"Your Eminence permits this blasphemy to be uttered in your
presence?" he demanded.
"Nay, wherever and whenever I perceive blasphemy, my son, I shall
reprove it," said the Cardinal, fixing his mild eyes steadily on
Moretti's livid countenance, "I cannot at present admit that our
unhappy and repentant brother here has blasphemed. In his address to
his congregation to-day he denounced social hypocrisy, and also
pointed out certain failings in the Church which may possibly need
consideration and reform; but against the Gospel of Christ, or
against the Founder of our Faith I heard no word that could be
judged ill-fitting. As for the conclusion which so very nearly ended
in disaster and crime, there is nothing to be said beyond the fact
that both the persons concerned are profoundly sorry for their
sins."
"No sorrow can wipe out such infamy--" began Moretti hotly.
"Patience! Patience, my son!" and the Cardinal raised his hand with
a slight gesture of authority, "Surely we must believe the words of
our Blessed Lord, 'There is more joy in Heaven over one sinner that
repenteth than over ninety and nine just persons which have no need
of repentance'!"
"And on this old and well-worn phrase you excuse a confessed
heretic?" said Moretti, with a sneer.
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