But his look did not waver, and the Cure saw the honesty of the gaze.

At length he replied: "If you mean, have I committed any crime which the law may punish ?--I answer no, Monsieur.

If you mean, have I robbed or killed, or forged--or wronged a woman as men wrong women?
No.
These, I take it, are the things that matter first.

For the rest, you can think of me as badly as you will, or as well, for what I do henceforth is the only thing that really concerns the world, Monsieur le Cure." The Cure came forward and put out his hand with a kindly gesture.
"Monsieur, you have suffered," he said.
"Never, never at all, Monsieur.

Never for a moment, until I was dropped down here like a stone from a sling.