Who is Saint Agnes from Silk and what is their importance?

Saint Agnes is not a character in the book, but she does appear in a religious sense as Baldabiou is devoted to her. When Hervé's father gives Baldabiou permission to recruit Joncour as a silkworm egg trader, he considers the view of St. Agnes, who after declining a marriage proposal was raped repeatedly before being executed. Law did not allow for the execution of virgins, thus, she was violated...... repeatedly.