The marquis opened his eyes. "When Messieurs the Jesuits come, show
them in at once. The hypocrites come on a begging errand. After I
have humiliated them, I shall give them money, and they will say,
'_Absolvo te_.' It is simple. And they will promise to pray for the
repose of my soul when I am dead. My faith, how easy it is to gain
Heaven! A thousand livres, a prayer mumbled in Latin, and look! Heaven
is for the going. The thief and the murderer, the fool and the wise
man, the rich and the beggared, how they must jostle one another in the
matter of precedence! Poor Lucifer! Who will lend Lucifer a thousand
livres and an '_Absolvo te_'?"
Jehan crossed himself, for he was a pious Catholic.
"Hypocrite!" snarled the marquis; "Have I not forbidden you this
mummery in my presence? Begone!"
The Swiss clock on the mantel had chimed the first quarter after eight
ere the marquis was again disturbed. He turned in his seat to witness
the entrance of his unwelcome guests. He smiled, but not pleasantly.
"Be seated, Messieurs," he said, waving his hand toward the chairs, and
eying the Iroquois with that curiosity with which one eyes a new
species of animal.
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