After a scrutiny of some moments, the Secretary spoke:—­

“What is your name?”

“Amine Vanderdecken.”

“Of what country?”

“My husband is of the Low Countries; I am from the East.”

“What is your husband?”

“The captain of a Dutch Indiaman.”

“How came you here?”

“His vessel was wrecked, and we were separated.”

“Whom do you know here?”

“Father Mathias.”

“What property have you?”

“None; it is my husband’s.”

“Where is it?”

“In the custody of Father Mathias.”

“Are you aware why you are brought here?”

“How should I be?” replied Amine, evasively; “tell me what I am accused of.”

“You must know whether you have done wrong or not.  You had better confess all your conscience accuses you of.”

“My conscience does not accuse me of doing wrong.”

“Then you will confess nothing?”

“By your own showing, I have nothing to confess.”

“You say you are from the East:  are you a Christian?”

“I reject your creed.”

“You are married to a Catholic?”

“Yes! a true Catholic.”

“Who married you?”

“Father Seysen, a Catholic priest.”

“Did you enter into the bosom of the church?—­did he venture to marry you without your being baptised?”

“Some ceremony did take place which I consented to.”

“It was baptism, was it not?”

“I believe it was so termed.”

“And now you say that you reject the creed?”

“Since I have witnessed the conduct of those who profess it, I do:  at the time of my marriage I was disposed towards it.”

“What is the amount of your property in the Father Mathias’s hands?”

“Some hundreds of dollars—­he knows exactly.”

The Grand Inquisitor rang a bell; the jailors entered, and Amine was led back to her dungeon.

“Why should they ask so often about my money?” mused Amine; “If they require it, they may take it.  What is their power?  What would they do with me?  Well, well, a few days will decide.”  A few days!—­no, no, Amine; years perhaps would have passed without decision, but that in four months from the date of your incarceration, the Auto da Fe, which had not been celebrated for upwards of three years, was to take place, and there was not a sufficient number of those who were to undergo the last punishment to render the ceremony imposing.  A few more were required for the stake, or you would not have escaped from those dungeons so soon.  As it was, a month of anxiety and suspense, almost insupportable, had to be passed away, before Amine was again summoned to the Hall of Justice.

Amine, at the time we have specified, was again introduced to the Hall of Justice, and was again asked if she would confess.  Irritated at her long confinement, and the injustice of the proceedings, she replied, “I have told you once for all, that I have nothing to confess; do with me as you will; but be quick.”