"And you love her!"
"As much as a man may, father."
He turned upon Murray with a gesture of decision.
"There!" he exclaimed. "You have it in the face. What do you expect of me? Would you have me violate God's sacrament by wedding a maid against her affections? Some priests might do so, but I will never! Marriage without affection is adultery."
Murray's discomfiture was comical. I was quick to seize the opportunity presented to me.
"He knows how we stand, father," I declared. "He himself asked me concerning it when I was brought here."
Père Hyacinthe bent upon Murray a glance of deep disdain.
"This is not well, monsieur," he said. "You have told me an untruth."
"You leap to conclusions, my good sir," returned Murray, who had now regained his poise. "The maid does not know her own mind. She is a conquest for the Church, and her alliance with the Chevalier de Veulle cements the great work we are undertaking together."
"I will have naught to do with it," responded the priest with decision. "Not even to admit her into the Church would I tolerate the fastening upon herself, her husband and myself of a mortal sin. As for the Chevalier de Veulle, I will say nothing at present. But I am not satisfied with everything here at La Vierge du Bois. I shall have more to say on that score later."