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Friar Christopher, warned by these words that the intention of

Don Roderick was to turn the conversation into a dispute, so as

to win him from his original purpose, determined to bear whatever

insult might be offered him, and meekly replied, "It was

certainly not my intention to say any thing to displease you:

correct me, reprove me; but deign to listen to me. By the love of

Heaven, by that God before whom we must all appear, I charge

thee, do not obstinately refuse to do justice to the innocent and

oppressed! Think that God watches over them, that their

imprecations are heard above, and--"

"Stop," interrupted Don Roderick, rudely. "The respect I bear to

your habit is great; but if any thing could make me forget it, it

would be to see it worn by one coming as a spy into my house."