relief and retired behind the partition. One last act remained.

The priest took a large, gilt cross, with enamel medallions at

the ends, from a table, and came out into the centre of the

church with it. First the inspector came up and kissed the cross,

then the jailers, then the convicts, pushing and abusing each

other in whispers. The priest, talking to the inspector, pushed

the cross and his hand now against the mouths and now against the

noses of the convicts, who were trying to kiss both the cross and