conversation and habits; you could help us very much by drawing the young man out in reference to the plans of the heretics, their meetings, and the hiding-place of their preacher Junius. In this manner you might render the Church a signal service."

"Uncle," cried the boy passionately, "do you