"He saved my life," said Abbe Vergniaud advancing, "It was not
particularly worth saving--but he did it. And I owe him much--for in
saving me, he also saved Cyrillon from something worse than death."
"Naturally you must be very gratefu," retorted Moretti satirically,
"The affection of a son you have denied for twenty-five years must
be exceedingly gratifying to you!" He paused--then said, "Does this
boy belong to the Church?"
"No," said Manuel, answering for himself, "I have no Church."
"No Church!" exclaimed Moretti, "His Eminence must educate you, boy.
You must be received."
"Yes," said Manuel, raising his eyes, and fixing them full on
Moretti, "I must be received! I need education to understand the
Church. And so,--for me to be received might be difficult!"
XVI.
As he thus spoke, slowly and with an exquisite softness, something
in his voice, manner, or words aroused a sudden and violent
antipathy in Moretti's mind. He became curiously annoyed, without
any possible cause, and out of his annoyance answered roughly.
"Ignorance is always difficult to deal with," he said, "But if it is
not accompanied by self-will or obstinacy--(and boys of your age are
apt to be self-willed and obstinate)--then much can be done.
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