The Cardinal gave a gesture of courteous deprecation; and Monsignor Moretti, lifting his, till then, partially lowered eyelids, flashed an angry regard upon the Abbe Vergniaud, who resting his back against the book-case behind him, met his glance with the most perfect composure.  Close to him stood his son and would-be murderer Cyrillon,—­his dark handsome face rendered even handsomer by the wistful and softened expression of his eyes, which ever and anon rested upon his father with a look of mingled wonder and respect.  There was a brief silence—­of a few seconds at most,—­and then Moretti spoke again in a voice which thrilled with pent-up indignation, but which he endeavoured to render calm and clear as he addressed the Cardinal.

“Your Eminence is without doubt aware of the cause of my visit to you.  If, as I understand, your Eminence was present at Notre Dame de Lorette this morning, and witnessed the regrettable conduct of the faithless son of the Church here present—­”

“Pardon!  This is my affair.” interposed Vergniaud, stepping forward, “His Eminence, Cardinal Bonpre, is not at all concerned in the matter of the difficult dispute which has arisen between me and my own conscience.  You call me faithless, Monsignor,—­will you explain what you mean by ‘faithless’ under these present conditions of argument?”

“It shows the extent and hopelessness of your retrogression from all good that you should presume to ask such a question,” answered Moretti, growing white under the natural darkness of his skin with an impotency of rage he could scarcely suppress, “Your sermon this morning was an open attack on the Church, and the amazing scene at its conclusion is a scandal to Christianity!”

“The attack on the Church I admit,” said the Abbe quietly, “I am not the only preacher in the world who has so attacked it.  Christ Himself would attack it if He were to visit this earth again!”

Moretti turned angrily towards the Cardinal.

“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’!”