Ten o’clock
The young priest knelt down on the step of the balustrade which separated the choir from the nave and began to pray , casting oblique glances at a scene which was soon explained to him . The gospel had been read . The rector , having removed his chasuble , came down from the altar and stood before the railing ; the young abbe , who foresaw this movement , leaned back against the wall , so that Monsieur Bonnet did not see him . Ten o'clock was striking . `` Brethren , '' said the rector , in a voice of emotion , `` at this very moment a child of this parish is paying his debt to human justice by enduring its last penalty , while we are offering the sacrifice of the mass for the peace of his soul . Let us unite in prayer to God , imploring Him not to turn His face from that child in these his last moments , and to grant to his repentance the pardon in heaven which is denied to him here below . The sin of this unhappy man , one of those on whom we most relied for good examples , can only be explained by his disregard of religious principles . ''