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"Your reverence knows, then, better than I, what he was in the

world, and the pranks of his youth."

"It is the glory of our habit, signor count, that whatever a man

may have been in the world, once clothed with that, he is quite

another person; and since the Father Christopher has belonged to

our order--"

"I believe it from the bottom of my heart, I believe it; but

sometimes-as the proverb says-The habit does not make the monk."

The proverb was not much to the purpose, but the count had cited

it, in place of another which occurred to him,-"The wolf may

change his skin, but he does not become a dog."

"I have certain information," pursued he.

"If your excellency knows positively that the father has

committed a fault (we are all liable to err), I wish you would

inform me of it. I am his superior-unworthily, 'tis true; but it

is my duty to watch over, and, if necessary, correct--"