'Tis a pleasure to see the shrinking of a heretic before the wrath of God.

Yet this tale has little to do with this service, however I love to dwell upon it.

As I said, we were quartered in garrison at Saint-Rienes, and it was there I first met Marie Fousard, the girl wife of a Captain in His Majesty's Guard.

She was a creature of beauty, Monsieur, with clear cheeks, lips of the rose, and great trustful eyes.

I was but a boy then, she not much older in years, but with that knowledge of the world and of men which enabled her to make poor, blinded fool--her helpless slave for evil.