“And the other friars?”
“They do not meddle with it, because they know him to be hot-headed, though they have great respect for Roderick; but then, on the other hand, the friar passes for a saint with the villagers, and——”
“I imagine he does not know Roderick is my nephew.”
“Does he not know it? it is that, precisely, which animates him to this course of conduct.”
“How? how?”
“He takes pleasure, and he tells it to every one, he takes the more pleasure in vexing Roderick, because he has a protector as powerful as your lordship; he laughs at the nobility, and at diplomatists, and exults at the thought, that the girdle of Saint Francis can tie up all the swords, and that——”
“Oh! the presumptuous man! what is his name?”
“Friar Christopher, of ***,” said Attilio. The count drew his portfolio towards him, and inscribed the name.
Meanwhile, Attilio proceeded: “He has always had this character; his life is well known; he was a plebeian, and having some wealth, wished to associate with gentlemen, and not being able to succeed, killed one of them for rage; and to escape the gallows he assumed the habit of a friar.”
“Bravo! well done! we will see, we will see,” said the count in a fume.