第554页 / 共1118页

"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--"