“Is it possible?” exclaimed Lucy.
“Do you think,” said Agnes, “that the thirty years I was in the world before you, I learned nothing? The thing is as I tell you.”
The fact was truly such as Agnes represented it; marriages contracted in this manner were at that time held valid. Such an expedient was, however, not recurred to, but in cases of great necessity, and the priests made use of every precaution to avoid this compulsive co-operation.
“If it be true, Lucy!” said Renzo, regarding her attentively, with a supplicating expression.
“If it be true!” exclaimed Agnes. “Do you think I would say that which is not true? Well, well, get out of the difficulty as you can, I wash my hands from it.”
“Ah, no! do not abandon us!” said Renzo; “I mean not to suggest a doubt of it. I place myself in your hands; I look to you as to a mother.”
The momentary anger of Agnes vanished.
“But why, mamma,” said Lucy, in her usual modest tone, “why did not Father Christopher think of this?”
“Think you that it did not come into his mind?” replied Agnes; “but he would not speak of it.”
“Why?” exclaimed they, both at once.