Whilst Reilly was absorbed in the novelty and excitement of this strange and all but supernatural spectacle, the priest held a short conversation, at some distance from him, with the strange figures which had surprised him so much.  Whenever he felt himself enabled to take his eyes from the splendor and magnificence of all he saw around him, to follow the motions of Father Maguire, he could observe that that gentleman, from the peculiar vehemence of his attitudes and the evident rapidity of his language, had made either himself or his presence there the topic of very earnest discussion.  In fact it appeared to him that the priest, from whatever cause, appeared to be rather hard set to defend him and to justify his presence among them.  A tall, stern-looking man, with a lofty forehead and pale ascetic features—­from which all the genial impulses of humanity, that had once characterized them, seemed almost to have been banished by the spirit of relentless persecution—­appeared to bear hard upon him, whatever the charge might be, and by the severity of his manner and the solemn but unyielding emphasis of his attitudes, he seemed to have wrought himself into a state of deep indignation.  But as it is better that our readers should be made acquainted with the topic of their discussion, rather than their attitudes, we think it necessary to commence it in a new chapter.

CHAPTER X.—­Scenes that took place in the Mountain Cave

“I will not hear your apology, brother,” said the tall man with the stern voice; “your conduct, knowing our position, and the state of this unhappy and persecuted country, is not only indiscreet, but foolish, indefensible, mad.  Here is a young man attached—­may God pardon him—­to the daughter of one of the most persecuting heretics in the kingdom.  She is beautiful, by every report that we have heard of her, even as an angel; but reflect that she is an heiress—­the inheritress of immense property—­and that, as a matter of course, the temptations are a thousand to one against him.  He will yield, I tell you, to the heretic syren; and as a passport to her father’s favor and her affection, he will, like too many of his class, abandon the faith of his ancestors, and become an apostate, for the sake of wealth and sensual affection.”

“I question, my lord,” replied the priest, “whether it is consistent with Christian charity to impute motives of such heinous guilt, when we are not in a condition to bear out our suspicions.  The character of this young gentleman as a Catholic is firm and faithful, and I will stake my life upon his truth and attachment to our Church.”