“Hear that!” he cried. “And I have seen a marquis here, a marquis, a marquis”⁠—he repeated the holy word three times over⁠—“and other persons high in society; and generals. And here, at your side, is this gentleman, who has been so many years in armies⁠—decorated, an old warrior. And here he is, ready to dedicate himself to God.”

I was by this time so thoroughly embarrassed that I pled cold feet, and made my escape from the apartment. It was a furious windy morning, with a sky much cleared, and long and potent intervals of sunshine; and I wandered until dinner in the wild country towards the east, sorely staggered and beaten upon by the gale, but rewarded with some striking views.

At dinner the Work of the Propagation of the Faith was recommenced, and on this occasion still more distastefully to me. The priest asked me many questions as to the contemptible faith of my fathers, and received my replies with a kind of ecclesiastical titter.