And although in her state of utter prostration the child could not hear him, he addressed her as he asked her: "Is there nothing upon your conscience which distresses you?
Confess all your doubts and fears, my daughter; relieve your mind." She was still in the same position, and she was always silent.

When, in vain, he had given time for a reply, he commenced the exhortation with the same full voice, without appearing to notice that none of his words reached her ear.
"Collect your thoughts, meditate, demand from the depths of your soul pardon from God.

The Sacrament will purify you, and will strengthen you anew.

Your eyes will become clear, your ears chaste, your nostrils fresh, your mouth pure, your hands innocent." With eyes fixed upon her, he continued reading to the end all that was necessary for him to say; while she scarcely breathed, nor did one of her closed eyelids move.

Then he said: "Recite the Creed." And having waited awhile, he repeated it himself: "_Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem_." ("I believe in one God, the Father Almighty.") "Amen," replied the Abbe Cornille.
All this time the heavy sobbing of Felicien was heard, as upon the landing-place he wept in the enervation of hope.