I am a painter of stained glass, but I also occupy myself a great deal with ancient art.

You will see that I have simply reconstituted a Gothic mitre." Angelique bent over the great sheet of parchment which he had spread before her, and started slightly as she exclaimed: "Oh! it is Saint Agnes." It was indeed the youthful martyr of but thirteen years of age; the naked virgin clothed with her hair, that had grown so long only her little hands and feet were seen from under it, just as she was upon the pillar at one of the doors of the cathedral; particularly, however, as one found her in the interior of the church, in an old wooden statue that formerly was painted, but was to-day a light fawn colour, all gilded by age.

She occupied the entire front of the mitre, half floating, as she was carried towards heaven borne by the angels; which below her, stretched out into the distance, was a fine delicate landscape.

The other sides and the lappets were enriched with lance-shaped ornaments of an exquisite style.
"These ladies," continued Felicien, "wish to make the present on the occasion of the Procession of the Miracle, and naturally I thought it my duty to choose Saint Agnes." "The idea was a most excellent one," interposed Hubert.
And Hubertine added, in her turn: "Monseigneur will be deeply gratified." The so-called Procession of the Miracle, which takes place each year on July 28, dates from the time of Jean V d'Hautecoeur, who instituted it as a thanksgiving to God for the miraculous power He had given to him and to his race to save Beaumont from the plague.

According to the legend, the Hautecoeurs are indebted for this remarkable gift to the intervention of Saint Agnes, of whom they were the greatest admirers; and since the most ancient time, it has been the custom on the anniversary of her fete to take down the old statue of the saint and carry it slowly in a solemn procession through the streets of the town, in the pious belief that she still continues to disperse and drive away all evils.
"Ah," at last murmured Angelique, her eyes on the design, "the Procession of the Miracle.