Fra Francesco was
more simple, and he hath taught me by no arguments; but he, for the
exercise of the true religion, hath found it needful to quit Venice, and
doth make his pilgrimage to Rome, barefooted, that he may pray the Holy
Father, of his grace, to lift this curse from our people."
"There is that in her face which maketh argument useless," Fra Paolo
said low to his friend Santorio, for he was himself no mean physician,
having contributed discoveries of utmost importance to the medical
science, "and there is a physical weakness combined with this mental
assertiveness which doth make it a danger to oppose her beliefs. Yet I
would I might comfort her, for her soul is tortured."
"It must be that thou shalt convince her!" Santorio pleaded with him.
Thus urged, Fra Paolo spoke again, in a tone that pity rendered
strangely near to tenderness. "I would not weary thee, my daughter,
having spoken the truth which I would fain have thee embrace for thine
own healing. Only this would I remind thee--that none may be excluded
from the Holy Catholic Church if he be not first excluded by his own
demerits from Divine Grace.
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