that thou professest."

Gina raised her hand to her burning temples. She saw that all was
discovered. But when she removed it, the perplexity in her face had
cleared away, and her resolution was taken. "The truth, the truth," she
murmured; "for good, or for ill, I will tell it now."

"Hearest thou not?" inquired the priest, somewhat more sternly. "Art thou
a child of the True Faith?"

"I am not a Roman Catholic," she answered, timidly, "if you call that
faith the true one."

The Lady Adelaide and the priest crossed themselves simultaneously, whilst
Gina grasped the arm of the chair against which she was standing. She was
endeavoring to steel her heart to bravery; but in those days, and in that
country, such a scene was a terrible ordeal.

"Dost thou not worship the One True God," continued the priest, "and
acknowledge his Holiness, our Father at Rome, to be His sole
representative here?"

"I worship the One True God," replied Gina, solemnly, joining her hands in
a reverent attitude; "but for the Pope at Rome, I know him not."

The Lady Adelaide shrieked with aversion and terror, and the pale face of
the monk became glowing with the crimson of indignation. "Knowest thou
not," he said, "that to the Pope it is given to mediate between earth and
heaven?"

"I know," faltered Gina, shrinking at the monk's looks and tone, yet still
courageous for the truth, "that there is One Mediator between God and
man."

"And he--?"

"Our Saviour."

"Miserable heretic!" scowled the monk, "hast thou yet to learn that of all
the living souls this world contains, not one can enter the fold of Heaven
without the sanction of our Holy Father, the Pope?"

"I shall never learn it," whispered Gina, "and to me such doctrines savor
of blasphemy. Therefore, I beseech you, dilate not on them."

"Lost, miserable wretch!" cried the priest, lifting his hands in dismay.
"Need I tell thee, that in the next world there is a place of torture kept
for such as thee--a gulf of burning flames, never to be extinguished.

"We are told there is such a place," she answered, struggling with her
tears, for the interview was becoming too painful. "May the infinite love
and mercy of God keep both you and me from it!"

"Thou art hopeless--hopeless!" ejaculated the monk, sternly. "Yet, another
question ere I send thee forth. Where hast thou imbibed these deadly
doctrines?"

"My mother wedded with an Italian," answered Gina, "but she was born on
the free