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MANUEL DE MORAES.

vants of the Holy Office—they had no longer strength to drag their limbs along.

At the end of the ceremony the Court returned to the Palace of the Inquisition.

Immediately on passing through the principal portals of the edifice, the Inquisitor-General gave orders that Manuel de Moraes should be taken from amongst the penitents and be restored to the Jesuits: the latter had gathered there in numbers to receive him and to escort him to the house of St. Ignatius.

The transfer was ceremoniously made; a document was drawn up, and duly signed by all the authorities concerned in the matter. The penitent, being unable to stand, was placed upon a bench of stone till the formalities were ended.

When Padre Eusebio de Monserrate drew near to take his friend's arm, to raise him and to lead him forth from the palace of the Holy Office, Manuel, after attempting to rise, slipped from the kindly grasp, sunk upon the bench, and then fell to the ground.

The Jesuit hastened to tear open his mask and clothes. He found that they contained a corpse. Manuel de Moraes no longer lived the life of this world.

Eusebio de Monserrate then knelt by the body and cried in anguish, "O Lord! O Lord! receive into Thy bosom this repentant sinner, and pardon with Thine infinite mercy one who, if he has greatly offended Thee, hath suffered so much at the hands of Man."

FINIS.


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