eplied the
stranger.

At the word "Vercheres" Joseph turned so pale that the stranger could not
be but struck with his sudden change of colour.

Then, fixing his eyes on Joseph, he cried out, "Oh, my God! what do I see
here? Geneva! Geneva! I recognize you, and here you are in the disguise of
a man!"

"Dear uncle (for it was her uncle), for God's sake," she cried, "do not say
a word more!"

But it was too late. The people who were there had heard the uncle and
niece. Their long secret suspicions were well-founded--one of their former
priests had kept a girl under the disguise of a man in his house! and, to
blind his people more thoroughly, he had married that girl to another one,
in order to have them both in his house, when he pleased, without awakening
any suspicion!!

The news went almost as quick as lightning from one end to the other of the
parish, and spread all over the northern country watered by the St Lawrence
river.

It is more easy to imagine than express the sentiments of surprise and
horror which filled every one. The justices of the peace took up the
matter; Joseph was brought before the civil tribunal, which decided that a
physician should be charged to make, not a _post-mortem_, but _ante-mortem_
inquest. The Honourable L----, who was called and made the proper inquiry,
declared upon oath that Joseph was a girl! and the bonds of marriage were
legally dissolved.

During that time the honest Rev. Mr. Tetreau, struck with horror, had sent
an express to the Right Reverend Bishop Coadjutor of Quebec, informing him
that the young man whom he had kept in his house several years, under the
name of Joseph, was a girl.

Now, what were they to do with the girl, after all was discovered? Her
presence in Canada would for ever compromise the holy (_?_) Church of Rome.
She knew too well how the priests, through the confessional, select their
victims, and help themselves, in their company, in keeping their solemn
vows of celibacy! What would have become of the respect paid to the priest,
if she had been taken by the hand and invited to speak, bravely, boldly,
before the people of Canada?

The holy (?) Bishop and his vicars understood these things very well.

They immediately sent a trustworthy man with L500 to say to the girl that,
if she remained in Canada, she could be prosecuted and severely punished;
that it was her interest to leave the country, and emigrate to the United
States. They offered her the