360 JOIN VILLES MEMOIRS OF SAINT LOUIS IX. [PT. I. enemy thus tempts yon, or leads you into this error, is it pleasing to you ? " " Not at all," said he ; " on the contrary, it is very disgusting, and displeases me more than I eau tell you." " Well, I ask you again," said the bishop, " if ever you accepted of money or worldly goods, to deny, with your mouth, the holy sacrament on the altar, or the other sacraments of the church?" "Yo u may be truly assured,"answered the learned man, " that I have never accepted money, or worldly goods, for such purposes ; and that I would rather have my limbs cut off, one by one, while I was alive, than in any way to deny these sacramente." The bishop then remonstrated with him on the great merit which he gained in the suffering of such temptations, and added, " You know, master, that the king of France is now carrying on a war against the king of England. You know, likewise, that the castle situated nearest to the frontiers of each monarch is La Rochelle, in Poitou ; now tell me, if the good king of France was to nominate you governor of the castle of La Rochelle, on the frontiers, and to make me governor of the castle of Montlehery, which is in the heart of France, to whom would the king, at the end of the war, feel himself most obliged, you or me, for having prevented the loss of his castles ? " " Certainly, sir," replied the learned man, " I should suppose it would be me, and for this good reason, that I had well guarded La Rochelle, as being in a more dangerous situation." " Master," answered the bishop, " I assure you that my heart is like the castle of Montl'ehery ; for I am perfectly convinced of the truth respecting the holy sacrament displayed on the altar, as well as the other sacraments, without having the most trifling doubt on their subject. I must however tell you, that whatever good-will God the Creator bears me, because I believe his commandments without doubting, he will have double satisfaction in you, for having preserved to him your heart in the midst of perplexity and tribulation ; and that for no earthly good, nor for any distress that adversity might bring on your body, you would ever deny or abandon your faith in his religion. It is for this reason, I say, that yonr state is more pleasing to him than mine ; and I am much rejoiced thereat, and entreat that - you will keep