Pagina 546 de 1118

"I will tell you also the truth with respect to that: knowing the

multitude of cases which you have to perplex you, he has not been

willing to add to them; and, besides, since I must say it, he is

beside himself on account of the insults offered him by the

friar, and would wish to wreak summary justice on him himself,

rather than obtain it from prudence and the power of your

lordship. I have tried to cool his ardour, but finding it

impossible, I thought it my duty to inform your lordship, who,

after all, is the prop and chief column of the house."

"You ought to have spoken sooner."

"That is true. But I hoped the affair would finish of itself, or

that the friar would regain his reason, or that he would leave

the convent, as often happens to these friars, who are sometimes

here, sometimes there; and then all would have been settled.

But--"

"The arrangement of the business now rests with me."