The doctor did not expect such words, so he was overjoyed to learn what she felt.  In addition to what the president had said, he had heard from Father Chavigny that he had told her the Sunday before that it was very unlikely she would escape death, and indeed, so far as one could judge by reports in the town, it was a foregone conclusion.  When he said so, at first she had appeared stunned, and said with an air of great terror, “Father, must I die?” And when he tried to speak words of consolation, she had risen and shaken her head, proudly replying—­

“No, no, father; there is no need to encourage me.  I will play my part, and that at once:  I shall know how to die like a woman of spirit.”

Then the father had told her that we cannot prepare for death so quickly and so easily; and that we have to be in readiness for a long time, not to be taken by surprise; and she had replied that she needed but a quarter of an hour to confess in, and one moment to die.

So the doctor was very glad to find that between Sunday and Thursday her feelings had changed so much.

“Yes,” said she, “the more I reflect the more I feel that one day would not be enough to prepare myself for God’s tribunal, to be judged by Him after men have judged me.”

“Madame,” replied the doctor, “I do not know what or when your sentence will be; but should it be death, and given to-day, I may venture to promise you that it will not be carried out before to-morrow.  But although death is as yet uncertain, I think it well that you should be prepared for any event.”

“Oh, my death is quite certain,” said she, “and I must not give way to useless hopes.  I must repose in you the great secrets of my whole life; but, father, before this opening of my heart, let me hear from your lips the opinion you have formed of me, and what you think in my present state I ought to do.”

“You perceive my plan,” said the doctor, “and you anticipate what I was about to say.  Before entering into the secrets of your conscience, before opening the discussion of your affairs with God, I am ready, madame, to give you certain definite rules.  I do not yet know whether you are guilty at all, and I suspend my judgment as to all the crimes you are accused of, since of them I can learn nothing except through your confession.  Thus it is my duty still to doubt your guilt.  But I cannot be ignorant of what you are accused of:  this is a public matter, and has reached my ears; for, as you may imagine, madame, your affairs have made a great stir, and there are few people who know nothing about them.”

“Yes,” she said, smiling, “I know there has been a great deal of talk, and I am in every man’s mouth.”