CHAKLES THE SECOND.

9

scandal. The Duke is thinking only of himself. Speak tohim. Remind him that there is a soul at stake. He is master jgss.now. He can clear the room. Go this instant, or it will betoo late.”

Barillon hastened to the bedchamber, took the Dukeaside, and delivered the message of the mistress. The con-science of James smote him. He started as if roused fromsleep, and declared that nothing should prevent him fromdischarging the sacred duty which had been too long delayed.Several schemes were discussed and rejected. At last theDuke commanded the crowd to stand aloof, went to the bed,stooped down, and whispered something which none of thespectators could hear, but which they supposed to be somequestion about affairs of state. Charles answered in anaudible voice, ‘‘Yes, yes, with all my heart.” None of thebystanders, except the French Ambassador, guessed thatthe King was declaring his wish to be admitted into the bosomof the Church of Rome.

“Shall I bring a priest?” saidtheDuke. “Do, brother,”replied the sick man. “For God’s sake do, and lose no time.

But no; you will get into trouble.” “If it costs me my life,”said the Duke, “I will fetch a priest.”

To find a priest, however, for such a purpose, at a mo-ment’s notice, was not easy. For, as the law then stood,the person who admitted a proselyte into the Roman CatholicChurch was guilty of a capital crime. The Count of CastelMelhor, a Portuguese nobleman, who, driven by politicaltroubles from his native land, had been hospitably receivedat the English court, undertook to procure a confessor. Hehad recourse to his countrymen who belonged to the Queen’shousehold; hut he found that none of her chaplains knewEnglish or French enough to shrive the King. The Duke andBarillon were about to send to the Venetian minister for aclergyman, when they heard that a Benedictine monk, named