“Be calm; the time is not yet come,” said the executioner, who had heard this talk.  He knew his statement must be believed, and wished as far as possible to reassure the marquise.  “There is no hurry, and we cannot start for another two of three hours.”

This assurance calmed the marquise somewhat, and she thanked the man.  Then turning to the doctor, she said, “Here is a rosary that I would rather should not fall into this person’s hands.  Not that he could not make good use of it; for, in spite of their trade, I fancy that these people are Christians like ourselves.  But I should prefer to leave this to somebody else.”

“Madame,” said the doctor, “if you will tell me your wishes in this matter, I will see that they are carried out.”

“Alas!” she said, “there is no one but my sister; and I fear lest she, remembering my crime towards her, may be too horrified to touch anything that belonged to me.  If she did not mind, it would be a great comfort to me to think she would wear it after my death, and that the sight of it would remind her to pray for me; but after what has passed, the rosary could hardly fail to revive an odious recollection.  My God, my God!  I am desperately wicked; can it be that you will pardon me?”

“Madame,” replied the doctor, “I think you are mistaken about Mlle, d’Aubray.  You may see by her letter what are her feelings towards you, and you must pray with this rosary up to the very end.  Let not your prayers be interrupted or distracted, for no guilty penitent must cease from prayer; and I, madame, will engage to deliver the rosary where it will be gladly received.”

And the marquise, who had been constantly distracted since the morning, was now, thanks to the patient goodness of the doctor, able to return with her former fervour to her prayers.  She prayed till seven o’clock.  As the clock struck, the executioner without a word came and stood before her; she saw that her moment had come, and said to the doctor, grasping his arm, “A little longer; just a few moments, I entreat.”

“Madame,” said the doctor, rising, “we will now adore the divine blood of the Sacrament, praying that you may be thus cleansed from all soil and sin that may be still in your heart.  Thus shall you gain the respite you desire.”

The executioner then tied tight the cords round her hands that he had let loose before, and she advanced pretty firmly and knelt before the altar, between the doctor and the chaplain.  The latter was in his surplice, and chanted a ‘Veni Creator, Salve Regina, and Tantum ergo’.  These prayers over, he pronounced the blessing of the Holy Sacrament, while the marquise knelt with her face upon the ground.  The executioner then went forward to get ready a shirt, and she made her exit from the chapel, supported on the left by the doctor’s arm, on the right by the executioner’s assistant.  Thus proceeding, she first felt embarrassment and confusion.