"My comrade has certainly hurt you, Therese," says Julien, "andI am going to repair all the damage." He picks up a flask ofspirits and several times rubs all my wounds. The traces of myexecutioners' atrocities vanish, but nothing assuages my pain, andnever had I experienced any as sharp. "What with our skill atmaking the evidence of our cruelties disappear, the ladies whowould like to lodge complaints against us must have the devil's owntime getting themselves believed, eh, Therese?" says Cardoville."What proofs do you fancy could be presented to support anaccusation ?" "Oh," Saint-Florent interrupts, "the charming Thereseis in no condition to level charges; on the eve of being immolatedherself, we ought to expect nothing but prayers from her."
"Well, she'd be ill-advised to undertake the
