e permettra pas que je
monte?" "Tout au contraire," said I, "Montez tout de suite." After
proceeding a little way I thought I might as well see who we had got
behind us, and guess my astonishment when I received the answer. Who do
you imagine, of all the people in the world, Buonaparte had raked forth
to secure the Imperial Diadem upon his brow, to fight his battles, and
deal in blood, but--A monk of La Trappe. For three years had he resided
in Silence and solitude in this most severe society when Buonaparte
suppressed it, and insisted that all the Noviciate Monks in No. 36
should sally forth and henceforth wield both their swords and their
tongues; with lingering steps and slow our poor companion went. In the
battle of Lutzen[81] he fought and conquered. In Leipsic[82] he fought
and fell--the _wind_ of a shot tore his eye out and struck him down, and
the shot killed his next neighbour upon the spot; he was taken prisoner
by the Swedes, and was now returning from Stockholm to his brethren near
Fribourg. The simplicity with which he told his tale bore ample
testimony to the Truth, but in addition he shewed me his Rosary and
credentials. After having talked over the battle I changed the subject,
and determined to see if he could wield the sword of controversy as
well as of war; and accordingly telling him who I was, asked his opinion
of the Protestant Faith and the chief points of difference between us.
He hesitated a little at first: "Attendez, Monsieur, il faut que je
pense un peu." In about a minute he tapped at the carriage. "Eh bien,
Monsieur, j'ai pense," and then entered upon the subject, which he
discussed with much good sense and ability, sometimes in Latin,
sometimes in French; and though he supported his argument well and
manfully, he displayed a liberality of sentiment and a spirit of true
Christianity which quite attached me to him. I asked him his opinion of
the _salvability_ of protestants and infallibility of Catholics.
"Ecoutez moi," was his reply. "Je pense que ceux qui savent que la
Religion Catholique est la vraie Religion et ne la pratiquent pas,
seront damnes, mais pour ceux qui ne pensent pas comme nous. Oh non,
Senor, ne le croyez pas. Oh mon Dieu! non, non! jamais, jamais!" "Are
you _quite sure_ a minister ought not to marry? You will recollect St.
Peter was a married man." "Oh que, oui, c'est vrai, mais le moment qu'il
suivit notre Seigneur on n'entend plus de sa femme." From this we
proceeded to