English miles.

After transacting his business, Monsieur Chaubard parted with his
clerical brethren, who left him by himself in the sacristy (or vestry)
of the church. Before he had quitted the room, in his turn, the beadle
entered it, and inquired for the Abbe de Mariotte, one of the
officiating priests attached to the cathedral.

"The Abbe has just gone out," replied Monsieur Chaubard. "Who wants
him?"

"A respectable-looking man," said the beadle. "I thought he seemed to
be in some distress of mind when he spoke to me."

"Did he mention his business with the Abbe?"

"Yes, sir; he expressed himself as anxious to make his confession
immediately."

"In that case," said Monsieur Chaubard, "I may be of use to him in the
Abbe's absence, for I have authority to act here as confessor. Let us
go into the church and see if this person feels disposed to accept my
services."

When they went into the church, they found the man walking backward and
forward in a restless, disordered manner. His looks were so strikingly
suggestive of some serious mental perturbation, that Monsieur Chaubard
found it no easy matter to preserve his composure when he first
addressed himself to the stranger.

"I am sorry," he began, "that the Abbe de Mariotte is not here to offer
you his services--"

"I want to make my confession," said the man, looking about him
vacantly, as if the priest's words had not attracted his attention.

"You can do so at once, if you please," said Monsieur Chaubard. "I am
attached to this church, and I possess the necessary authority to
receive confessions in it. Perhaps, however, you are personally
acquainted with the Abbe de Mariotte? Perhaps you would prefer
waiting--"

"No!" said the man, roughly. "I would as soon, or sooner, confess to a
stranger."

"In that case," replied Monsieur Chaubard, "be so good as to follow me."

He led the way to the confessional. The beadle, whose curiosity was
excited, waited a little, and looked after them. In a few minutes he
saw the curtains, which were sometimes used to conceal the face of the
officiating priest, suddenly drawn. The penitent knelt with his back
turned to the church. There was literally nothing to see; but the
beadle waited, nevertheless, in expectation of the end.

After a long lapse of time the curtain was withdrawn, and priest and
penitent left the confessional.

The change which the interval had worked in Monsieur Chaubard was so
extra