The wisest course, therefore, was to finish with the affair at once, showing as much respect as possible for the remains of the deceased.

In lieu, therefore, of pulling the corpse about in order to strip it bare, Berthaud was of opinion that it would be better to dip it in the piscina clad as it was.

Should the man resuscitate, it would be easy to procure fresh clothes for him; and in the contrary event, no harm would have been done.

This is what he hastily said to the bearers; and forthwith he helped them to pass some straps under the man's hips and arms.
Father Fourcade had nodded his approval of this course, whilst Father Massias prayed with increased fervour: "Breathe upon him, O Lord, and he shall be born anew! Restore his soul to him, O, Lord, that he may glorify Thee!" Making an effort, the two hospitallers now raised the man by means of the straps, carried him to the bath, and slowly lowered him into the water, at each moment fearing that he would slip away from their hold.

Pierre, although overcome by horror, could not do otherwise than look at them, and thus he distinctly beheld the immersion of this corpse in its sorry garments, which on being wetted clung to the bones, outlining the skeleton-like figure of the deceased, who floated like a man who has been drowned.