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"Oh, my father!" said Renzo, following him with a supplicating

look, "will you send me away thus?"

"How!" resumed the capuchin, but in a gentler tone, "would you

dare ask me to steal the time from these poor afflicted ones, who

are expecting me to speak to them of the pardon of God, in order

to listen to thy accents of rage-thy projects of vengeance? I

listened to you, when you asked consolation and advice, but now

that you have revenge in your heart, what do you want with me?

Begone, I have listened to the forgiveness of the injured, and

the repentance of the aggressor; I have wept with both; but what

have I to do with thee?"

"Oh, I pardon him! I pardon him! I pardon him for ever!" said the

young man.

"Renzo," said the friar, in a calmer tone, "think of it, and tell

me how often you have pardoned him?"

He kept silence some time, and not receiving an answer, he bowed

his head, and, with a voice trembling from emotion, continued,

"You know why I wear this habit?"

Renzo hesitated.