"
She answered nothing, but there was an unspoken argument in her face.
"See'st thou not that those terrors which thou dost fear shall not come
upon Venice, since she hath not sinned? It is this which, for thy peace,
we would have thee comprehend."
"My Father, there is but one whose teaching fitteth my reasoning," she
answered resolutely, "and he hath fled from Venice that he may be free
to believe and to practise his religion as our Holy Church doth require,
and to plead against our doom, where prayer may be heard, unhindered by
the cloud which keepeth us in Venice from God's favor. He, being a holy
man, hath taught me that the law of obedience to the Supreme Head of the
Church may not be transgressed--that our doom cometh not undeserved--and
my whole heart is sick with fear!"
"There is but One to whom is owed this supreme and inalterable
obedience, my daughter; we do not differ in our beliefs; yield it always
to him, most reverently and unreservedly," Fra Paolo answered solemnly.
"But upon this earth, it hath been taught us by our Lord himself, 'there
is none good--nay, not one.
Pages:
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358