h them, doing them all
the service in your power. Say, foolish man, what else can a poor,
helpless, decrepit, broken-down creature like yourself do for me?' What
should you say, dear friends, if this poor wretched man were to answer,
`No, but there are a set of people in your dominions, who assume to be
your ministers, though to be sure they make a mockery of your name and
love to send people over to serve your enemies,' I can buy of them what
they call indulgences, which they say are much better than your free
pardon; besides, I may offend as often as I please, and you will be
compelled to forgive me because I have paid them; and if it were not for
these indulgences, I could fast, I could beat myself, and perform
numberless other penances; I could mumble petitions to you, not thinking
of what I was saying; indeed, I have no fear but what I can make ample
amends to you for this gift which you have bestowed, for this pardon
which you have offered. Dear friends, you will say what a weak,
conceited, foolish, impudent wretch is that man of whom you speak; and
yet what are you doing when you perform penances, and fasts, and
such-like works? What did you do when you purchased that mountebank
impostor Tetzel's indulgences? Confess--confess that he swindled you
out of your money, but O do not, by trusting to them, which you might as
well do as a sinking man to a feather or a straw in the raging ocean,
allow the arch-deceiver Satan to swindle you out of your souls."

This address, of which many similar were delivered at that time
throughout Germany and Switzerland, produced a great effect in the
village. No one heard it more eagerly, or with greater delight, than
Ava and her companion. It brought out clearly so much of what they had
read in the convent.

"God's free grace! God's free grace!" they repeated to each other.
"Oh, what a loving, merciful God he must be!"

It made Father Nicholas very uncomfortable. Had he, then, all his life
been encouraging a system of imposture? It was a question he would have
to answer somehow. Dame Margaret also went back to the Castle sorely
troubled in mind. She thought that she had by purchasing Tetzel's
indulgences, secured the salvation of herself and all her family. She
was fond of a bargain, and she thought that really she had made a good
one by the expenditure or a few gold ducats, considering the advantage
to be gained. And now she was afraid that she, and her husband, and