Pagina 775 de 1118

"You do not answer," resumed the cardinal. "Ah! if you had

followed the dictates of charity and duty, whatever had been the

result, you would now have been at no loss for a reply. Behold,

then, what you have done; you having obeyed iniquity, regardless

of the requirements of duty; you have obeyed her promptly; she

had only to show herself to you, and signify her desire, and she

found you ready at her call. But she would have had recourse to

artifice with one who was on his guard against her, she would

have avoided exciting his suspicion, she would have employed

concealment, that she might mature at leisure her projects of

treachery and violence; she has, on the contrary, boldly ordered

you to infringe your duty, and keep silence; you have obeyed, you

have infringed it, and you have kept silence. I ask you now, if

you have done nothing more. Tell me if it is true, that you have

advanced false pretences for your refusal, so as not to reveal

the true motive--"