“Aproposofmusic，“saidPepeRey，withoutobservingthedeplorableeffectwhichhiswordsproducedonbothmotheranddaughter，“imaginehowdisposedmymindwouldbetoreligiouscontemplationonenteringthecathedral，whenjustatthatmoment，andpreciselyattheoffertoryathighmass，theorganistplayedapassagefrom\'Traviata。\'“
“SenordeReyisrightinthat，“saidthelittlelawyeremphatically。
“Theorganistplayedtheotherdaythewholeofthedrinkingsongandthewaltzfromthesameopera，andafterwardarondeaufromthe\'GrandeDuchesse。\'“
“ButwhenIfeltmyheartsink，“continuedtheengineerimplacably，“waswhenIsawanimageoftheVirgin，whichseemstobeheldingreatveneration，judgingfromthecrowdbeforeitandthemultitudeoftaperswhichlightedit。Theyhavedressedherinapuffed-outgarmentofvelvet，embroideredwithgold，ofashapesoextraordinarythatitsurpassesthemostextravagantofthefashionsoftheday。Herfaceisalmosthiddenunderavoluminousfrill，madeofinnumerablerowsoflace，crimpedwithacrimping-iron，andhercrown，halfayardinheight，surroundedbygoldenrays，lookslikeahideouscatafalqueerectedoverherhead。Ofthesamematerial，andembroideredinthesamemanner，arethetrousersoftheInfantJesus。Iwillnotgoon，fortodescribetheMotherandtheChildmightperhapsleadmetocommitsomeirreverence。Iwillonlysaythatitwasimpossibleformetokeepfromsmiling，andforashorttimeIcontemplatedtheprofanedimage，sayingtomyself:\'MotherandLadymine，whatasighttheyhavemadeofyou！\'“
AsheendedPepelookedathishearers，andalthough，owingtothegatheringdarkness，hecouldnotseetheircountenancesdistinctly，hefanciedthatinsomeofthemheperceivedsignsofangryconsternation。