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It opened, and they beheld, by the light of the moon, which then

fell upon his pallid face and silvery beard, the form of Father

Christopher, who was there in anxious expectation of their

arrival. "God be thanked!" said he, as they entered. By his side

stood a capuchin, whose office was that of sexton to the church,

whom he had persuaded to leave the door half open, and to watch

with him. He had been very unwilling to submit to this

inconvenient and dangerous condescension, which it required all

the authority of the holy father to overcome; but, perceiving who

the company were, he could endure no longer. Taking the father

aside, he whispered, to him, "But Father-Father-at night-in the

church-with women-shut-the rules-but Father!--" "Omnia munda

mundis," replied he, turning meekly to Friar Fazio, and

forgetting that he did not understand Latin. But this

forgetfulness was exactly the most fortunate thing in the world.