“I prevent nothing reasonable,” replied the Jesuit; “but I will ask you this question.  Has it ever occurred to you that as this lady never desired your ill-considered advances in the first place, so she may prefer to be without a renewal of them?  It is possible that she is not greatly obliged to you for having turned her away from house and man.”

I was surprised, I confess, at his lack of discernment.  I had hoped, I said, that I had made clear the one thing, above all, which I ardently desired, namely, Aurelia’s reconciliation with the doctor.

“And do you imagine,” said he, “that your seeing her will hasten that consummation?”

I said, “I cannot suppose that it will retard it.  If a gentleman has offended a lady, should he not beg her pardon?”

“You are pitching your pipe in a more reasonable key, my son,” said the Jesuit.  “I am glad you have left your sophistries, for to tell you the truth I have heard them so often that I have ceased to give them all the attention which their utterers expect.  The less you see of your pretty lady the better, in my opinion.  Have you given any consideration to what may be Dr. Lanfranchi’s opinions?  He is likely to have strong ones, from what you tell me of him.”

I said that he had been monstrous unjust, to doubt Aurelia in the face of my action.

“I think your Aurelia lost her little head,” said he, “but no worse, I hope.  Now, my child, let us have no more talking of inspiration, and wings, and healing fingers of ladies, and anointings.  The Church is chary of deputing these powers, which she undoubtedly possesses; and few ladies are likely to receive them.  At any rate, we may leave Donna Aurelia’s claims to them to the Sacred College, and turn to what is our own immediate concern.  Now, come to me and make your confiteor as you ought.”

I have always been more quickly moved to good or evil by kindness than by severity, for by nature I am diffident to excess.  Father Carnesecchi had found out that trait in my character, and proved me plastic under his delicate fingers.  He did not refuse me the sacrament; he absolved me and comforted me greatly.  It did not become me to be obstinate to one who gave me so much.

He undertook to accord the differences between Aurelia and her husband, if I on my part would give my word that no act of mine should endanger their future happiness.  If I would bind myself here, he thought, there would be no harm in my seeing her, but he insisted that this should not be done without his express sanction.  He said, “You are one of those young men of your nation—­one of many, I conceive—­who come into this country with your minds already made up as to what you will see.  Because you are romantic, you see us so; because you are mystically inclined, you believe us to be a race of seers; because you are complex natures, you complicate ours.  Because our beauty is strange to you, you think us strangely